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Embattled German bishops pick woman theologian as top Catholic administrator
Lay theologian Beate Gilles is the first woman to be elected as the general secretary of the German Catholic bishops conference. The move comes as bishops face calls to fully own up to scandals.
Beate Gilles is not only the first woman to take the top administrative post, but also the first lay person
The German Catholic Bishops Conference (DBK) elected a woman for the first time as the conference s top administrator on Tuesday, in a move aimed at modernizing the body.
Theologian Beate Gilles was appointed as general secretary of the conference, which is based in Bonn. After her election to the post, the 50-year-old noted her skills as a runner are also well suited to her new role.