Simon Spengler goes to the Catholic Church in the Canton of Zurich

Synodal Council President Benno Schnüriger describes Spengler's appointment as a stroke of luck, as he said on Thursday when asked. The Synodal Council had already decided some time ago to strengthen communication and created the new "Communication and Culture" department in 2014. However, the first advertisement for the management position was unsuccessful. After Spengler received his resignation from the SBK in February, the Synodal Council approached him directly. The 52-year-old Spengler will become head of the "Communication and Culture" department, as the Catholic Church in the Canton of Zurich announced on Thursday. He will lead the Synodal Council's communications team and is responsible for internal and external communications. His main tasks will include developing communication strategies and cultivating relationships between the body and the public, the statement added.

The theologian and former Blick journalist was most recently the information officer of the Swiss Bishops' Conference (SBK) and secretary of the media commission. At the beginning of February, the SBK terminated Spengler's employment contract - officially due to the restructuring of the communications department. However, the dismissal caused a stir and fueled suspicions that the former Blick journalist had been too progressive and offensive. (SDA)