Cardinal Hollerich says abortion proposal risks 'totalitarian' shift

On Saturday afternoon, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich spoke with our colleagues from RTL Radio, warning that enshrining the right to abortion in Luxembourg’s constitution would be "a sad day in Luxembourg's history."

His comments come as a bill from the Left Party (Déi Lénk), which has already received approval from the Council of State, gains support from many MPs, trade unions, and organisations. In support of the bill, a demonstration organised by Planning Familial and CID Fraen an Gender is scheduled for Monday morning in front of the Chamber of Deputies.

Cardinal Hollerich explicitly cautioned against the constitutional change, arguing it could "drive people to right-wing extremism." He reasoned that since abortion is already legally permitted in Luxembourg, enshrining it in the constitution would amount to "imposing" an opinion on the populace.

He raised specific concerns that doctors might lose the ability to refuse to perform the procedure and stated that he knows women "of all ages" who oppose the initiative. The Cardinal warned that such a move could give Luxembourg's liberal democracy "features of a totalitarian system" by forcing a view on those who disagree. He believes this could create a disaffected Catholic minority that would "no longer feel at ease" in the country, potentially driving some toward right-wing extremism.

While clarifying that he is not in favour of punishing women who have abortions, the Cardinal reiterated his clear opposition to the procedure itself. He concluded by appealing to politicians to consider the long-term consequences of the decision.

Cardinal reflects on his conduct following Caritas scandal

Cardinal Hollerich stated that in addition to global conflicts and refugee crises, the dissolution of Caritas weighs heavily on him. The Jesuit cleric emphasised that the organisation was the victim of a fraud, not the perpetrator.

The Cardinal also offered a critical retrospective on his own handling of the scandal after it came to light in the summer of 2024. He partially confirmed revelations from the Radio 100,7 podcast on the affair, including its chronology, acknowledging he was likely aware of irregularities earlier than initially stated. Hollerich clarified this early awareness came via brief messages received while he was in Benin, from which he claimed he could not have gleaned substantial detail.

His actions in the immediate aftermath included demanding the resignation of the entire Caritas board on 25 July 2024 – a demand he later withdrew after advisors warned it would leave no one to manage the organisation. Hollerich also admitted to briefly discussing the matter with Prime Minister Luc Frieden on the sidelines of another conversation.

Looking back, the Cardinal now concedes he could have been more proactive and should have personally investigated the situation. He attributed his initial hesitation to an "Asian attitude" of patience and non-interference, developed during his years living in Japan, but admitted this approach was inappropriate for the crisis.

While maintaining that a different course of action would likely not have altered the outcome, he acknowledged it might have improved the Church's public image. Hollerich also expressed regret that the Archdiocese lacked the funds to rescue Caritas financially, noting that the separation of church and state has left the small diocese with little financial room for manoeuvre.

Bottom-up: Church confronts financial challenges and announces restructuring

Cardinal Hollerich has announced a significant shift in how the Church in Luxembourg will operate, moving from a top-down management model to a bottom-up, synodal approach. This restructuring aims to revitalise the Church by allowing baptised members to take on greater responsibility and co-determine its future.

However, Hollerich stressed that the Church is not a "consumer club," implying that membership carries a duty to contribute. Due to the diocese's ongoing financial struggles, he indicated it will eventually be "unavoidable" to ask members for direct financial support, a practice long established in other countries.

The Cardinal confirmed that cost pressures will necessitate the closure of more churches from the current total of 140. Addressing communities that wish to keep their local church, Hollerich had a direct message: "Then you must also go to church sometimes, dear people."

He later qualified this statement, acknowledging that the Church must also improve its offerings and modernise its liturgies so that congregants can see themselves reflected in the services.

To fund its operations, including the salaries of its approximately 100 employees, the diocese is increasingly reliant on its properties and now acts as a property developer. Hollerich expressed regret that not all flats can be leased at social rents, stating simply, "The money has to come from somewhere."

Pro-monarchy: Cardinal praises national leadership

Hollerich expressed strong approval for Luxembourg's political and royal leadership, praising Prime Minister and Minister for Religious Affairs Luc Frieden as "very intelligent." Hollerich stated his belief that the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) politician understands the significant role religion plays in society.

The Cardinal also revealed he maintains a good relationship with the royal family, specifically with Grand Duke Henri and his successor, Guillaume. He described both as "deeply religious" individuals who, in his view, successfully separate their personal faith from their official duties. Hollerich added that he also has a good relationship with Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.

Speaking more broadly, Hollerich identified himself as a clear supporter of the monarchy, which he sees as a crucial source of stability for the nation. He concluded with the belief that without this stabilising influence, the country would be more susceptible to a shift toward right-wing extremism.

Conclave: 'A good experience'

Cardinal Hollerich described the recent papal conclave as a positive experience, revealing that it was possible to discern the likely successor to the papacy even before the voting began. He characterised Pope Leo XIV as a figure skilled at mediating between conservative and progressive factions within the Church – a camp in which Hollerich includes himself.

While he found the process rewarding, the Cardinal expressed relief that the decision was reached efficiently, requiring only four ballots before the white smoke appeared over the Vatican.

When reflecting on his own role, Hollerich stated he had neither hope nor desire to be elected Pontiff, an outcome he attributes to his well-known progressive stances. Now, he indicated he is certainly considering retirement, acknowledging that due to his age and health, the time will eventually come for him to step down.