Bishop Heiner Wilmer, 64, Bishop of Hildesheim, Germany, was elected today as president of the German Bishops’ Conference.
He entered the religious order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians) at the age of 19. Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Hildesheim in 2018.
“Blessing ceremonies for transvestites”
In a homily in October 2021, he called for “a fresh perspective on sexuality”.
In 2022, he supported OutInChurch, a movement made up of gay church employees.
Following the Vatican’s rejection of the blessing of same-sex unions, Bishop Wilmer issued a press release (January 25, 2022): “We must continue to discuss the blessing of same-sex couples and must not treat it as a taboo. It is about recognizing the realities experienced by same-sex couples today.”
In September 2022, he voted in favor of a text from the German Synodical Way that sought to “change” Catholic sexual morality. The text called for the acceptance of homosexual acts and various fictitious gender identities: “I find it very difficult to accept that the two-thirds majority of bishops was not reached,” said Bishop Wilmer. This is a “real disappointment.”
In December 2023, Bishop Wilmer welcomed the homosexual pamphlet Fiducia Supplicans , describing it as “good news” and “guidance”.
In September 2024, he appointed three people in charge of the pastoral care of homosexuals: “This team will provide advice in cases as diverse as the baptism of a child from a lesbian couple, blessing ceremonies for transgender people celebrating their transition, and support for families with non-binary children.”
Translated and republished from Gloria TV