Editor’s note: This essay is reprinted from the Radical Fidelity blog on Substack with minor edits.
I sometimes wonder if those claiming that synodality is “listening to what the Spirit has to say for our times” ever stop to think just how blasphemous this claim is.
I have said many times that “the Spirit” which animates the Synodal Church is not the Holy Spirit. And I want to demonstrate this once again by analyzing two tidbits of news from the country that is taking Synodality to its logical conclusion: Germany.
While Rome recently reaffirmed that laypeople may not preach sermons at Mass, at least one German bishop openly boasted that the practice continues in his diocese — and he says he will not intervene to stop it.
Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz explained in an interview that his diocese formally follows the Church’s prohibition on lay preaching as per Canon Law, and acknowledged that he does not permit laypeople to deliver the homily at Mass, and that he has no authority to grant an exception.
Except, by some strange “logic,” which could only be demonically inspired, he said he does allow it. Yes, I know that doesn’t make sense, but read on.
Kohlgraf admitted to Katholisch.de that laypeople nevertheless preach in some parishes in his diocese, and his “brilliant” solution to sneak this past the authorities is not to authorize the practice, but also not to discipline those who do it. Kohlgraf told the interviewer that if he became aware of it, he merely “takes note of it” but does not impose “canonical sanctions.”
I guess the “Synodal Spirit” told Kohlgraf that if you do not like something that Church “authority” imposes, you merely do not report it or discipline the culprits. Voila!
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The Dispatch
Kohlgraf’s decision is stunning when you consider, firstly, the example he sets when it comes to honesty, obedience, transparency, and integrity. Second, the principle he is operating with can now be applied to homosexual “marriages,” ordained female priests, and whatever heterodox and sinful practice these enemies of Christ can conceive. Third, if Kohlgraf boasts about this publicly in the press, we can safely assume that he knows, that Rome knows, and that Rome will not take action.
And why won’t Rome take action? Because all the posturing about forbidding them to do it is just an act: Germany is their laboratory to see how far they can push the satanic Synodal experiment.
The rotten fruits of synodality
Which beautifully segues into the second part of this article. If Synodality is “hearing what the Spirit says for our times,” it surely should be a huge success. Only, it is a spectacular failure.
According to a recent report, Katholische Kirche in Deutschland – Zahlen und Fakten 2025/2026, the German Catholic Church had about 19.2 million registered members at the end of 2025, representing roughly 23 percent of the population. More than 307,000 persons formally left the Church during the year. The number of baptisms fell to 109,028, while Catholic weddings declined to 19,478.
The shortage of priests is even more dramatic, with only 25 men being ordained to the priesthood in Germany in 2025. The number of parishes also fell below 9,000 as dioceses continued to merge and restructure.
But here is the real Synodal success story. Of the 19.2 million “Catholics” in the country, only 1,304,000 (6 per cent) attend Sunday Mass.
Yes, the “Synodal Spirit” is really leading the German “church” into a “new way of doing church” which is highly successful: Catholicism is on the brink of extinction in Germany.
Long live synodality!
