The chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, has called for a path to peace between Ukrainians and Russians to be sought now. “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 now,” said the Limburg bishop in his Christmas sermon on Sunday, according to the text of the speech published. “Because how else is it supposed to go on if hopefully soon the guns will finally be silent?”
Bavaria’s evangelical bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm called for more dialogue in his Christmas message – in social debates as well as in world politics. “We all lament the suffering that the illegal and reprehensible invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army is bringing to the people there. And we condemn the terror associated with the bombing of Ukraine’s infrastructure for the people there,” said the former Council President of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). “But that shouldn’t mean a complete break-up of the relationship. It can’t be that military logic determines everything.”
Bätzing said the war and the brutal violations of human rights in Ukraine sowed hatred. “And that will probably provoke violence again and again over generations.” One must therefore ask oneself how the seeds of peace can be sown now. “Can diplomatic talks and confidence-building measures already bring people from both sides together for peace-building talks and projects?”
Individual Christians in Germany are also asked here, because after all, many people from the Ukraine and Russia also live here, said Bätzing. “Let’s reach out to them and talk to them about light and shared perspectives in the midst of the darkness of war and destruction.”
Climate activists wanted to disrupt worship
The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and possible paths to peace had already determined the sermons of leading clergymen in the Christmas Eve services. According to the police, a group of climate activists from the last generation wanted to disrupt a service in Stuttgart-Möhringen broadcast on ARD television. But this was thwarted. Since there were indications of the planned action, the service was recorded the day before.
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann criticized the action on Twitter on Sunday. The FDP politician wrote that anyone who wanted to storm a church service at Christmas to promote political goals could no longer be helped. “So you don’t find any supporters, only opponents.” The group is a pity for serious climate protection.
