“Suddenly, it was clear that we could not continue in a Church which does not protect and respect people, but only itself. In the house of glory, the skeletons are piling high in the cellar. We cannot get over the fact that so much reeks to high heaven. We have a responsibility. It is time to put glory to one side and be received by the people. To take their suffering and their happiness seriously. To understand their grief and to be mindful of their passion. To respect their needs and to uphold freedom. It has been discussed enough, for decades. It is time to go further. For us women in the Catholic Church a silent departure is not an option. We want to fight for ourselves and for our growing children and grandchildren. For a way that not only makes it bearable but also a pleasure for us and the following generations to remain in this Church. Because it will again be about the mission of Jesus. And about how we can again find our home in our Church.”
Maria 2.0 stands for the uprising of women in the Catholic Church. Out of protest against the crusty, male-dominated structures and the abuse scandals, women are remaining outside the church doors and are celebrating their belief out there without any clerical input. The author of this book, Lisa Kötter, is a founder of the Maria 2.0 reform movement. She speaks and writes in plain language and does not let herself be intimidated by Church leaders. And she develops a fascinating vision of how the Church can be revamped so that a new vitality will be created. A vitality that recognises the needs of the people in the 21st Century. It is not only about whether women can become priests and lead parishes. For Lisa Kötter, that goes without saying. She poses much more fundamental questions, e.g., whether priests, celibacy and traditional structures of power are actually needed.
An angry, powerful book by one of the pioneers of the Maria 2.0 movement.
With a foreword by Carolin Kebekus.
“I am a Christian. On the day of my birth, I was baptised by a priest from the Roman Catholic Church. For 60 years, I have been living in its fold. It is getting claustrophobic. Unbearably claustrophobic. The pressure is increasing. And I understand, we must act now!” Lisa Kötter, founder of the Maria 2.0 movement
