Saint Statues and Crosses Destroyed in Bamburg Churches

The Archdiocese of Bamberg speaks to kath.net about the "rash of violence" and says: "We can currently confirm 6 cases of vandalism in 5 churches"
 

Bamberg (kath.net/pl) Saints statues and crosses have been destroyed in five Bamberg churches. Catholic churches and a Protestant church were affected. The spokesman for the Archdiocese of Bamberg, Harry Luck, told kath.net on request: "We are shocked and saddened by the violence in Bamberger churches. We can currently confirm 6 cases of vandalism in 5 churches. Sculptures and saints statues were overturned, pictures were torn off the walls and a pane hit. In consultation with the police we call the communities, believers, sacristans etc. to special attention. The police are investigating and will continue to inform during the day. Consult the press office of the police inspector Bamberg."

According to Bavarian Radio, the property damage apparently amounts to several thousand euros, the Criminal Police determined and have promised to give more information about it today.

The Association of Sacristans of the Archdiocese of Bamberg wrote on Facebook: "Keep your eyes open! Here in Bamberg yesterday and today. It was yesterday and today in the monastery church. St. Otto today and the Evangelical Church of the Redeemer also got it."

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Two Seminarians Dismissed Over "Anti-Semitism"

Würzburg (kathnews/RV). "Anti-Semitism has no place in the Catholic Church." This conviction moved the Bishops of Bamberg and Würzburg, Ludwig Schick and Friedhelm Hofmann, who share a seminary to dismiss two seminarians. The information was released in Wednesday. The charge was that seminarians had celebrated the birthday of Adolfo Hitler and told anti-Semitic jokes, according to a commission employed by the Bishops. According to their recommendation, two seminarians were dismissed, a third is still awaiting a definitive decision. The Bishop of Bamberg Ludwig Schick explained to Cologne Cathedral Radio, that this misconduct was unacveptable. "It is thus in our society, that there are jokes like this, and that are incline people also to racism. The Church is as ever a part of this society. We want to do everything, so that such anti-Jewish and racist ideas are not present in our entire society and if so, they don't go unremedied. There we must begin with ourselves. Whoever wants to go into a humanistic society as a priest, must be completely free of racist ideas."

Against charges by the initial media reports of a "rightist network" that these are considered unfounded, said the Bishops in Wednesday in their statements, they found that alleged birthday celebrations for Hitler had no basis. On the contrary, the seminarians not concerned were hurt to be put in a right radical light, spiritual and educational efforts are necessary here, said Bishop. Archbishop Schick stressed again the basic principles which are valid for the Catholic Church. "We have clear expressions in Nostrae Aetate, the Decree of the Second Vatican Council, on non-Christian religions, where what clearly relates to Judaism, we repudiate the mistrust, violence, persecution of our bretheren, the Jews, and work with each otherfir a world, in which all may live, diversity in unity."

At the end of May Norbert Baumann, Judge of the Superior Court of Bamberg, and three other external consultants of the Bishops were engaged in an investigation. All seminarians were heard, In addition to appropriate education. The concluding report had over 200 pages and detailed the "completely unacceptable" racist statements of anti-Jewish jokes, and in addition, the attempt at trivializing and promoting misunderstanding of both both concerned.

http://www.kathnews.de/zwei-seminaristen-nach-fehlverhalten-entlassen

Burka-Ban: German Archbishop Schick Sees Good Grounds For It

"Focus" -- poll shows that there are 61 percent of Germans for Burka-Ban

Munich [kath.net/KAP] The Archbishop of Bamberg, Ludwig Schick, sees good grounds for a burka ban in Germany. The reason for this interview on "Focus" was related to the news magazine's recent published polls, which shows that 61 percent of Germans are for a burka ban. If it were legally punishable to wear a burka, this must be put in the balance "between the basic rights of religious freedom and other basic rights, like for example the equality of man and woman, the right for education or the right of public assembly", said ++Schick to the news magazine.

The news magazine had made the poll at the pollster TNS Emnid in contract, to select a sample of one thousand and one representative sample of adults. Consequently, sixty one percent were for a ban against full body covering in Germany. 36 Percent were against such a ruling, as the news magazine "Focus" reported. Party members of the CDU/CSU were 75 percent in favor and the FDP members were 73 percent for. The SPD-affiliated voters were 61 percent for, the Greens were 53 percent and the Left-voters were 45 percent for the measure.


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