When he took office more than seven years ago, Bishop De Korte (68) of Den Bosch called on all parties to overcome the divisions. Looking back, he acknowledges that not much came of it. For example, he himself is not exactly on the same page as his auxiliary bishop. But he also thinks that these differences are emphasized too much. “A falling tree makes more noise than an entire forest just growing.” He said this on Wednesday in the TV program ‘KRAAK. asks further’ from Omroep Brabant.
Yet the Den Bosch bishop also knows firsthand what division feels like. His auxiliary bishop Rob Mutsaerts thinks differently than he does about many things. The bishop is the man of a hospitable church who also embraces the progressive policy of the pope. Mutsaerts is on the conservative side and is critical of Pope Francis.
“The auxiliary bishop thinks differently.”
“The auxiliary bishop thinks differently,” says De Korte, “but personally we have a nice bond.” He acknowledges that it is sometimes difficult that the diocese is divided up to the highest levels. “But we have found a way. We agree that we do not want factions in the diocese with people who support me and the auxiliary bishop. Through trial and error, we will succeed.”
De Korte believes it is his job to remain the binding factor and build bridges between the different schools of thought. “We have to be willing to put ourselves in each other’s shoes and try to understand what drives the other.”
In addition, De Korte must also be the crisis manager who must lead his church through times of decline. He has to close parishes because too few people go to church, but also because there are not enough priests.
At the same time, from the episcopal palace on the Parade in Den Bosch where he lives, he sees the long line for the nativity scene in St. John’s. “Faith is still close to the surface, when you see how many candles are lit for Mary.”
“How you complain about secularization.”
Even though the masses are turning away from the church, he is convinced that norms and values in society are still Christian. “A priest from India told me: why do you complain about secularization? When someone falls down on the street here, emergency services and people rush over. In India, people step over a dying person.”
Bishop Gerard de Korte also enters the new year with these Christian values. And he continues to build his bridge between progressive and conservative Catholics. “It is my deepest conviction that God accepts us all, one by one. Who are we then not to accept the other?”
‘CREAK. asks further’ is broadcast every Wednesday at 5.15 pm and then repeated. The program can also be seen via Brabant+ and there is a podcast with an extra long version.
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