17c起草社区

Berlin Archbishop Heiner Koch has announced he鈥檒l be appointing a pastoral minister for the 17c起草社区I community after a meeting with the Lesbian and Gay Association, the Berlin Archdiocese announced.

The meeting came at the request of the Lesbian and Gay Association of Berlin-Brandenburg 鈥渢o look at the contradictions within the Catholic Church and the simultaneous solidarity shown toward 17c起草社区 people in the wake of the 鈥�.

According to the Archbishop, this was an important step towards addressing the marginalisation and discrimination some in the 17c起草社区I community feel is directed at them from the Catholic Church, without fear of increased persecution.

Improve Relationships Between Catholic Church & 17c起草社区I Community

He said the fact that queer people are double marginalised, both within the Catholic community for not being heterosexual, as well as being judged for being Catholic in the 17c起草社区I community as being 鈥減ainful and problematic鈥� and hoped the introduction of a pastoral minister will improve relations between the two groups.

Another agenda item at the meeting also looked at the solidarity shown toward the 17c起草社区I community in the wake of the rejection in February of any blessings for homosexual couples in March, as reported by the back in May.

The solidarity was shown in a remarkable display of public defiance of the church, when on the 10th of May this year, close to 100 hundred churches around the country held blessing ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples, held in front of news cameras as part of the 鈥淟ove Wins鈥� movement.

Catholic churches around Germany are offering blessings for gay couples – defying the Vatican's refusal to approve same-sex partnerships.

More than 100 churches around the country have signed up to host services under the motto "love wins."

— DW Politics (@dw_politics)

Berlin Archbishop’s Balancing Act

Ulrich Kessler, a member of the board of the Lesbian and Gay Association of Berlin-Brandenburg, said at the time he had been surprised and thrilled 鈥渢hat the rainbow flags were also waving from Catholic Church spires, decorated internet pages and posts in the social media and that many church congregations had called out for blessing services.鈥�

It seems that Koch is walking a fine line though, because even though this meeting with the Lesbian and Gay Association of Berlin-Brandenburg addressed that solidarity, Koch himself does not necessarily agree with the actions of the 鈥淟ove Wins鈥� movement and the protest blessings, saying it was troublesome, 鈥渨hen church political pressure should be exerted by means of blessing services.鈥�

He did promise to continue to apply pressure though, saying he was committed 鈥渨ithout reservation to award God鈥檚 blessing to the love and relationship of people鈥� and said he would continue to explore possibilities, including within the framework of the Synodal Path reform project of the Catholic Church in Germany.