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News and comment on church closings and on modern Catholic life throughout the world. The practice of Catholic devotions as a remedy and in reparation will also be encouraged. If anyone has any news on any Catholic Church closures anywhere in the world, pictures and suggested links please feel free to e-mail. Also pay a visit to the extensive archives- also click on labels. Visit the Catholic Store to support Cathcon!
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Cardinal rejects favouring Christian refugees and wants no limits placed on asylum seekers
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Source
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Refugee boat used as Corpus Christi altar by Cologne Cardinal
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Cologne - A seven-metre long refugee boat is to be sited in the middle of Cologne as a memorial. The Archdiocese of Cologne has purchased the wooden former fishing boat that was seized by the Maltese army several years ago in a rescue operation. In cooperation with the charity Moas, it will brought to the cathedral city and is expected here next week, the archdiocese said on Friday. Cardinal Rainer Woelki wants to celebrate the Corpus Christi Mass on the boat on 26 May in Cologne's Roncalliplatz . After that it will be used in the Archdiocese for events. The ship type was often used by Libyan smugglers for transport to Italy.
The boat is to remember the thousands of deaths in the Mediterranean and the suffering of the refugees. According to the Archdiocese, Cardinal Woelki wants to point out that the fundamental problems have not been resolved, even if the number of refugees currently is falling back in Germany. The setting up of the boat will be linked to the 23,000 Chimes Event in which 230 churches a year ago recalled the 23,000 refugees who have arrived since 2000 in the Mediterranean. Since these bells were rung more than 3,327 people have died on the journey in unsafe boats on the Mediterranean Sea, reported the Archdiocese with reference to the refugee agency UNHCR.
Source
And also below a video of Dixieland Jazz Corpus Christi.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Cardinal calls for rapid deportations
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"As a rule, Albanians who come to us cannot invoke the right of asylum in the Basic Law", Woelki said on Wednesday to the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger".
Return refugees consistently
The 59-year-old who currently is visiting Albania and Kosovo, therefore considers it right to send them back, "moreover consistently, so as not to stir up the hope for every individual, maybe that they as one of hundreds or thousands of newcomers can then just be allowed to stay".
Given a large number of poverty refugees, the right of asylum should be protected from abuse, demanded Woelki. "We cannot overcome the problem of poverty by trying to solve the problem of asylum."
What was needed was an immigration law, "which allows the people from countries such as Albania, legal entry and a perspective on life in Germany," said the Cardinal. The intention of the Federal Government is to declare Albania and Kosovo in future as "safe countries of origin". This would make it difficult for those immigrating from there to claim their fundamental right to asylum in Germany.
Proposals to reduce the allowance for refugees, Woelki called outlandish and spoke of attempts of politics, to conduct the refugee debate " on the backs of those affected".
Specifications in Germany apply for each refugee
The requirements of the Federal Constitutional Court are clear. "They apply to anyone who comes to us", underlined the Archbishop. One also cannot compare salaries and cost of living in a country like Albania with the German level. "Therefore, the idea is absurd, 'Poverty refugees' - a terrible word by the way! – wishing to put them in a worse position than asylum seekers or Hartz IV recipients ".
The Cardinal showed openness for a "national refugee pact" as part of a genuine welcoming culture. "We need to further pull together socially and thereby give ourselves economic challenges. Since all social groups are needed to be involved, why not in a national pact?" said Woelki. The churches would make our contribution.
Source
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
This Christmas scene is rubbish- literally
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"Follow the star to traditional and international Christmas crib art" until January 6, 2015 at the 19th Cologne Christmas Crib Path. At over 110 stations across Cologne, international crib art is on offer at the highest level, organized and hosted by the Rheinstil Kulturmanagement
On display are traditional Christmas cribs from various historical periods, contemporary artists and traditional popular Christmas cribs from many cultures. The cribs are to be found at publicly accessible locations such as shop windows, in cultural and religious institutions, in Cologne Central Station, at the Christmas markets and in many Catholic and Protestant churches, who are taking part in the Crib Path.
In contrast, a very moving Crib in the main station- showing a Crib set in the shadow of the ruins of Cologne Cathedral in 1945.
Complete with the Cardinal Archbishop and two servers (just visible behind) on their way to pay homage to the King of Kings.
As it was
The days when Cologne was more fully Catholic- scenes from the German Catholic Day in 1956, including Cardinal Frings who was later to do such damage at the Vatican Council by breaking the power of the curia, with a speech drafted for him by a young Joseph Ratzinger.
Source
Monday, December 15, 2014
Cardinal- "We do not need such "saviours of the West""
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"Use the possibilities for marriage annulment"
Woelki: The judgment has brought legal certainty for the churches. But it is not about an ecclesiastical privilege, but it also protects the self-determination of all ideological communities in a neutral state.
Ecclesiastical employment law: Examining more the individual case
The Cardinal at a "bring your own instrument" concert.
Saturday, March 09, 2013
Georg Gänswein to succeed Cardinal Meisner in Cologne?
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Which tasks could Georg Gänswein, the private secretary of Benedict XVI soon take over? At 56 years, he is undoubtedly too young for the retirement, into which the Pope himself has passed last week. Initially, Gänswein remains at the side of his former boss and moved with him to Castel Gandolfo. But for how long?
In recent weeks, there has been speculation that the native of South Baden either will remain in the Vatican, where in view of his many contacts he is more likely to have a major impact, or that he will return to Germany to be a iocesan bishop. Maybe in Hamburg or in his home Archbishopric of Freiburg? The Archbishops Werner Thissen and Robert Zollitsch are 75 this year and therefore must offer their resignation to the pope.
On the other hand, these two dioceses are probably not the first choice of someone who has come to be known by the global Church as the closest collaborator of the Pope. Likely different from these, the Archdiocese of Cologne. Even here in the not too distant future, the post of Chief Pastor is free. Cardinal Joachim Meisner is 80 years old at Christmas and celebrates in February next year his 25th Anniversary as Archbishop in Cologne. By then he will probably resign.
The "Bild" newspaper reported yesterday that Meisner in these days had already prepared in Rome Gänswein's leap to the top of the Cologne Church and only had to obtain the agreement of the future Pope. Behind closed doors, part of the scenario was confirmed in the circles of the Cologne Archdiocese- but personnel around Gänswein dismissed it as speculation. It was assumed that Meisner will take care of the succession, while he was in office, was reported from Cologne.
That would mean that the cathedral chapter in the election of a new archbishop is irrelevant. In Cologne, the procedure is laid down that out of the various proposals sent to Rome, the Pope compiles a list of three from which the 15-member cathedral chapter, consisting of auxiliary bishops and other high-ranking priests in the archdiocese, selects a candidate.
The head of the Diocesan Council, the highest body of the laity in the Archdiocese, Thomas Nickel, does not believe that Meisner still cares about the succession plan. The Cathedral Chapter will be responsible for the election. And Gänswein? "I got to know him as a very likeable person and party," Nickel said yesterday. But there are also still other possible contenders for the archbishopric in Cologne.
By the way: The relationship between Meisner and Gänswein has apparently not been tension free recently. A few weeks ago,on the question of whether the change of position of Meisner's on the matter of the "morning after pill" had been agreed with the Vatican, Gänswein accused Meisner of having told a lie.
Source
Friday, August 24, 2012
Cardinal absolutely insists SSPX must fully accept Council.
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Source
Monday, June 18, 2012
Cardinal thinks SSPX reconciliation will take time
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Thursday, May 24, 2012
Despite reports, Cardinal will not or cannot ban leading dissident from his diocese
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Archdiocese: Cardinal does not prohibit the appearance of Gaillot in Cologne
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Iran issues death-fatwa against German rapper
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Friday, April 27, 2012
Islamic preacher- We will conquer Rome
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Saturday, May 07, 2011
Cologne Cardinal fires gay theologian
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Cathcon comment- met Dr Berger once- at weekend organised by the Society of St Pius X on the differences between modern and scholastic philosophy. His work on Thomistic philosophy is of a very high quality, as witnessed by this 2004 book on St Thomas and the Liturgy.
Interview in Spiegel (English) from last year
TV debate (German) between Dr Berger and the formidable Gabrielle Kuby Lively!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Cardinal Meisner hits out at Carnival
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At the Düsseldorf Carnival Procession which takes place every year on the Monday before Ash Wednesday, the Pope is shown shaking the devil's hand. The devil was in this case Bishop Williamson, a Holocaust denier and an illegally consecrated bishop of the traditionalists. Cologne's Cardinal Joachim Meisner believes that the Papal theme in this procession to be hurtful.
The presentation of Pope Benedict XVI shaking the the hand of the devil in the guise of Bishop Williamson," he would not leave unchallenged, writes the archbishop in the next edition of the church newspaper for the Archdiocese of Cologne." Meisner literally: "The presentation is not only wrong, it is also hurtful." Pictures and earlier report
"Presentation wrong and hurtful"
The cardinal stressed that the specific contribution was just an "Interruption", the carnival being a good opportunity to take aim at politics and society. "But if humor becomes malice, spoof becomes damaging and over emphasis, falsification, then the carnival itself looses." This is what happened in the portrayal of the Pope in Dusseldorf.
At World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, the Rhine countries opened their hearts wide open to the Pope, writes Meisner further. Cordiality and cheerfulness were also features of the carnival. "This should remain so," says the Cardinal. The vehicle of the Düsseldorf carnival wagon maker Jacques Tilly the smiling Pope shakes the hand of the Holocaust deniers and illegally consecrated traditionalist Bishop Williamson. The SSPX member is depicted as a red devil with the word "antisemitism" .
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Cologne-Catholics
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Quote from German TV programme on the Cologne Carnival.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Cardinal says no more clowning at Mass
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BY HANS ONKELBACH
The Archdiocese regards it as necessary to abide by the rulebook. Although cheerfulness is part of Faith, the Mass should not become a Carnival. And Low German can only be used for some parts of Masses.
When Joachim Decker, pastor of the united parish of Eller Lierenfeld, on the Sunday (January 19) after next celebrates the Mass, then he will use Low German . Together with the Carnival Association, Hötter Jonges and the amateur group Veedelszoch Eller , this humour loving man has organized worship for many years and operates as far as he is able within the tight rules that are the framework of what the Catholic church allows.
And he is very closely monitored in Cologne, in the near vicinity of Cardinal Joachim Meisner. At any rate, the Archdiocese have given guidelines to the pastors. The title of the many-paged document is "Liturgy and life. Guidelines for Masses in dialect and Masses following local customs." It is based on rules that have been established for many years and, as such, in the summer of 1979, while Cardinal Höffner was still in office, published in the Official Journal. It says that cheerfulness is intrinsic to faith, but folk customs are not welcome in the church, although Low German can be used for preaching, but liturgical texts, certain prayers and the words of consecration are not permitted in dialect. Diocesan spokesman Stephen Schmidt said that in one of the recent meetings of an advisory panel of the Cardinal the subject arose and there was seen a need to again remind the priests of the rules. This started some unrest in Duesseldorf, because not only during Carnival, but over the whole year Masses or church services take place using Low German.
Pastor Decker from Eller knows these rules and accepts them, but does not find a cheerful Helau in the church to be inappropriate. Particularly since, according to Decker, the word Helau has the same origin as the Alleluia. For him, as he says, even "good Catholic songs," can be sung in Low German.
Pastor Paul Ludwig Spies (St. Anthony and St. Peter, Bilk) has a close bond to the Carnival: He takes part himself and makes jokes in the spirit of Carnival . Clever as he is, he avoids any conflict with Cologne and calls his devotion next Sunday (16Uhr, St. Anthony, Fuerstenplatz) a "liturgy of the word."
(Cathcon comment- he already lost his job once
Low German will be used during the service and for the sermon. The Prince’s Carnival Guards come in their uniforms, and the Children Prince and Princess in their finery. If the colorful costumes were to be called fancy dress, it would incidentally contradict the Cardinal’s ruling - and would therefore be prohibited.
One of the speakers on Sunday, is the Head of the Carnival, the Chief of Fools, Engelbert Oxenfort.
He has long experience of Masses in Low German: for 29 years he has organized them together with Rolf Steinhaeuser.
City Dean at St. Lambertus in the Old City. Twice a year: in Lent a rather contemplative Mass, and in the summer in the context of other cultural events
Cardinal Meisner in discussion with Carnival Cardinal Lehmann.
Friday, March 16, 2007
German church leaders angered
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at Bollywood intrusion
"Organ music and candlelight took a back seat to Indian pop songs and flashing disco lights as Bollywood stars took over a Catholic Church in the German city of Cologne on Tuesday.An 85-strong crew of actors, technicians and dancers descended on the 100-year-old church of St. Agnes which is providing the backdrop for an Indian film about love and music. "
Friday, February 16, 2007
The Cardinal, the ex-wife and the tabloids
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Seehofer and media morality Original article
There has been relative calm over the last few weeks, but then suddenly the tabloids begin again on the private life of the German Minister for Consumer Protection, Horst Seehofer.
It started off with Joachim Meisner , the arch-conservative Cardinal of Cologne.
who voiced his distaste about Minister Horst Seehofer, as the latter seeks election as the head of the Bavarian, Christian Social Union (CSU) despite his extra-marital affair. “How can he become the chairman of a Christian political party? How far have we declined these days?” These were the questions that the Cardinal asked and talked immediately about a suspicion of schizophrenia and suggested a visit to the doctor as well.
Cardinal Meisner, himself without any suspicion of scandal did not seem to worry that his statements were made in The Express- (whole article here) which is a tabloid – on their homepage were quite daring and sexy girls and in which they talk about the “Tokyo hotel experience”, how fabulous sex with fans is.
This had its effect. Other tabloids have also printed his comments and Bild chose the title in bold print, “Cardinal attacks Seehofer.”
Stirring things up and finding Simonis
This German with its largest circulation printed Seehofers name immediately again on their first page, as after all Seehofer’s first wife, who had so far been unknown, suddenly surfaced. Seehofer had so far kept silent on his marriage, even in the best known press archive, there was no mention of it.
And now in the midst of the battle for Stoiber’s succession for the CSU chairmanship and 25 years after the divorce, Christl Sch. found it appropriate to publicly cause friction – with an interview in Bunte, a magazine that, as its name says, has colourful articles. This statement was jumped upon by the tabloids with glee. The Munich tz entitled the article, “Seehofer’s path becomes narrower, wife tells all”
But this is not enough. Bunte searched around and found somebody who is disgusted about the delving into Seehofer’s private life, Heidi Simonis. She is the former Minister President of Schleswig Holstein and complained that personal humiliations and indiscretions from the private domain are being misused as political attacks. (a recent victim in her own right of vicious political infighting).
“Shooting politicians” seems to have become a new sport, she says.
And this is how the statements built and built and there was more and more media interest. The topic is no longer ignored. All use the tabloid as a source and this is how they function.
Even Cardinal Meisner colleague in office, Friedrich Cardinal Wetter
was telephoned but the experienced Archbishop of Munich and Freising did not want to make a comment. His press officer, Winfried Roehmel said on this topic the rather bland sentence, “this dispute does not belong in the public domain”
As far as the Stoiber succession in the CSU, he says “the party will decide internally who will become its chairman and not the Church and this is, of course, correct.”
The Passau Bishop Wilhelm Schraml
supports Meisners position
“Every person who has a public office, and especially those who carry political responsibility should act as an example”
He is Vice-President of the German Catholic Bishops Conference Commission on Marriage and the Family.
The whole episode reminds of the debate within the American Bishops of whether to give Communion to pro-abortion politicians. It is time for a consistent line in both cases.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Mass for Unbelievers
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Spooky!
St Peter crying for the Church.
Tip from the ever-super-excellent kreuz.net
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Cologne Carmel
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