The head of the German bishops’ conference, George Bätzing, has called on the catholic church to alter its teachings on LGBTQ+ people. In an interview with the magazine, Herder Korrespondenz, Bishop Bätzing says he wants church blessings for couples who cannot marry in the Catholic Church to be introduced. This refers to people who have previously divorced and same-sex couples. “We need solutions that are not only effective in private, but also have public visibility — yet make it clear that no marriage is being solemnised,” he said. The current church teachings state that homosexual sex is “intrinsically disordered,” but LGBTQ+ people are to be treated with “respect, compassion and sensitivity” and without discrimination.