Episcopal Press and News

Vatican Calls Woman Lutheran Bishop an Obstacle

Episcopal News Service. October 29, 1992 [92220C]

The installation of Maria Jepsen as the first woman Lutheran bishop brought a sharp reaction from the Vatican. Spokesman Piero Pennacchini called Jepsen's installation in Hamburg "a serious and nigh insurmountable obstacle on the path of ecumenism." Hamburg's Roman Catholic suffragan bishop Hans-Jochen Jaschke said that he anticipated a continued "good and trustful relationship with the Lutherans." Admitting that he was surprised by the Vatican's reaction, Jaschke added that "in the ecumenical community, we respect the decisions of other churches and continue to proceed along the path of honest, open cooperation." The North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church, which called Jepsen, also reacted by saying that "the marginalization of women contradicts the Gospel."