743 Christian Refugees Have Been the Victims of Assaults in German Asylum Centers -- Open Doors Report

Open Doors makes refugee report.  Within 743 attacks are
reported against Christian refugees in German asylum centers.
The majority have been victims of Muslim "fellow refugees".

(Berlin) The Fund for persecuted Christians Open Doors Germany put together with other aid and human rights organizations report the refugee " Lack of protection of religious minorities in Germany " before. This religiously motivated attacks on 743 Christian refugees are documented and analyzed in German refugee centers.

The report quoted German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière with the words: "We have underestimated the importance of religion." The Minister was moved to these words in retrospect on the events of recent months.

The  consequences of these findings is reflected "especially in the German refugee centers,"  says Open Doors.  Through the concealment of these facts, has led to many "wrong conclusions" about the reasons there are many attacks directed especially against Christians, which has led to the "neglect in refugee centers" which fails in the  protection of non-Muslim religious minorities from Muslims.

Last May, various aid and human rights organizations have come together, "to draw attention to the clustering of attacks against Christians and other religious minorities in German refugee camps and to demand effective protection measures for them."  The aid and human rights organizations include the Action for Persecuted Christians and Needy (AVC), the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM), Kirche in Not , Open Doors and the Central Committee for Oriental Christians in Germany .

At a press conference on May 9 in Berlin, reports of 231 refugees were submitted reporting "of the massive discrimination,  death threats and violent attacks, which refugees in Germany suffer because of their Christian faith."

This first collection was continued by the participating organizations. The result has now been submitted to "significantly extended data base". "The documented cases demonstrate the continuing unacceptable situation of Christian refugees who are discriminated against, beaten and threatened with death in the German refugee centers as a minority, by Muslim refugees and partly Muslim employees (security guards, interpreters, assistants). Even ten refugees of the Yezidi faith participated in the survey. Their information has been evaluated separately in this report."

Among the 231 Christian refugees whose negative experiences were documented, 512 more cases were added in the months from May to September. In 743 cases there were religiously motivated attacks against Christians, in ten cases against Yazidis. All attacks were carried out in asylum facilities in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The distribution of those affected  shows Berlin with 146 assaults at the top of the negative scale, while in Saxony no assault was revealed.

Of those, there were 314 reported death threats, 44 of sexual assault, 416 of bodily injury. In addition, 615 cases of "other persecution". 83 percent of these affected indicated that "several times" there were assaults.

The Christian refugees  are  "used to being treated as second-class citizens" in majority Muslim homelands. Now they see that they too can find in Germany no effective protection and reporting the violence and death threats to the police have no consequences for the perpetrators, since the Muslim perpetrators are in the majority, and often make counter charges."

In homes and refugee centers in many cases it is not the perpetrators but the victims who are perceived and accused of being "troublemakers". "Lately we are seeing it more and more that Christian asylum seekers are concerned with house bans, because they interfere with the supposedly good coexistence in the homes."

A majority of the surveyed Christian and Yezidi refugees, therefore, are hoping for  "separate accommodation".  Several also asked for  "no Muslim security personnel".

The overall impression:  Muslims are more welcome than Christians or members of other religious minorities in the "Refugee Welcome"-- apparatus.

Text: Andreas Becker
Image: Open Doors (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Benedict XVI Criticizes German Church-Tax

Emeritus in Seewald-book: he had great doubts about whether the Church-tax system as it is now, is correct - "The automatic excommunication of those who do not pay it, in my opinion, is untenable."

Rome (kath.net) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. has discussed in his interview book "Last Testament" about "the church-tax in Germany" in a Peter Seewald interview tape. He had great doubts about whether the church tax system in its current form is correct. Benedict XVI says: "But the automatic excommunication of those who do not pay it is, in my opinion, untenable." The book was published on Friday.

The Catholic Church in Germany is seen by Benedict XVI. generally in a critical light. "In Germany we have this established and highly paid Catholicism, often with employed Catholics who then confront the Church with a labor union mentality." The Church is just an employer for these officers, of which they are critical. For the Church in Germany is at a great risk that "a surplus of nonspiritual bureaucracy" arises through the many paid employees. "I am saddened at this situation, the excess of money, that is yet again too little, and the bitterness that comes of this, that malice, which is manifest in German intellectual circles." The readable introduction by Peter Seewald of his interview tape Pope Benedict XVI. is now available on kath.net in full length!
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Germany: AfD Scores Resounding Victory

AfD Members: Celebrating in Schwerin 

The result of state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a slap in the face for the policy of Chancellor Merkel. One year after the opening of borders in Germany and the "We can do it" mantra of Angela Merkel, the decision of the voters was clearly determined in the northeast for a federal policy issue: the asylum policy and the influx of illegal immigrants to Germany.

According to initial projections, the CDU is falling to third place with 19 percent of the vote  and thus was one of its historically worst election results. The party was outclassed by the AfD, which will move from the state with 21 percent in the state legislature. Equipped with the incumbency of the popularly respected Prime Minister Erwin Selle, the SPD held 30 percent, but lost also about 5 percent.

Increase in turnout: citizens feel they have an alternative to vote on

Noteworthy is the increase in turnout by as much as ten percentage points from 51 to 61 percent. After years of steadily declining participation, there are  significantly more citizens going to the polls. The reason: Obviously, the start of the AfD has contributed significantly to the idea that citizens again have the feeling they have real political alternatives to vote for.

The success of the AfD is a success for democracy. Whether euro crisis, asylum chaos, national sovereignty or direct participation of citizens - at last it is not only in back rooms or social networks but that political decisions and decision-making are taking place in the place of a republic, namely the Parliament, to fight again with real pros and cons, which has you nothing to do any  longer with an absurd all-party coalition.

The  government tuteledge of citizens comes to an end

With this election result the triumph of AfD continues. It's all the more remarkable, since the party had to contend with massive discrimination and violent attacks by left-wing extremists. Upon the elections for the Chamber of Deputies in Berlin in two weeks, the young party founded only three years ago is expected to move into the tenth state parliament.

The established parties but also journalists in the mainstream media of the country must now  accept that Germany has experienced the long overdue normalization of its political landscape. The governmental tutelage of citizens by a political class now comes to an end. We are experiencing a positive re-politicization of society, the emancipation from a far left liberal dominated public opinion. And that's good!

Link to Junge Freiheit...

Photo: dpa

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Four Muslims Attack Convert in Germany

"Whoever speaks openly as convert to devout Muslims about his faith and does not hide his cross, is not safe even in Germany."

Maintal (kath.net/ idea) An Afghan Christian (31) has been attacked in Maintal (near Frankfurt) by four Muslim Afghans. They are to have shouted "Allahu akbar" (Allah is great)  and they wanted to kill him. This was announced by a volunteer of the Evangelical Free Church (FeG) Hanau, Benjamin Dauth (Maintal), with the Evangelical News Agency idea. The Afghan - his name is known to idea, however, not mentioned for security reasons - visited the community worship  and worked as a volunteer translator in a refugee camp in the city.

The attack occurred on the evening of 17 August. While getting on his bike, the Afghan Christian was outside his apartment, an Afghan tried to prevented him. He is said to have been with three other Afghans who had been hiding earlier whom he called out, that this was the "opportunity." Then, to have punched and kicked him all four while shouting "Allahu akbar."

The victim  tried to pull away. Then to one of the Muslims shouted "kill him!" One of the attackers then is to have pulled a knife and tried to attack the Christians.

Converts are in Germany not safe at this moment

At this point several residents had come outside because of the noise. The police arrived a little later, says Dauth,  and have got the three attackers' personal details. The fourth had, however, escaped. At the hospital, bruises on the shoulder, forearm and face were found on the Christian.  According to Dauth it was the third such attack on Afghan Christians. The situation is particularly difficult for him because he had converts from Islam to Christianity, "Who speaks openly about his faith as a convert to devout Muslims and does not hide his cross, is not safe in Germany.

"The Afghan Christian is still in the asylum procedure and has worked for a temporary employment agency. Three of the four attackers are housed, according to the victim in the refugee shelter in Maintal, in which he himself has worked as a translator. The fourth is allegedly living in Darmstadt.

As Dauth further said, other refugees from the Maintaler housing facility had warned the  Afghan Christians of an attack. The Muslim Afghans had talked about it in advance. Police are investigating according  details frim Dauth,  for grievous bodily harm. idea asked the police on 26 August for an opinion. They want to address the incident "early next week.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Berlin Capitulates to Leftist Terror

by Henning Hoffgaard

Burning car in Berlin (archive): Pampered terrorists Photo: dpa

Whoever speaks these days about Berlin has to talk about terrorism.   Cars have been burning daily for weeks, police officers are attacked and shop windows of businesses and politicians offices  are repeatedly destroyed. Yes, that's terror. What else would it be?

That national media and federal politics, if it ever addresses the issue, does it just as a side note for a simple reason: The perpetrators are left-wing extremists. Wearing disguises and armed with stones, paint bombs and explosives, they track each night throughout the capital.

Politicians call for discussions and de-escalation

A "black July" was announced with attacks on police officers and all "beneficiaries of the prevailing logic" by terrorists from Riga Street. "As much as you can take is what's allowed!" This is the provocation to the citizens of the city. They are the ones who have to co-finance the terror of dubious "democracy programs" and in the "fight against the right".

But Berlin would not be Berlin if the hatred of the Left was not at  least combined with stupidity and insolence of the politicians in charge. Berlin's mayor, has now called for a "de-escalation approach" something like the quintessential Berliner slum factor. Yes, even talking with the left-wing extremist scene. This should break the "spiral of violence."

Went even further the domestic policy spokesman for the pirate faction in the Berlin City House, Christopher Lauer. His logic: give leftist extremists their squat, then they will stop the violence.

A thought experiment shows all the madness

A thought experiment is enough to understand the bizarreness  of these proposals. What would Lauer and Müller do if  right-wing extremists or Islamists occupied a Berlin trolley and daily attacked policemen and set cars on fire? But would be what's going on.

At least inside Senator Frank Henkel (CDU) has recognized this and just drawn this comparison.Just help the Berliners with this little hindsight. For years, the excesses of the left-wing scene was downplayed, ignored, relativized or even celebrated.

No, Berlin does not need a de-escalation concept and no ominous "civil society". Berlin needs a war on terror.

Link to Junge Freiheit..  Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

T

Countless Sexual Asaults During Festival in Darmstadt

DARMSTADT. In Darmstadt, many women have been sexually harassed and assaulted by asylum seekers during a city festival. So far, 18 women have reported to the police, the police headquarters southern Hesse said on Monday. The women were mostly at a young age. During the festival, three victims of sex assaults  had complained to the police and complained of harassment and assaults by "men from the South Asian region."

"The perpetrators should proceed in small groups, have surrounded and touched immoral women". The police could then arrested three alleged suspects Pakistani asylum seekers. However, the investigation lasted still on. The police are looking for victims and witnesses to report to the officials.

Irmer: Who does these things, has forfeited his right to guest status"

The Hessian CDU member of parliament Hans-Jürgen Irmer reacted in horror to the incidents."Here the right of asylum is outrageously abused. This is totally unacceptable," said Irmer  to Junge Freiheit. "Let me say quite clearly who does these things, has forfeited his right to guest status. There's only one clear answer to this: after a final judgment, back on the next plane to Pakistan," demanded the CDU politician.

Unfortunately, the incident was not a "singular event", which is why the state should now show a "sharp edge". However, it is also important to make it clear that the majority of asylum seekers do not tend in Germany to such acts.

Only the beginning of May during the Carnival of Cultures in Berlin there have been numerous sex attacks on young women. On New Year's night, there had been numerous assaults for hours on women in Cologne and other cities by asylum seekers and illegal immigrants. The incidents made ​​for a discussion of the internal security and the refugee crisis. (krk)

Link...
Trans:Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Religious Identity of 70 Year Old Woman's Murderer Known

BAD FRIEDRICHSHALL. [Junge Freheit] Police have released new details In the case of a murdered 70 year old woman from the Baden-Württemberg Bad Friedrichshall  about the alleged perpetrators. On the scene Arabic and English notes were found containing what was mainly religious in content, reported the SWR. What they mean exactly, the police do not say so, but that it concerns the identity of the perpetrators.

The alleged offender is likely a 26 years old, according to Pakistani police. He has been in Germany for three years. The man's identity could not be released because he has used a different personal repeatedly in the past. The suspect was already known to the police for theft and threats. He has not denied the fact.

Because of the DNA traces found at the scene, the man is still strongly a suspect of having murdered a 70 year old woman in Bad Friedrichshall-Untergriesheim in Baden-Württemberg last Thursday. Police had arrested the suspect on Monday. The investigators found an item from the victim's home during their search. The prosecution is convinced that the man has actually been in the house of the 70 year old. (Ls)

https://jungefreiheit.de/politik/deutschland/2016/polizei-prueft-religioesen-hintergrund-nach-mord-an-rentnerin/

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

1,000 Year Old Rose Tree at Hildesheim Cathedral Blooms Again

Eight weeks after the destruction of the cathedral by bombs in March 1945, when burned even the rosebush, sprouted from his spilled debris root out 25 new shoots.

Hildesheim (kath.net/KNA) The first pink blooms are opening on the famous millennial rose tree at the eastern apse of the Hildesheim cathedral. The main flowering is to be expected in the coming days, according to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hildesheim this Monday. They should attract many visitors to the Diocesan Church, as they do every year. The legend of the rose tree, a wild dog rose, goes back to the founding history of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hildesheim around the year 815.

 At that time, Emperor Louis the Pious,  built a chapel on the spot where a rose tree had twined about a precious reliquary [Of Our Lady's robe]. Ultimately this chapel was the site of the construction of the Hildesheim's St. Mary's Cathedral, whose outer wall goes back to where the legendary rose tree grows today. It has been testified in writing  for more than 400 years. Eight weeks after the destruction of the cathedral by bombs in March 1945, which even burned the rosebush, 25 new shoots sprouted forth from its spilled debris.

The diocesan church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which opened again after extensive renovation work since the summer of 2014. The rose tree, a landmark of the diocese and the city of Hildesheim, is surrounded by a low boxwood hedge. The greenhouse is accessible through a single access point at the cathedral foyer, daily from 10:00 to 18:00 hours. The Hildesheim Rosenstock (C) 2016 CBA


Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Up to 40,000 Non-Muslims Are Harassed in German Refugee Centers by Muslims

According to a study, thousands of Christians who fled Syria and Iraq are exposed to in German refugee camps to violence and threats. In most cases there are converts.

Berlin (kath.net)

According to a study thousands of Christians fled Syria and Iraq are exposed to in German refugee camps violence and threats. This was reported by the FAZ. Those responsible  for the attacks are said to be security personnel and Muslim refugees. 

On Monday several human rights organizations like ISHR ( "International Society for Human Rights"), ZOCD ( "Central Oriental Christians in Germany") complained at a press conference about  this violence in German refugee camps. 

The human rights organization "Open Doors" spoke here of a climate of "fear and panic". Meanwhile, 231 cases in the whole of Germany are documented. This would include discrimination, assault, sexual assault and to death threats. In most cases they were converts, while 204 are reported to have been attacked by other refugees for religious reasons. 

 Protestant Berlin pastor Gottfried Martens said he was "stunned that the paradigm continues to hold in each case." According to Volker Baumann of the action for persecuted Christians and needy (AVC) up to 40,000 refugees are harassed in Germany for their religious beliefs. At the press conference, a Syrian refugee was "shocked" that he had to flee from Muslim extremists and now meet them again in the refugee home.  Iranians reported provocations, harassment and death threats in a Brandenburg accommodation.

http://kath.net/news/55119

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Attempts to Torpedo Recognition of SSPX in the German Press Begin

(Rome) The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) today published a broadside against a possible recognition of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. 

" You do not provoke these rulers! " Is the title of the article by Christian Geyer-Hindemith. A recognition of the SSPX by Rome suggests a threat to the features editor.

"What a 'new humanism' would that be?" Asks Geyer in an idiosyncratic allusion to the acceptance speech of the Pope last Friday, as he was awarded the Charlemagne Prize in Rome.

The FAZ article first confirms that a canonical recognition of the SSPX by Pope Francis may be imminent, and with very favorable conditions for the Fraternity. It was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Lefebvre in response to the Second Vatican Council and its consequences with the aim to preserve the Catholic heritage undiminished in doctrine and discipline.

Against such recognition there is resistance stirring, and it comes mainly from Germany. The intention of the FAZ article is to generate pressure against such recognition. Thus the usual "fight against right-extremism" mechanisms and taglines are employed.

It is therefore likely to be expected in the coming days with further tendentious articles in the German "mainstream media" who want to prevent a canonical agreement between Rome and the SSPX. [Let's not forget Vatican Insider.]

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: FAZ (Screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

"With Luther to Pope" -- Eccentric Pilgrimage Action

(Berlin) "With Luther to the Pope"  describes itself as an unusual "pilgrim action."  The Center for Youth Ministry of the Diocese of Magdeburg  has organized, together with the youth organizations of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany and the Evangelical Church in Anhalt is an "ecumenical journey to Rome".

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"With Luther to the Pope" leaves a lot to be desired.  In fact,  the "Christian pilgrims" of Catholic and Protestant confession are not intending to pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles in Rome. They want to present  "Theses and wishes for ecumenism" to Pope Francis, says Vatican Radio .

With its own website,  they advertised for the  800 located participants. "There are at least as many conceptions of God as there are people, and that's good," says the website of the 9th Ecumenical thesis, "Honouring Diversity". What the Catholic and Protestant organizers want to say is that each "idea" of God is indifferent. The bizarre  1st Ecumenical thesis is: "You're different, and that's my luck: I am only, because we are."

These "theories and desires" Although are not fixed yet, but are in "draft". Anyway, they should be 95 theses, in accordance with the obviously idealized model.

Catholic Diocese wants to bring  "With Luther" demands to  Rome

"With Luther to the Pope", its own website

The Bishop of Magdeburg is Msgr. Gerhard Feige, one of the last appointments of bishops by Pope John Paul II. In 2014  Feige appointed by Pope Francis to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Feige supported in 2015 the demand of Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier to change Catholic moral teaching. Feige said it was "finally time to stand open to the unvarnished reality and in the spirit of Jesus Christ, sensibly and fairly to struggle for responsible and life-serving solutions."  What was meant was the recognition of homosexuality, divorce, remarriage, and premarital sex.

This eccentric pilgrim action by a Catholic diocese, which wants to bring the "with Luther" demands to Rome,  finds a parallel to another controversial ecumenical initiative. On October 31, Pope Francis is to participate in  a Catholic-Lutheran Reformation commemoration in Sweden. Pilgrims will also  travel in autumn from all over Germany "With Luther to the Pope."

The patronage for the action has been assumed by  the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See, the former Education Minister Annette Schavan (CDU). Schavan belongs to the progressive ZdK milieu. From 1991 to 2008 she was a  member of the Central Committee of German Catholics [We Are Church types] and held from 1994 to 2005 the office of Vice President. The Forum of German Catholics designated the Schavan appointment as ambassador to the Holy See as an "affront to the Catholic Church".

The German Bishops' Conference has established in 2013 its own project site "Reformation commemoration".

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image. pixabay

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

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Volker Beck: When the Prototype of a Political Wind Sower Reaps the Whirlwind

A personal, political "obituary" on Volker Beck or: "I must needs now go."

Guest commentary by Christian Meissner

Berlin (kath.net) Even in the Bible it says, "For they who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8,7). Volker Beck (Photo) is for me the prototype of a political reaper of the wind who has now been overtaken the storm.

Like no other in his party, he embodied the representation of the ideal, the self-righteous Old Left, who mercilessly portrayed others on the political spectrum of opinion in the strict focus of his higher moral certainty for the general public.

I have even seen it a few times: sorry, but I can't go into it here! Recently he saw me - our paths have crossed politically several times since 2003 - at the Kirchentag in Stuttgart last year during a visit of the members of Alliance 90 / The Greens, after which he then turned mercilessly with piercing eyes and straight in my direction, roared into the microphone and blustered, "idiots" and "imbeciles of the CDU." . This cold ran down my back.

From my own view I can only say: that is the "fair and respectful treatment", that Claudia Roth now asks for him (rightly), is something he has rarely granted to political opponents, least of all the representatives CDU or CSU.

And the "malice" which was poured out for many years on others, is still taken to heart. That's life! It means we should not pour "malice" over him. Has that now anyone actually done?

The fact that the Greens are just now suddenly rediscovering the virtues of civic decency, which they themselves have not infrequently violated in political discourse, in my opinion, speaks for itself.

Many of Beck's downright hateful and verbal attacks in the characteristic style of the Grand Inquisitor on political dissidents - quite a good party tradition - went directly to the person and not the argument or the thing.

At the latest, in 2013 he personally should have - considering the priggish standards that he uses to measure others - suffered much more significant consequences because of a hushed up and ultimately mendacious statement in his very own essay in the anthology "The Pedosexual Complex" (1988).

Conclusion: With respect to his person, Christian compassion and all understanding are now, indeed, appropriate. One can only wish that he gets away from this terrible addiction.

But as far as his so-called political "merits" (C. Roth), and above all, the manner of his "careful", political discourse, I say without "malice", but from deepest political convictions with Michael Kretschmer: "Good riddance" Christian Meissner is the national director of the Protestant working Group of the CDU / CSU (EAK) . archive photo Volker Beck: (c) Wikipedia / Mathias Schindler. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Translation: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Erosion of the German Church -- Gäswein: "Shepherds Must Not Make Decisions Based on Media Applause"

Flashmob in Rio... Reduced to Ridicule

(Rome / Berlin) The Catholic Church in Germany has experienced a record number of almost 218,000 leaving the church last year. 39,000 more than the year before.

More even than in 2010, when the German Church was shaken by the sexual abuse scandal of minors and was under massive public pressure.

The figures highlight a sideshow: Between 2005 and 2013 Pope Benedict XVI was  annually blamed, if there wasn't  a merely  local "culprit", who could share the blame, like  Bishop Krenn in Austria or the bishops Mixa and Tebartz-van Elst in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Church Exit Numbers Were Instrumentalized Against Benedict XVI. - Since silence

"Controversial actions of Pope Benedict XVI. were to blame"  the "like exclusion of homosexuals ", "lack of equality for women"  or the "lifting of the excommunication for Lefebvrian bishops"  which was said, for example in 2010 by the Austrian pastoral theologian Paul Zulehner (Vienna) and Episcopal Vicar Willi Vieböck (Linz). But there has never been when all things are considered, more leaving the Church than under Pope Francis. Since then there is an awkward silence until the  among the wordy Church representatives and the media. Their "interpretations" are subsequently exposed as a church-political instrumentalisation.

In the Federal Republic of Germany, Church membership is directly coupled to tax aspect. The recognized denominations demand and  are payed the so-called "church tax", which is calculated and charged by the state  and sent to the churches.

Church-tax Secures Influence

The money supply is enormous. In 2011 alone, took the Catholic Church in Germany took in about 5.8 billion euros.

With 1.3 million employees, the Catholic Church is  the second largest employer in Germany next to   the public sector. The largest private company, Siemens, employs just over 400,000 employees.

With the bulging coffers, the German Church exerts considerable influence in the Third World.

Majority of the German Bishops Want to Change the Doctrine of the Church

Some commentators, such as the American George Weigel, writing of the growing erosion process, in addition to financial reasons, describes the tendency of most of the German bishops to trying to change the doctrine of the Church.

This includes marriage and sexual morality, especially the doctrine of the right to access the sacrament of marriage and the Eucharist. Concretely it  applies to the recognition of  second marriages and the admission of remarried divorcees to communion. It is exactly these issues that the Synod of Bishops will address this October.

What Curial Archbishop Geogr Gänswein Says

"It is interesting to hear what Curia Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Prefect of the Papal Household and private secretary of Pope Benedict XVI. has to say in a far more extensive interview," said Marco Tosatti. Interview by Jaume Figa i Vaello for the Catalan and Spanish website +1 Sumant Hostories of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya .

Question: Some of these issues come from your native Germany. Why?

Archbishop Gänswein: Yes. It is true that not all the errors come from there, but the point in question is provided as follows: 20 years ago John Paul II  rejected, after a long and laborious negotiation,  that divorced and remarried would have access to communion.. We can not simply go and change things established in our Magisterium.

Question: Why do some shepherds want that  which is not possible?

Archbishop Gänswein: I do not know. Maybe they give in to the Zeitgeist, perhaps they can be  led by  the applause of the people, which is made by the media ... to be critical of the mass media, is certainly less enjoyable. A shepherd must not decide on the basis of whether the media applauds or not. The benchmark is the Gospel, the Faith, sound doctrine, Tradition.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Mil

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches....

AMDG

The Numbers Leaving the Church in Germany Are Climbing

The German Bishops' Conference has published the number of people leaving the Church in 2014. After 178,805 in 2013, 217,716 people have left the church in the following year. An increase of 20 percent! This is topped by the Protestant Church

Munich (kath.net/pm) The German Bishops' Conference (DBK) are in the midst of silly season this Friday and the dioceses have reported the Church statistics in 2014 and again this is explosive, because the number of leaving the Church has risen significantly again. After 178,805 people left in 2013, 217,716 people have left the church in 2014. That's an increase of about 20 percent. Church attendance has risen with an increase of 0.1 percent to 10.9 percent. The total number of priests is 12,219 (2013 12,336). The number of pastoral assistants is at 3,171 (2013: 3,140) which increased slightly as did the number of community workers at 4,526 (4,470 in 2013). Cardinal Reinhard Marx commented in a press release: "The statistics released today show that church is multiform and is a missionary force, even if we are made painfully aware of the high number of people leaving the Church, that we do not reach people with our message, there are personal life decisions behind the number of leaving the Church that in each case we profoundly regret but also respect the freedom of choice. We will strive to continue our mission credibly to gather so that we can proclaim the joy of the Gospel and many people will find a home in the community of church. The faith joy and momentum of Pope Francis has given us a great help. We want to be on the move with him 'raising' the church in Germany, to actively bring the people for God's sake in community and gives testimony of the great message of the Gospel."

The numbers leaving the Catholic Church are still comfortably topped by the Protestant church. There 410,000 people have left. According to the EPD deaths are also here included, however. They do not wish to publish exact numbers at present. Thus, the Catholic German Bishops' Conference counted 23.9 million members at the end of 2014, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) approximately 22.63 million.

Link to Kath.net...
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Berlin's New Archbishop Koch Warns of Fiasco for Cathedral "Renovation"

Edit: reading between the lines, you can tell that he means to destroy more of the Catholic heritage of a predominantly Protestant city.

The new Archbishop Heiner Koch seeks an amicable solution in the controversial renovation of Berlin's St. Hedwig's Cathedral,  because "to renew a building so that it destroys the community, does not make sense."

Berlin (kath.net/KNA) In the controversial renovation of Berlin's St. Hedwig's Cathedral, the new Archbishop Heiner Koch seeks (Photo) an amicable solution. "To renew a building so that it destroys the community, does not make sense," he said on Wednesday in his first press conference in Berlin. "Then the renovation is a fiasco," said Koch, who was   appointed by Pope Francis to succeed Cardinal Rainer Woelki.

For the renovation and remodeling of the cathedral there is a design that took first place in an architectural competition a year ago. At issue is especially the plan to close the large bottom opening applied 50 years ago in the center of the cathedral with staircase to the lower church. The new Archbishop has to decide on the implementation. 

Koch has  already said he has received many "menacing, sharp" emails on the renovation design. "If you agree to this approach, you will not have many friends," he quoted from it. Koch takes office on 19 September. The designated Archbishop announced that he would "look again exactly" at the plans. At the same time, he stressed,   there was a stress on "urgent action".  Moreover, the competition had been completed, and there were already ​"factual decisions" made.  Moreover, there are different liturgical requirements for the Cathedral today   than 30 years ago.

Even with the also controversial structural reform of the Archdiocese, Koch signaled his willingness to talk. The criticism is particularly the plan, which is to currently combine  105 parishes in Berlin, Brandenburg and Pomerania to around 30 large parishes by 2020. Koch also has received his own words already from letters that clearly made ​​a "tremendous fear of anonymity and homelessness".  

The future archbishop promised "to familiarize himself with the local communities on the way." He defended the foundations initiated by his predecessor for reform: "I can not see that it is factually incorrect."  The question of the best structures should, however, "not be answered uniformly," he conceded at the same time. "Since the archdiocese is too different." But he also warned that he was to reform the structures. They are only the means to an end. The principal issues were "how the Church can fulfill its responsibilities in a changing society." [Get ready for more modernism in Berlin.] (C) 2015 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH. All rights reserved. Photo Bishop Koch (c) Diocese of Dresden / M. Kasiske

Link to Kath.net...

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Photo: Wiki

From Wiki:

After the Kristallnacht pogroms that took place over the night of 9–10 November 1938, Bernhard Lichtenberg, a canon of the cathedral chapter of St Hedwig since 1931, prayed publicly for Jews in the evening prayer following. Lichtenberg was later jailed by the Nazis and died on the way to the concentration camp at Dachau. In 1965 Lichtenberg's remains were transferred to the crypt at St. Hedwig's.

AMDG

German Bishops Want a "Pastoral Aggiornamento" at the Bishops' Synod

Cardinal Marx at Discussion Forum in Magdeburg

(Rome) In a few days in Rome, the Synod of Bishops on the Family will begin. The unofficial theme is, according to the specifications of Cardinal Walter Kasper: "Communion for remarried divorcees". On which side the great majority of the German bishops are,  is already clear. The Rhenish alliance stands behind Cardinal Kasper and whose  bishops it wants to take things in their own hands at the Synod of Bishops.  The President of the German Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Cardinal of Munich and Freising said that quite frankly at the "Discussion Forum" in Magdeburg two weeks ago.

Cardinal Marx  has experienced a boost in his career under Pope Francis. He has been DBK President for a few months, and starting in 2015  he will be Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community  (COMECE) and belongs, since April 2013, as  the representative of Europe to the C-9 Cardinal Advisory, which advises the pope on the management of the universal Church and the reform of the Curia. Also, the Pope also made him the coordinator of the new Economic Council of the Vatican.

German Bishops Want "Pastoral Aggiornamento"

Cardinal Marx belongs with the German church, as a weighty spokesmen for a "pastoral aggiornamento"  in order to bring justice within the family which have been in "situations unknown until a few years ago". The allusion refers to the Synod of Bishops on the Family, held under Pope John Paul II. in 1980 and was reflected in the Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio. It will  say that the majority of the German episcopate is of the opinion that Familiaris Consortio  is no longer on  "timely" because of how quickly and radically people  change  behavior.

This  Marx was told also by his German brothers of Cardinal rank, Gerhard Müller, Cardinal, Prefect of the Congregation, very directly and candidly. The meeting was "cordial" held in a  "benign" atmosphere. Head of the delegation, said Marx modestly,   was not he, but Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück.

Cardinal Müller  is considered, due to his position, as well as his German origin, as the main opponent of Cardinal Kasper's theses. Müller points out that the "mercy is  the completion of justice" and that therefore it could never be used to to remove the Ten Commandments or weaken the meaning and scope of the sacraments or even to override them. Otherwise there  would be a "serious manipulation of true charity." A hard accusation by the CDF Prefect of Kasper and Marx in the meeting without Müller calling them by name.

The Attempt, to Put Reigns Action on the Synod Itself

Marx announced in Magdeburg, however, that he personally, as soon as the Synod will have begun, as President of the German Bishops' Conference  has an already revised document he will present that will explain the position of the German bishops at the Synod. In any case the majority. The minority will probably have no voice at the Synod. Those German bishops who support the position of Kasper, Marx and his predecessor, Zollitsch, all are notable signatories of the document, so says the DBK-chairman. The ranks of the German bishops will be pretty close.

Marx left no doubt in Magdeburg that the document that was presented the front line of   the cardinal consistory by Cardinal Kasper in February. The announced document seems to be another part of a deliberate and planned strategy to  take control, one that harks back to the year 2013. In calculations perhaps up to the conclave. The detailed document prepared by Kasper and Marx seems to want to steer the discussion of the Synod of Bishops in a certain direction.

Excited about the prospects, are progressive organizations like "We Are Church". The President Martha Heizer who was excommunicated with her husband for arbitrary imitation of  Holy Mass, said: "Just a quick, compelling and anthropocentric reform" could help in its resultant sexual morality, could contribute to the  shortening of the distance between the traditional teaching of the Church and the reality of the lives of the Catholic faithful.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Diocese of Magdeburg (Screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

National Pilgrimage of the German District of the Society of St. Pius X to Fulda to Renew the Consecration of Germany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

For the 11th  year, the German District of the  Society of St. Pius X. has organized its a pilgrimage to Fulda for the 6 and 7 September. It was introduced in 2004 for the annual renewal and the consecration of Germany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which was completed in 1954 for the first time in Fulda by the bishops of Germany.

This year's pilgrimage takes as  its subject the life of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, against the background of the  100. anniversary of the death of the great Eucharistic Pope Pius X.

The pilgrimage begins on September 6 at noon at 12.30 in the center of Fulda in front  of the castle with a Marian procession through the city and surrounding area.

The venue of the two-day prayer meeting is the ballroom of the old Orangerie, in the castle garden (Maritim Hotel). There, a first solemn High Mass in the traditional Latin Rite will be celebrated on Sat evening at  6:30. At night the members of the Catholic youth movement  will hold a prayer vigil before the altar, which is built in the Orangerie.

On Sunday morning at 8:00  the day's program begins with a talk on the pilgrimage theme, which is followed by a solemn Pontifical High Mass at 9:30, which will be said by the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay. 

The grand finale is the prayer of Consecration to Mary, as the   pilgrims who come from all parts of Germany will again commend their fatherland to  Maria.

It is an open event for all Christians who want to endorse the concerns of pilgrimage. There are about 800 people expected for the Mary procession, for the High Mass on Sunday morning, there will be up to 1000 participants from all over Germany.

For more information: www.deutschlandweihe.de

Text: PM / LS
Image: Pilgrimage Office

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

In Japan As on the Banks of the Rhine. The Church's Surrender

The responses of the Japanese and central Europeans to the questionnaire for the synod on the family register the yielding of Catholics to the dominant “uniform thought.” But also the pastors' inability to lead

by Sandro Magister

ROME, June 6, 2014 – So far six episcopal conferences have violated the terms of confidentiality and have made public the responses to the 39 questions of the preparatory questionnaire for the upcoming synod of bishops, convened on the issue of the family. 

German:

> Pastoral challenges to the family…

Austrian:

> Fragebogen zur Bischofssynode...

Swiss:

> Risultati della consultazione...

Belgian:

> Rapport de synthèse...

French:

> Les défis pastoraux de la famille...

Japanese:

> Response to the Secretariat...

As can be noted, five of the six episcopal conferences belong to the central European geographical area that was the activist wing of the innovations of Vatican Council II but afterward was also the one most marked by the phenomenon of secularization.

Today it is above all from this area that the strongest pressure is coming for a change of teaching and pastoral practice concerning marriage, in particular with the request to give communion to the divorced and remarried.

Continue to Sandro Magister...chiesa.