thanks you? @Constantin, for your interesting analysis.
I agree that it only take one bishop… we have experienced that in France, for exemple.
I think the most the US Church and the German one have in common, is “wealth” (that can be relative…). Otherwise, as you said…
I am French, and I see the huge cultural differences between the Church here and yours. We have less means, but thanks, not a lot of church building maintenance. We are used to do all with few and volunteering, and retired people. We( including the bishops) don’t have a culture of vocal dissent through the Vatican, we only evoluated through highly secular culture, and even with Catholics we more or less privately dissent on many moral topics. We also have a very hidden faith, that we don’t speak of in public. we are no used to visible devotion, and even among Catholics, something such as prayers before meals is not always done. I think we have a lack of faith or a “buried” faith because of our history. we are “cold” on faith!
I think that one of the reasons of the influence of the german bishop is that they are europeans, and Europe have an historical supremacy (that is declining) in the Church. Germans are also well educated, including in theology, and religion is teach in (some?) schools.
The Reformation and the context of ecumenism may explain the origin of the culture of dissent?
I wonder if the German Catholics, or their Church are somewhat embarassed to hold some teachings on morals that are counter cultural and hurt some people? The answer to this perceived suffering is to battle to “reform” the Church? and with the money collected from their members through taxes they think they are obliged to get results?