Scholarly Nora Bossong Defends Catholic Faith and Champions Women in Clergy

Writer and recent honorary Doctor of Theology, Nora Bossong, staunchly affirms central tenets of the Catholic Church while simultaneously advocating for women in the clergy.

Jesus believes in Rome, in the Pope, in the Roman liturgy, in the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist, and in the Virgin Birth, Bossong told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (noz). The author, born in Bremen in 1982, is a member of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) and the PEN Berlin Writers' Association, and was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in theology by the University of Frankfurt.

The recipient of the Thomas Mann Prize explained her belief in the Virgin Birth to the noz, linking it literarily to the break in the patriarchal genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew: "And then this male, patriarchal line of descent suddenly breaks off, and the focus shifts to Mary. She is pregnant, but clearly not by Joseph. A lot of effort is needed to arrive at Joseph, and then Mary suddenly takes over. That is one of the most surprising turns in literary history."

Bossong ruled out a move to another denomination that allows women into ordained offices: "Because I am Catholic. I believe in the Catholic Church, even if I run into certain things and it is still on its way to becoming what it could be, the Church it could be. But I am simply not a Protestant," she told the noz.

When asked about potentially entering a monastery, the author clarified: "If anything, I see myself as a priest, not a nun." However, for her, the matter is not primarily about her own person, but about fundamental participation in the Church, according to Bossong: "Preaching, celebrating Mass, and administering sacraments are things I envision as very beautiful, special tasks. But it is not so much about whether I personally do them or not. I just wish for women in the clergy."

Bossong grew up in Protestant Bremen. At the age of seven, she was baptized Catholic by her own request. Her father once advised her against studying theology, she told the noz: "As a woman, you will achieve nothing in the Catholic Church." Meanwhile, the writer is pursuing the subject as a second degree and plans, according to her, to start working on a doctoral project soon.