Germany vs the Amazon: Is the Vatican being consistent?

The Vatican gave the German 'synodal council' a firm no this week. But what about the Amazon 'ecclesial conference'?

The Vatican has issued a firm “no” to German Catholic plans to establish a permanent governing “synodal council” composed of lay people and bishops that oversee certain policy issues for local churches.

Yet the Holy See gave a solid “yes” to the creation of a permanent “ecclesial conference” for the Amazon region consisting of lay people, religious, prie…