Ludger Schepers, the auxiliary bishop and representative for queer affairs at the German Bishops' Conference, has warned about the dangers of reverting to traditional gender roles. He has also criticized the "tradwives" trend on social media.

Schepers is calling for a fundamental shift in the Catholic Church’s approach to issues of gender identity. For centuries, the Church has „not only tolerated but actively supported” patriarchal structures. According to the auxiliary bishop of Essen, this mindset primarily serves power interests and has nothing to do with the Christian faith.

Anyone who continues to cling to such structures „betrays their own message,” Schepers stated in an interview with the Catholic News Agency.

The bishop is particularly critical of a trend that thrives mainly on social media: women who consciously embody the traditional roles of housewives and mothers—commonly referred to as „tradwives.”

🚨🏳️‍🌈 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢 — L’évêque auxiliaire d’Essen, en Allemagne, Ludger Schepers, a déclaré que la DIVERSITÉ DES IDENTITÉS HUMAINES, qu’elles soient homosexuelles, transgenres ou intersexes, Fait partie du PLAN DE CRÉATION de Dieu. (Schwulissimo) pic.twitter.com/HxlrqwM787

— L’Écho Chrétien (@lechochretien) April 9, 2026

In the bishop’s view, this portrayal is „an artificial aesthetic with no real foundation.” Often, political interests lie behind it, aiming to reinforce traditional role models. Therefore, a return to fixed gender roles is not a harmless lifestyle choice but a matter of freedom and equality, as emphasized by infovaticana.com.

At the same time, Schepers stresses that, in his opinion, sexual and gender diversity is firmly rooted in faith. He elaborated that homosexual, transgender, and intersex identities „are not modern constructs but part of God’s creation plan.”

The Church’s queer commissioner, who has been in office since 2024, is demanding specific changes: „equality” must become visible in the Church’s everyday life, as existing offerings are insufficient, according to Exxpress.

Schepers has previously called for reforms in the Church’s sexual ethics. He believes that the catechism also needs to be revised to eliminate contradictions.