A major controversy occurred in August 2022, when a female parish leader appeared to "concelebrate" Mass alongside a priest, a scene that went viral.
Despite the criticism from both progressive and conservative sides, Bonnemain has attempted to address the crisis by personally engaging with critics, holding telephone campaigns to talk with people leaving the Church, and emphasizing that "justified criticism helps us move forward". Summary of 2022 Situation
Priests argued the norms prevented them from properly teaching traditional marriage and doctrinal views on sexuality. 2. Liturgical Controversies and Internal Polarization 2022---Another-departure-because-of-Bishop-Bonnemain
Over 40 priests refused to sign the document, arguing it undermined Catholic doctrine.
While the video prompted a formal reprimand from Bonnemain to the involved pastors in Jan 2023, the incident reflected the tension within his diocese. A major controversy occurred in August 2022, when
In addition to the code of conduct, 2022 saw several instances where Bonnemain was caught between progressive demands and conservative backlash.
Critics charged that the code, which called for respecting the "coming-out" of homosexuals and restricting "sweeping negative assessments" based on sexual orientation, was an attempt to introduce progressive, "LGBT ideology". In addition to the code of conduct, 2022
This report examines the 2022 context of departures and controversies surrounding Bishop Joseph Maria Bonnemain of the Diocese of Chur, Switzerland, a deeply polarized region within the Swiss Catholic Church. Following his appointment by Pope Francis in 2021—intended to bring stability to a conservative-leaning diocese—Bishop Bonnemain’s initiatives in 2022 generated significant backlash, contributing to a "record number" of faithful departing the Church. 1. The Core of the 2022 Conflict: A New Code of Conduct
