Because of statement on homosexuality

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Ansgar Wucherpfennig © Harald Oppitz (KNA)

The Vatican apparently wants to prevent a further term of the rector of the Theological-Philosophical University Sankt Georgen, Ansgar Wucherpfennig. Among other things, the Jesuit priest had expressed himself positively on the subject of homosexuality.

As reported by the "Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger" and the "Frankfurter Rundschau" (Monday), the Congregation for Education in the Vatican refuses the clergyman the "Nihil Obstat" (declaration of no objection) and demands a public retraction of his positions. In February, Wucherpfennig was re-elected for a third two-year term with a large majority, he said.

The 52-year-old confirmed on inquiry that he had informed the university conference at the end of September about the procedure. His direct superior, Provincial Johannes Siebner SJ, told the newspapers that he stands behind Wucherpfennig without reservation. In a letter in response, he had expressed his "astonishment" at the Roman approach. "There is not the slightest doubt in my mind about Father Wucherpfennig's expertise, his loyalty, and thus also his suitability for the rector's office."

Bishop Batzing hopes for amicable solution

In 2016, Wucherpfennig, a professor of New Testament, had described the biblical condemnations of homosexuality in an interview as "deep-seated passages, some of them misleadingly formulated," according to newspaper reports. According to the report, Wucherpfennig, who also serves as a homosexual chaplain in the Catholic city deanery of Frankfurt, spoke out in favor of greater church recognition of same-sex lovers.

The Bishop of Limburg responsible for Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt, Georg Batzing, presented himself before Wucherpfennig. He has given his "unqualified" consent to the re-election, said a diocesan spokesman. Batzing had also made clear in Rome that "diocese and Jesuit order are well advised to hold on to the proven university leadership". The bishop therefore continues to ame an amicable solution. (CBA)

Actually, "You'll never walk alone" is the cult anthem of the fans in the soccer stadiums of this world. But for the bishop of Hanover, Margot Kabmann, the piece is obviously also identity-forming. In the church, there is "the awareness of being on the road together, never alone," the 51-year-old quoted the text on Saturday at a "thank you" celebration of Germany's largest state church, with nearly three million members.

In Hanover's city center, the church celebrated Kabmann's tenth anniversary in office – and with her, everyone who was also celebrating her "tenth anniversary".On 4. September ten years ago Kabmann was introduced. "I knew three people when I began my ministry," she candidly confesses at a celebratory service. Now 800 guests of honor sit opposite her: Women and men who visit the sick, care for children, accompany the dying, help the homeless and organize food banks for Hartz IV recipients. In the Hanoverian state church alone, there are 30.000main and 100.000 volunteers. No one knows for sure how many there are nationwide in the 22 member churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD).They are "the true treasure of the church, because they make the faith come alive," says the president of the Hanover regional church office, Burkhard Guntau. The celebration around Hanover's Marktkirche began with his thanks. Ten active members from each of Hanover's 57 church districts between the North Sea coast and the Weserbergland region came to represent the church. Ten – that's a special number, says Kabmann, who some already see as the next chairwoman of the EKD Council. "As a child, it was important to me to become ten. Finally in double digits."Kabmann has initiated prominent aid projects such as "Zukunftsgestalten" for poor children and the "Mirjam" network for pregnant mothers in emergency situations. But not everything always has to be great, beacon-like, she looks back. "Even small steps carry the gospel into the world."Ilse Cordes (59) and Holger Weidemann (55), church people at grassroots level, who are honored together with Kabmann on the festival stage, also think so."We break through loneliness and connect people," says Cordes, who has been involved in a visiting ministry for ten years. And Weidemann belongs to an outpatient hospice service that accompanies dying people. Yes, a difficult ministry, he admits. "But I get more from the dying than I give. They are intense encounters. And the community of the group sustains us."The fact that the ten years were not always a bed of roses can also be heard in Kabmann's words. She had to battle a cancer and cope with divorce from husband Eckhard. The theologian says she felt carried and relies on the church's community of service. "The bishop is worth no more than the green lady and the sexton no less than the senior church councilor."Despite the church's dwindling financial resources, Kabmann affirms that she hopes the church will continue to show by example what solidarity with the weak means over the next ten years. She is looking forward to the next ten years: "With team spirit, mutual appreciation and simply joy in our common path."

Em: the rainbow rules - situation in munich 'calm'

Munich's EM Arena may be used for the German national team's match vs Hungary not in Rainbow colors shine to set a sign for tolerance and equality. The decision of the Uefa triggers plenty of criticism.
The City of Munich now wants to find other ways: Not only will city hall be flagged with rainbow flags, but the wind turbine at the arena and the Olympic tower will be colorfully lit, he said.
Signs should be set at other Bundesliga locations during the match on Wednesday evening. For example, the soccer arenas in Frankfurt am Main, Augsburg, Cologne and Wolfsburg, as well as the Berlin Olympic Stadium and the stadium An der Alten Forsterei in Berlin to shine colorfully during the DFB team's match against Hungary.
Important signals are also to be set in the Ruhr area. So also Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 announced to set a sign against homophobia.

A city in bright colors and only minor problems: The evening of soccer under the sign of the rainbow started "relatively calmly" in Munich, according to the police. However, a spokesman told SID an hour before the European Championship match between Germany and Hungary (9 p.m./ZDF and MagentaTV) of "isolated arrests and offenses as well as the use of pyrotechnics". At the Viennese place besides – apparently from Hungarian side – a Hitler salute was shown.

Even in the Munich arena, where the German national team is playing its last European Championship preliminary round match, there had been "only a brief minor altercation, but nothing dramatic". Overall, the situation "continues to be comparatively calm".

At the town hall, the tower of the St. Maximilian, in the main station and around the arena in Frottmaning reigned the rainbow as a sign of tolerance, humanity and freedom of sexual orientation. Munich's mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) had ordered the colorful, six-part giant flagging at his official residence after his failed attempt to light up the stadium. Manuel Neuer wears his rainbow captain's armband in the German goal again.

EM game against Hungary: Many fans came with colorful flags

Aggressiveness was hardly noticeable at first, despite heated discussions beforehand. "There were isolated pyrotechnics incidents, smoke pots were lit," the police spokesman said. Major problems with the Hungarian problem fans, who arrived around 19.Despite the provocations, he is not aware of any problems with the Hungarian fans who reached the stadium at 3 p.m. 1500 forces are deployed around the game, the Hungarian fans were led directly from the train to the away block in the north curve.

If Munich is not allowed on Wednesday, then the other stadiums in the country must show their colors. On now, colleagues in the league! Deutsche Bank Park turns on the rainbow for the match against Hungary. The Waldstadion remains colorful! #EURO2020 #GERHUN #diversity #SGE #Eintracht

– Axel Hellmann (@Hellmann1899) June 21, 2021

Several smaller rallies for tolerance and against homophobia had been registered: at Rindermarkt, Sendlinger Strabe and Wittelsbacher Platz in downtown Munich, as well as at the Esplanade by the stadium. Several hundred participants were expected to attend. In front of the arena, action alliances distributed thousands of rainbow flags, which also sold like hot cakes.

"If the @UEFAcom does not allow such a self-evident and important sign in Munich, then we want to do this gladly!" We don't let it get us down and set a sign against homophobia and transphobia! #LoveIsLove #PORGER #EURO2020

– FC Augsburg (@FCAugsburg) June 22, 2021

Not a provocation, but a matter of course!
The #S04 stands for diversity and tolerance #rainbow colors | #Pride | #StehtAuf | #GERHUN pic.twitter.com/9UMbFiU4JT

– FC Schalke 04 (@s04) June 22, 2021

Many fans came wrapped in colorful flags, with rainbow wigs, necklaces, headbands or shoulder bags. In the further course of the evening, many stadiums in Germany were to be illuminated colorfully, including in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Wolfsburg or Cologne. A wind turbine in Munich near the arena should also shine. Stewards wore colorful sweatbands on their arms. Many Hungarians, however, appeared as a fearsome "black bloc".

The city had applied to the European Football Union (Uefa) to have the arena shine as a rainbow in protest against the policies of Hungary's right-wing nationalist government. Uefa rejected this: President Aleksander Ceferin spoke of a "populist action" for which the federation would not be abused. (sid)

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