“This is not a purely eastern problem”

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Even in the churches there are people "who think more populist than is desirable," says Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg. The problems of the people must be taken seriously, which requires the commitment of the whole community.

In the debate about populism and the AfD, the Bishop of Magdeburg, Gerhard Feige, promotes dialogue. It is important to talk about content and certain values, such as human dignity, which applies to everyone, Feige said on MDR's radio program "Kultur-Werkstatt," which airs this Tuesday at 10 p.m. "One cannot be interested in a division of society," the bishop said. Polarization should not be encouraged, hatred and incitement should not be spread. Democratic societies rather rely on compromises.

"Democracy is exhausting"

At the time of the political turnaround in 1989/90, Feige said, he did not think that the situation would change so much in the next 30 years. This worries him and also scares him. Feige emphasized: "Freedom challenges, you have to decide."And: "Democracy is exhausting, demands the commitment of the whole community."There are problems, fears and concerns among the people that must be taken seriously. With regard to populism, the bishop emphasized, "This is not a purely Eastern problem."Even in the churches, there are people, groups and circles "who think more populist than is desirable".

The Protestant state bishop Ilse Junkermann said in the same interview that the AfD works strongly with people's fears. One fear in East Germany is that of another great change: The first one, the Wende, brought a lot, but also took a lot away. There is still a feeling of disadvantage, which is reflected in lower wages and demographic developments, for example. She conceded: "The churches' power to provide a home is no longer so great."

Commitment also regarding changes in the church

In the face of changes in the church and declining membership, Bishop Feige relies on the commitment of individual believers. "More than ever, I think it's also up to the individuals," he said. "We are not just a service institution for religious needs."Every baptized and confirmed person is a member of the church with responsibility.

According to forecasts, the large churches in Germany will have only half as many members in 2060 as they have today. Its financial possibilities will also be roughly halved. This is the result of a study by the Research Center for Intergenerational Contracts (FZG) at the University of Freiburg.

Catholic church with fewer losses than Protestant church

According to the calculations, the number of members will decline from 44.8 million in 2017 to 34.8 million by 2035 (minus 22 percent) and to 22.7 million by 2060 (minus 49 percent). In this context, the Catholic Church (minus 48 percent) will lose slightly fewer members than the Protestant Church (minus 51 percent).

The "shape of the church" can and will change, Feige said. But what is decisive is "whether we do justice to our task". In the history of the church there have always been changes. "The shape of the church will change dramatically."But the church can remain alive. "We want to be a creative minority" in the ecumenical spirit," the bishop emphasized. A minority can be small, but can make a difference.

The chemistry with Bishop Junkermann is right

Bishop Gerhard Feige and the Protestant state bishop Ilse Junkermann expressed their mutual sympathy and appreciation. She said it was a "great gift" that Feige was able to celebrate her 60th birthday. I am grateful and glad that God has led you here from Baden-Wurttemberg," Junkermann said in the MDR radio program "Kultur-Werkstatt". The sympathy has grown reciprocally.

However, neither wanted to be called the "dream couple of ecumenism". "That is too fixed, that does not fit," said the bishop. "But I would say best friends, good partners." Feige expressed in the same interview: "The chemistry is right." Junkermann added: "And the concern."

The two church representatives also praised the ecumenical togetherness in their region. Christians are in the minority but live in a shared present, Junkermann said. At the national church and diocesan level, he said, people are on a path to learn from each other. This seems to her to be a good way: "no one-size-fits-all, but see what we can learn from each other and then do together".

Bishop Feige emphasized that dechurching and secularization "are bringing us closer together here". Like Junkermann, he praised the commemoration and learning from one another in the course of the past Reformation commemoration. The commemoration, he said, had overall "become a fruitful event for both sides".

Sensitive approach to abuse

Meanwhile, he said, the Catholic Church must deal seriously and sensitively with the ie of abuse. Cases must be intensively investigated, including in cooperation with prosecutors, Feige said on the MDR radio show. "An enormous amount" needs to be done in the area of prevention. "Only in this way, if we take it seriously, can it be that we regain trust."

Feige also referred to the MHG study, according to which in the church files of the years 1946 to 2014 indications of nationwide 3.677 victims of sexual assaults and about 1.670 accused priests, deacons and religious have been found. Scientists had said that neither celibacy nor homosexuality and the sexual morals of the church alone could be seen as causes. All three, however, were "enabling factors". Feige emphasized: "And we have to see what significance they have for the phenomenon and what needs to be changed."

Archbishop Stephan Burger © Andreas Kuhlken (KNA)

Archbishop Burger of Freiburg sees mistakes by his predecessor Zollitsch in dealing with cases of sexual abuse. At the same time, Burger announces that he will continue to work through the abuse and abuse prevention in the Archdiocese of Freiburg.

CBA: Archbishop, thousands of personnel files were evaluated for the nationwide study on abuse in the Catholic Church. In the Archdiocese of Freiburg, this found indications that information about acts of abuse had been removed to protect the perpetrators. How many files are affected?

Stephan Burger (Archbishop of Freiburg): I cannot narrow it down exactly. But it is clear that there have been repeated manipulations. Most of them are very long ago. And it is clear that this must not happen again. I have now made provisions for this. For example, by requiring all pages in personnel files to be numbered consecutively. This was not the case until now and made it easier to make things disappear.

CBA: You see a "deliberate cover-up" of abuse cases. What are you referring to? Who is responsible?

Burger: One case is Oberharmersbach. There, a parish priest abused young people from 1968 to the early 1990s. My predecessor as archbishop, Robert Zollitsch, has already admitted that the diocesan leadership made mistakes at that time. I have to ame that my predecessor in office knew about these events.

CBA: But the case was never worked through in detail. For example, to find out which structures favored the years of abuse or why the voice of victims was not heard.

Burger: A comprehensive investigation of the case would be an important task in its own right. On the other hand, there are those affected who do not want everything to be reopened. I recently sought a conversation with the congregation. It has become clear to me that it would be important for many of those affected to hear one more word from Alterzbischof Zollitsch. That he would signal that he, too, has made mistakes. But of course that's his decision, which I can't take away from him.

CBA: Are you in contact with your predecessor with regard to Oberharmersbach and the processing of abuse in general??

Burger: Not at the moment, but a conversation would be very important to me. Also, to hear from his side the assessments and perceptions.

CBA: During your visit, the parish priest in Oberharmersbach demanded that Zollitsch no longer be entrusted with tasks because he had gambled away trust.

Burger: Alterbishop is now very rarely on the road on behalf of the archdiocese. But of course he still has many appointments where he is requested for lectures or church services. He is free to do so.

CBA: Experts give your diocese a good report card for prevention work against abuse. At the same time, the nationwide study has called for church structures to be reviewed because they can encourage the abuse of power. How do you deal with it?

Burger: We have set up a specialist group to look into these ies in order to prevent abuse of power and clericalism. The task of priests and all church employees is to serve others and not to exercise power over them. This is an important concern for me. On the other hand, prevention work remains a constant challenge. It is a matter of making all employees permanently aware of this ie.

CBA: Does this also include a new way of thinking about sexual morality or celibacy??

Burger: These discussions will certainly continue, we must not avoid them. That is why these questions are also on the agenda of the German Bishops' Conference.

The interview was conducted by Volker Hasenauer.

In the morning at 5 the cathedral chapter fetches the treasure

Something mysterious lies in the basement of the church – so precious that it will be transported to Cologne Cathedral. But: What is it about? Young people in Oberberg can track down the answer in an Escape Room.

Interviewer: An Escape Room in a church – how did you come up with it?

Christina Duster (Youth Officer): Our department at the Catholic Youth Agency is responsible for the various youth groups in the parishes – i.e. for the associations, for the parish youth groups or for the altar boys and girls. We always want to provide materials that groups can borrow for trips or events.

Then, some time ago, we had the idea of taking up the trend of Escape Rooms and developing such a game ourselves. This is what a colleague did – and this is how the "cellar secret" came into being.

Interviewer: The Escape Room will have to be played in the basement of the church?

Gloomy: Basically you can play everywhere. We thought about making an offer especially for young people together with the CulturKirche Oberberg and then setting up the Escape Room in the church. Where exactly this will be in the church, we have to see. Then it will be set up and the young people will have the opportunity to experience the church in a completely different way – if they have ever been to church at all or however long ago that was.

Interviewer: In your case, it's a little different than in other Escape Rooms: the participants are not locked in, but there is a story in the foreground, which even leads to the Cologne Cathedral. What exactly is behind it?

gloomy: Correct.The participants are not locked in, but they go to the basement room voluntarily because they are very curious. They overhear a conversation between the parish secretary and the sexton. There's a mysterious thing in the basement and it's so valuable that the next morning at five o'clock it's picked up by staff of the cathedral chapter because security in the basement of the parish is not guaranteed.

Being curious, the youngsters sneak there at four in the morning and have an hour to find this mysterious thing and figure out what is supposed to be transported there.

Interviewer: How to find out? Should you be Bible literate?

Bleak: It definitely doesn't hurt, but the puzzles are designed so that anyone can solve them with or without knowledge of the Bible. It does help if you know how to find Bible passages. But when in doubt, we are there to give tips.

Interviewer: Do you play against time or is there another opponent??

Bleak: It's not that anyone appears or is frightened or that the "evil sexton" appears all of a sudden. Above all, you have to work together as a group and think about how to deal with successes or failures. That is then perhaps still the largest opponent.

Interviewer: How can you participate?

Gloomy: Whoever wants to participate can contact me via e-mail or phone number. We still have a few free play times in the next week – and they could still be given away.

The interview was conducted by Verena Troster.

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