In September 2023, the Vatican ordered an investigation into high-ranking Swiss clerics—including those in Chur—for the handling of abuse cases, a development that further exacerbated the crisis of trust and led to "record" departures in 2023.
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 2022---Another-departure-because-of-Bishop-Bonnemain
The 2022 "departures" often cited in conjunction with Bishop Bonnemain are part of a broader, ongoing crisis of credibility in the Swiss Church regarding abuse handling and theological, rather than purely political, rifts. In September 2023, the Vatican ordered an investigation
The central driver of conflict in 2022 was a new code of conduct regarding the prevention of sexual and spiritual abuse, which Bonnemain made binding for all diocesan employees by mid-2022. In November 2022, Bonnemain announced he would not
In November 2022, Bonnemain announced he would not replace the diocese's exorcist, stating that cases usually require psychological help rather than spiritual exorcism, a move hailed by some as progressive but criticized by traditionalists. 3. Contextualizing "Another Departure" (2022-2023)
Priests argued the norms prevented them from properly teaching traditional marriage and doctrinal views on sexuality. 2. Liturgical Controversies and Internal Polarization
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".