“Message also to us in germany”

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Church representatives welcome the clear words of Pope Benedict XVI. on the abuse scandal in Ireland. The German Bishops' Conference also sees the letter itself as a warning. The German chancellor also ames "universal" significance.

Pope Benedict XVI. wrote the letter as shepherd of the universal church, said government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm on Monday in Berlin. What he says applies universally. The pope has clearly condemned the abuse of children and young people, as well as the church's handling of the cases and the perpetrators, Wilhelm said.The chancellor welcomed the fact that the pope openly addressed ies of reparation and prevention, Wilhelm said. Victims and society need "truth and clarity" in coming to terms with it, he said. For the internal church handling of the cases in Germany, the Chancellor attaches particular importance to the declaration of the Freising Bishops' Conference, the government spokesman said.

Zollitsch: Valid for the whole Kirc The pastoral letter to Irish Catholics contains clear directives to the entire church, the president of the German bishops' conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, said Saturday in Freiburg. "What he tells them has validity for the whole Church and is clearly a message also to us in Germany."Without any ifs or buts, the pope condemned the terrible crimes committed by priests and religious against young people.His unsparing analysis shows that the Holy Father faces the problem of sexual abuse with seriousness and with great concern, the archbishop said. The head of the church gives priority to the perspective of the victims. That is why Benedict criticized "the sometimes excessive protection of offenders that the church has often practiced"."I am particularly moved by the Pope's clear words to priests and religious who have sinned," Zollitsch said. They have violated the trust of young people in the worst way and must answer to God and the courts.Zollitsch stressed that the Catholic Church in Germany must also not repeat mistakes. A complete clarification of the cases of abuse in German Catholic educational institutions is necessary. "Therefore, I understand the Pope's admonition to the bishops in Ireland at the same time as an admonition to us as well."The scandal of sexual abuse is not just an Irish problem: "It is a scandal of the church in many places, and it is the scandal of the church in Germany."The Bishops' Conference's commissioner for abuse, Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier, also said that the letter's "fundamental statements also apply to us in Germany, indeed worldwide". As examples, Ackermann cites the unequivocal condemnation of sexual abuse as a crime, the call to openly admit misdemeanors and mistakes, and open criticism of any false concern for the reputation of the Church.

Ireland's church sees pope's letter as important step Irish church leaders welcomed pope's letter. Irish Primate Cardinal Sean Brady spoke Saturday in Armagh of a historic day for the country's Catholics. He Be Benedict XVI. very grateful for his deep kindness and concern. Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin described the letter as a step in the Church in Ireland's process toward renewal and healing.

ZDK president: Can also help German church According to the Central Committee of German Catholics(ZdK), the letter also has significance for Germany. ZdK President Alois Gluck called the letter in Bonn on Saturday an "impressive document that can also help the Catholic Church in Germany to draw the right consequences". The pope deals concretely with the situation in Ireland with an "almost relentlessly open language". At the same time, however, the pastoral letter is "a helpful orientation for the entire universal church". Among the important criteria for further deliberations in Germany, Gluck mentions the selection of candidates for the priesthood, transparency and openness, the need for cooperation with the state, and an ongoing review of existing guidelines. "With this letter, Pope Benedict once again takes an exemplary and clear stand for the uncompromising clarification of sexual abuse and just as unequivocally for the victims," said Gluck.

After the sharp criticism of Catholic bishops by Green politicians, Renate Kunast, parliamentary party leader of the Greens in the Bundestag, has called on the church to take a closer look at the social situation. At the same time, she stressed in an interview with the Catholic News Agency (KNA) in Berlin on Friday, church representatives must also face clear criticism when they say clear words. There is no "official bonus.

KNA: Mrs. Kunast, first Bishop Mixa, then Cardinal Meisner.Which bishop is next in line to criticize the Greens??Kunast: With respect, counter-question: How can it actually happen that Catholic Christians talk about women as childbearing machines, talk about people with certain sexual orientations being the downright downfall of mankind?. I believe that the Catholic Church should also face this question. It can't be that this kind of conservatism is suddenly supposed to be the core of Catholic values.KNA: Nevertheless, it is striking, for example, that the birthing machine statement was commented on shrilly a good seven months later. Why not rely on direct talks instead of loud noises at party conventions or in front of microphones??Kunast: Actually, the discussion has already taken place. And I would be happy if we could discuss these ies further as soon as possible. Already during the last conversation with Cardinal Lehmann I asked the question: How is actually the family image of the Catholic Church in view of the fact that the traditional old image is lived less and less, but it is one of the central Christian values to live charity and care for the others, in whatever form. The Catholic Church must come to terms with the fact that today's lifestyles are precisely no longer those of the 19th century. or early 20. The people of the twentieth century are. One must nevertheless look for the core of the values. Something like this should become more of an ie in the Catholic Church as well.KNA: Even the loudly criticized bishops emphasize that they do not want to change the family image of the 19th century. It is not only the family image of the twentieth century that is represented here, but also the family image of the Basic Law.Kunast: The Basic Law says that marriage and family are to be protected. If someone now says that a certain sexual orientation would be the downfall of mankind, so to speak, I say to you: I do not find this passage in our Basic Law.On the contrary, the Basic Law demands equality and forbids discrimination.KNA: How should things continue between the Greens and the Catholic Church after the volume of the past weeks??Kunast: The Catholic Church should also clearly state what its image of society actually is and how it deals with modern lifestyles. Take a look at the state of Berlin, for example. More and more people live alone. There the Basic Law can protect the marriage still so much verbally: When half of the households in Berlin are single, when there are more and more single parents and patchwork families, the Catholic Church has to face up to it. It is not in line with my hopes and expectations of the Catholic Church to ignore such realities and to discriminate against certain people.The Catholic Church must also face up more strongly to the question of how children are actually supported in this country. Where is it when it comes to giving every child equal opportunities for development and the free development of his or her personality, and therefore to question the traditional financing of family policy??KNA: After all, Catholic parishes and Caritas are the largest non-governmental provider of childcare facilities in Germany.Kunast: Of course, locally they are the big providers. But why do discriminatory statements repeatedly come up in such political debates?? It cannot be in the church's interest for this to remain in the public eye. Moreover, such statements contradict the anti-discrimination guidelines.KNA: To what extent?Kunast: The sexual orientations of our fellow human beings are none of our business. And when one of the outstanding church representatives makes such disparaging remarks, I am surprised that silence reigns in church ranks. I would like to see a more courageous approach to the people, for example in the concern for more and better quality child care, in the support of those who care for others, for example friends and companions with AIDS. It's hard to do that when you're tied down to a certain image of family, marriage or relationships.KNA: Back to the sharpness of criticism – politicians of other parties say: That's no way to talk about religious representatives.Kunast: Whoever enters into political discussions, whoever leaves the form of high office in the way he presents himself, becomes part of the discussion. You know: I like to dish it out hard myself.Every cardinal or bishop is entitled to proper interaction, but he is definitely not entitled to a bonus of office that places him in a criticism-free space. On the contrary, anyone who speaks out so decisively and – in the case of the legal protection of same-sex partnerships – ultimately attacks resolutions of the Bundestag, will surely be allowed to be criticized by members of parliament on the merits of the matter.KNA: Some representatives expressed the conviction that the Greens are not electable for Catholics.Kunast: Thank God every Catholic still decides for himself. This shows a curious understanding of democracy, when the most value-conservative believe that they can still say from the pulpit on Sunday, as they did in the century before last, what should be voted for. Whoever thinks that is not up to date.KNA: Could you imagine inviting Cardinal Meisner for a clarifying or clear conversation??Kunast: Inviting Cardinal Meisner to talk to him? Yes, I can imagine that. But there would be a proper and quite clear discussion. One thing is clear: I'm bringing my parliamentary manager with me.Interview: Christoph Strack (KNA)

During his visit to eastern Congo, Development Minister Dirk Niebel acknowledged the importance of church-sponsored development work in the crisis region. "The contribution of churches in building civil society in Congo is very important," Niebel said Monday in Goma. From Congo, he then traveled on to Mozambique, the last stop on his week-long trip to Africa.

After a visit to the Congolese Christian development organization "Heal Africa," Niebel explained in the crisis region of North Kivu that church sponsors are "very widespread, especially in the countryside, and thus help to create social networks". "Heal Africa", which is financially supported by several churches, received a pledge from Niebel for 850.000 euros in support. The organization advocates for women who have been victims of sexual violence. Co-founder Lyn Luschi explained that nearly seven years after the official end of the war in Congo, rape and sexual assault are still being used as a tool in the conflict. "Assaults on women happen every day," Luschi said. High number of unreported cases Her organization provides the women with medical care and offers them literacy and education. Since 2005, according to Luschi's data, some 28 sought.000 sexually abused women seek refuge at Heal Africa. The number of unreported cases, however, is far higher. So far, he said, only 700 cases have been legally prosecuted. "Heal Africa" is therefore building a DNA database that will enable the identification of perpetrators. In eastern Congo, it is primarily non-governmental organizations that provide basic social services and thus compensate for the lack of state structures. 70 percent of health care is provided by non-state actors, experts say. The German government supports the Democratic Republic of Congo with about 150 million euros annually. The money will go primarily to the areas of resource protection, water supply and health, as well as to the education and training of the Congolese police and the integration of former child soldiers.

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