Catholic Council opposes "misanthropy" in church bodies © Harald Oppitz (KNA)
"Misanthropic behavior" will in future be grounds for exclusion from parish and parish councils of the Archdiocese of Berlin. Its Diocesan Council of Catholics decided on the weekend a corresponding amendment to the election regulations.
It says: "Membership of congregational and parish councils is not compatible with membership of or active support for groups, organizations or parties that pursue anti-human goals."In addition, the plenary assembly of the highest lay representation of the archdiocese instructed its board to prepare a handout with criteria for exclusion due to misanthropic behavior.
In the Protestant Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz, there is already a similar regulation in place. According to this, words and deeds that degrade, defame or threaten people or groups of people "for reasons of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity" are considered to be "hostile to humanity".
Support for the reception of refugees from Greece
In another resolution, the Diocesan Council supports the appeal of several German cities, such as Potsdam, to create the legal possibilities for the reception of unaccompanied minor refugees from the Greek camps in particular. "The current situation is inhumane and profoundly unchristian," the lay advocacy group says in justification.
The Diocesan Council also adopted a "future image" in which it formulates its expectations for future participation in the governance of the archdiocese. After that, the body wants to decide on pastoral and financial ies together with the archbishop and monitor the implementation of decisions. As further tasks, the Council states to take a position on questions of public and church life on the basis of Catholic social teaching. He also advocates ecumenical cooperation among churches and interfaith dialogue, especially with the Jewish community.