MChristians in Germany celebrated Christmas with festive church services on Sunday. In their sermons, the Catholic and Protestant bishops called for more support for refugees and starving people worldwide. At the same time, they warned of a growing social divide.
The chairwoman of the council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Annette Kurschus, drew attention to the current emergency situation in children’s hospitals in her Christmas message. “Everyone who wants to pray should pray persistently for the parents who cannot find a bed for their children,” said the President of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia. “Anyone who wants to donate may do it for families who are on the limit.”
Kurschus recalled the Ukraine and other war zones, “where people are miserably far away from comfortable feelings. There are so many here with us who feel more like crying than singing, especially at Christmas.”
Bätzing: Peace initiatives for the Ukraine necessary
The chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing, called for reflections on what peace in Ukraine could look like. The search for diplomatic solutions should not be forgotten. “Even if the support of the country, which was invaded in violation of international law, must continue with all the necessary goods, peace initiatives are already needed at the same time. Because how else is it supposed to go on if hopefully the guns will finally be silent soon?” said Bätzing on Sunday in Limburg Cathedral.
He saw the danger that this hatred “could provoke violence again and again over generations,” said the chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference. In view of the war in Ukraine, the question of how the seeds of peace can be sown now is all the more urgent.
Bishops complain about the harsh tone in society
In Essen, Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck warned of increasing tensions in society and in the church: “We tend to drown in loud accusations and suspicions instead of making positive progress together.”
The Catholic Bishop of Mainz, Peter Kohlgraf, also complained about the rough tone in church and society. “The tone both in the church and in society as a whole is not friendly,” said Kohlgraf in Mainz Cathedral. Dealing within the church is distressing and extremely problematic: “Often it’s all about wanting to be right, about a fight of words.” This leads to “Jesus himself being made inaudible”. Secondary issues kept coming to the fore. The core of the Christian message is forgotten.
