A senior German Catholic bishop is calling on the Church to examine how it welcomes people who identify as LGBTQ following the recent violent attack at Berlin’s Christopher Street Day event, arguing that the Gospel requires Catholic communities to become places of safety and spiritual support.
According to LifeSiteNews, Bishop Ludger Schepers, auxiliary bishop of Essen and the “Queer Commissioner of the German Bishops’ Conference,” issued a public statement on August 2 in response to the attack that occurred one week earlier during Berlin’s pro-LGBT Christopher Street Day celebration. The statement was originally published by the German news outlet Kirche+Leben.
Schepers urged the Church to reflect honestly on its own treatment of people who identify as queer.
“We have to admit self-critically: the Church has not always been a safe place for queer people,” Schepers said. He added, “As the Queer Commissioner of the German Bishops’ Conference, I am particularly concerned with one question: are our congregations really the safe places for queer people to which the Gospel obliges us?”
According to Schepers, some biblical passages have too often been interpreted in ways that harm rather than help people.
“Too often, individual biblical passages have been detached from their historical context and used against people,” he said. He warned that when the “Gospel of liberation” becomes an “instrument of exclusion,” the Church “contradicts its own mission.”
“This contradiction must not persist. It calls us to repentance,” he said.
Grounding his remarks in the example of Jesus Christ, Schepers said the Lord “did not exclude people, but lifted them up in their dignity” and “created a community where others drew boundaries.” He described the Gospel as a message of “freedom, reconciliation and God’s unconditional love.”
Based on that understanding, Schepers argued that Catholic parishes should become places of “refuge – a place where queer people find protection, genuine acceptance, and a spiritual home.” He rejected the suggestion that such efforts are simply a response to modern cultural trends, saying they are instead “a direct consequence of the Gospel.”
The bishop also expanded his concerns beyond Germany, saying that in some parts of the world “queer people are not only subjected to social exclusion, but that this attitude is also reinforced by voices within the Church.” He added that this is especially true where “homophobia is deeply rooted in cultural and political contexts.”
“The Church must never allow itself to be shaped by cultural homophobia, but solely by the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Schepers said.
According to LifeSiteNews, Schepers also called for practical changes within parish life, including “a language that respects instead of hurting,” “communities that open doors instead of erecting barriers,” and “pastoral care that offers protective support instead of prematurely judging people.”
“The question, therefore, should not be whether our congregations should be safe spaces for queer people,” he said, “but rather how we can live up to this claim more credibly each day.”
LifeSiteNews also reported that German authorities identified the Berlin attack as being motivated by Islamist extremism and anti-LGBT animus. According to the publication, authorities said the alleged attacker, identified as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, had connections to Islamist circles in Berlin and described the incident as having both Islamic and “queerphobic” motives.
The discussion surrounding Schepers’ comments comes amid continued debate within the Catholic Church over pastoral outreach, the interpretation of Scripture, and how the Church can proclaim both the truth of Catholic teaching and the dignity of every human person created in the image of God.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
