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Abomination
in Germany:
"Ecumenical Church Day" in Berlin
This
story is so scandalous and huge that we're dedicating extra space to
expose it. We have tons of pictures to share here, so if the page loads
for a while, that's why.
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Protestant "bishop"
Wolfgang Huber and "Catholic Cardinal" Georg Sterzinsky
together "bless" the people during the "Opening Prayer"
in Berlin. |
| German "Catholic"
priest Gotthold Hasenhuttl at the "ecumenical worship service"
in a Protestant church in Berlin at which "intercommunion"
was "celebrated." |
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Participants at the
"Church Day" during a "concert." |
| The satanic Buddhist
"guest speaker" Dalai Lama received one-minute long applause. |
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Burundi drummers entertain
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| Bingo Party? No: "intercommunion"
between "Catholics" and Protestants at Protestant church
in Berlin. |
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This "Catholic"
nun is holding ice-cream pop by the company "Langnese"
(the German equivalent for Good Humor). There was plenty of discussion
before the "Church Day" about this company, as it had
just issued seven new flavors, each named after one of the seven
deadly sins! |
| Such "haloes"
of plastic were given out. The inscription reads: "Be a Blessing.
Center [For] Youth. E[cumenical] C[hurch] D[ay] Berlin 2003." |
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Now that you've
seen enough pictures, here are the translations of two articles
appearing in two major German news outlets:
[Loosely translated
in haste from the German original at: http://www.heute.t-online.de/ZDFheute/artikel/20/0,1367,MAG-0-2048788,00.html]
So Much
Trouble About Such a Little Cookie
Big Rush
at Controversial Worship Service in Gethsemane Church
Before it began,
it was probably one of the most-debated events of the Berlin
Church Day: the worship service, prohibited by the Vatican,
featuring joint communion for Catholics and Protestants at the
Gethsemane church attracted over 2,000 faithful and numerous
journalists -- and in the end went by without much ado. There
will, however, probably be some consequences in Rome.
After it's all said
and done, however, pretty much everyone can be quite content:
the pastor of the Protestant Gethsemane church at Mt. Prenzlau,
whose church on that one night had a greater attendance than
all the neighboring churches have in a whole year; the more
than 2000 attendants at the Church service who demonstratively
set themselves against the will of the Church superiors with
their joint reception of the Lord's Supper; and, last but not
least, the host of the "Restaurant to the Sun" nearby.
He quickly put a barbecue grill outside and satisfied the faithfuls'
worldly hunger with a few bratwursts.
"Examine the
Situation Carefully"
The only one who probably isn't so happy this evening is Berlin's
Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky. He had been asked what he would do
about the ecumenical Lord's Supper service according to the
Catholic rite. He would "examine the situation carefully,"
he said. "But what is he going to do?", press secretary
Tobias Raschke asked rather rhetorically afterwards.
In order to avoid
disciplinary action for the Catholic priest, the name had been
kept secret until the end: Gotthold Hasenhüttl graduated
from Rome, teaches systematic theology in Saarbrücken and
was visibly nervous when he solemnly entered the church together
with his colleague, Protestant pastorette Brigitte Enzner-Probst.
Believers and journalists filled the church into every corner.
"He who excludes himself, excludes himself from the presence
of Christ. He who divides, divides himself," Hasenhuttl
explains and then adds: "He who does not love man, whom
he can see, he cannot love God, whom he cannot see."
Central Words
All by himself and
in a very Catholic [sic] manner, he later stands at the
altar and speaks the central words of the Eucharistic Prayer:
"Take and eat, all of you, this is my Body, which will
be given up for you...." At first, he does not himself
participate in the distribution of communion, which the Eucharistic
ministers do. When more and more believers come, he does finally
give in. And that is something he would not be allowed to do
with the participating Protestants, because Catholic canon law
prohibits priests to distribute communion to Protestant Christians.
Yet, so press secretary Raschke thinks, nothing could really
happen to Hasenhuttl. "We merely celebrated an ecumenical
service with open communion," he says. That would mean
that the Lord's Supper is celebrated as a Catholic Eucharist
at which all Christians are invited to communion. This is definitely
not the forbidden so-called "intercelebration," at
which clergy from different denominations speak the words of
the Last Supper at the altar at the same time.
"A Most Inappropriate Event"
The prefect of the
Roman Congregation for the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,
just like Cardinal Sterzinsky sees this completely differently
and condemns the event afterwards. The sacrament is being abused
for a "most inappropriate" ecclesio-political event.
On the other hand,
it is visible that the people who rush to the event really do
not care about the opinion of the Church's leaders. Believers
of all ages and both denominations celebrate a most lively,
yet solemn service, sing heartily and applaud loudly when the
priests are presented who celebrate the service.
Following Along Over
Speakers
Some inconveniences are patiently accepted: such as the fact
that the 1,300 seats are quickly filled. The facts that 700
believers have to stand, that up to 300 people patiently wait
in front of the door, following along over speakers. That the
air inside the church is bad, that some become nauseaus. And
that the distribution of the Lord's Supper has been planned
in detail, so that everyone can participate.
While the Lord's
Supper service is still going on, some of the many journalists
leave the church already, rather disappointedly. Representatives
of the media from Germany, Italy, the USA or Switzerland had
rushed to the balcony hours before it all started. In front
of the door, satellite transmitter vans are stationed, right
next to those that follow the celebration. One journalist says
to his colleague, "Somehow, I imagined this to be more
spectacular. This is supposed to be everything?"
"The Common
People Lead the Way"
"What effort
they have expended," a young visitor sighs, and gasps for
some air. "What effort they have expended for something
that already takes place every day everywhere else." What
priest usually asks for an ID card before he gives out communion
[he wonders]. As a Protestant, he also goes to Catholic services
regularly. "The common people," so says the student,
"lead the way" on how to do this kind of thing every
day. And, somewhat irritatedly he adds: "So much trouble
about such a little cookie. As if the churches don't have enough
other problems."
[Loosely translated
in haste from the German original at: http://www.tagesschau.de/aktuell/meldungen/0,1185,OID1895062_REF1_NAVSPM1,00.html]
Report:
"Now eat and drink, ALL of you"
The common people
in the Church make things happen. Despite the Pope's prohibition,
Catholic and Protestant Christians celebrated a joint Lord's
Supper service in Berlin -- and a courageous Catholic priest.
By Uli Bentele,
tagesschau.de
Clapping in church?
That's something you don't do -- at concerts perhaps. But when
Heinz-Otto Seidenschnur, pastor of Berlin's Gethsemane church,
welcomed guest preacher Gotthold Hasenhüttl for the joint
Lord's Supper celebration, roaring applause was heard throughout
the Protestant church.
Hasenhüttl agreed
to break a taboo. At an ecumenical worship service with a Catholic
celebration of the Eucharist, he wants to distribute communion
not just to the Catholics but to all believers present -- despite
the Pope's prohibition, despite the disciplinary actions he
can expect. Something like this has never happened in Germany.
The name of the theologian from the Saarland had been kept secret
until the end.
Hasenhüttl is
not afraid to criticize Catholic Eucharisic practice: "He
who excludes, excludes himself from the present [or presence]."
The courage of the priest is heartily welcomed by those present.
Place of Resistance:
Berlin's Gethsemane Church
Already one hour
before the meal starts, the onrush is marvelous. "That's
like in '89, that's the last time the shack was this crowded,"
Andreas Paffke comments on what he sees. The retired man had
been present when in the year of change [1989] the Gethsemane
church became the place of resistance in East-Berlin, when people
would gather for Mahnwache on Mondays in order to walk
down the Schonhauser Avenue towards the Alexander Plaza. "They
really knew what they were doing when they chose this place
to celebrate the joint Last Supper service here," he says.
Back then, they were able to achieve freedom, and today likewise
one simply cannot suppress the will of the Common People in
the Church any longer [he says]. "Just look at all the
young people who came -- it's almost like an FDJ [Free German
Youth (Easter German)] meeting. The difference is just that
today the ribbons aren't blue but Church-Day-orange."
2,000 People Want
to Participate
Pastor Seidenschnur
is happy about the numerous visitors. "It's beautiful to
see churches this crowded," he said at the opening greeting.
The man knows what he's talking about. Normally, only a few
dozen people find their way into Gethsemane church on Mt. Prenzlau
on Sundays.
As the service starts,
there are almost as many believers standing in front of the
church as are gathered in the church itself -- altogether, more
than 2,000 people. Using speakers, those outside are told that
they, too, of course, are invited to participate in the Lord's
Supper. Until then, someone else invites them for a meal. The
host at the restaurant across the church has fired up his barbecue
grill and makes the deal of his life: both Protestants and Catholics
alike eat his €3-steaks.
Protestant Sermon,
Catholic Eucharist
The sermon is given
by Munich's university pastor Brigitte Enzner-Probst. "Today,
now!" -- using this central formula she lobbies for a coming
together of the churches. Despite mutual acceptance and respect
for the denominations and churches, their rites, structures,
and traditions, reforms are still necessary [she says]. A beginning
has been made [she exclaims]: "Today, now!"
The people murmur
as Fr. Hasenhüttl shortens the prayer previously passed
out in the church, leaving out a delicate passage. Whereas the
script talks about "our Protestant and Catholic bishopettes
and bishops and all who hold a leadership position, together
with the Bishop of Rome, John Paul (...)," Hasenhüttl
simply omits mention of his highest shepherd.
You Are the Body
of Christ: Receive What You Are"
After more than one
and a half hours of service, at 7:36 pm, the great moment has
finally arrived: with the words "you are the Body of Christ:
receive what you are," Hasenhüttl calls the people
up for joint communion. Distribution then takes its time: even
the initiators of this event had not expected such onrush. In
order to distribute the hosts among the faithful, 13 baskets
are necessary, plus 21 cups and 12 jugs of Mass wine. It takes
priests, pastors, and Eucharistic ministers almost one hour
in order to deal with the numerous faithful.
When the planned
musical program nears its completion after 20 minutes, individual
little groups keep intoning church songs anew. And when people
finally get into the "Gospel spirit," the climax is
reached. The audience let their feelings go, wave the orange
ribbons, and clap their hands with enthusiasm. The faithful
do what they have earned as the progressively-acting Common
People of the Church: they celebrate God. And, a little bit,
they also celebrate themselves.
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So that's it. This is
the logical conclusion of ecumenism and the New Mass. After over 40
years of "ecumenical dialogue," the result is not that Protestants
have become Catholic, but that Catholics have become Protestant. The
very fact that Protestants should find nothing objectionable at a
"Catholic Eucharist" (i.e. the New Mass) proves how Protestant
the New Mass is! As you can see, the attendants at this "Church
Day" have absolutely not the foggiest idea about Catholicism.
But this is ecumenism in action. Though the Neocatholics may find
this or that "orthodox footnote" in post-Vatican II documents
on ecumenism, the people on the street can read between the lines,
and that's exactly what the modernists behind the ecumenical poison
knew fully well. This is the intended result: the merging of Protestantism
and Catholicism--and later, of Judaism and Mohammedanism and the rest
of the false religions. It's the One World Church. John Paul II may
not have intended this, but that's irrelevant. Will he finally wake
up now and realize that this is a new religion and has no resemblance
to the Catholic Faith of Pope Pius XII and before? Or does anyone
honestly think that Pope Leo XIII and "Cardinal" Kasper
are members of the same religion?
But of course,
the real enemy here is Catholic Traditionalists , right?
More
news now from May 31, 2003, regarding the Church Day event:

Hans Küng
(75)
Too Novus Ordo even for the Novus Ordo Vatican
The following
article is a loose translation from the original German at
http://www.heute.t-online.de/ZDFheute/artikel/5/0,1367,MAG-0-2049189,00.html
Küng
is King
Church Rebel Hans Küng Calls People to Resist
It's "künging"
once more at the
Church Day. Wherever he is, Hans Küng, one of the most well-known
German [Swiss, actually--transl.] Church critics, is quickly
surrounded by fans who are ready to discuss things with him. He
is asked to give autographs, accept gifts, or simply shake hands.
The man is simply charismatic -- and once more calls Christians
to rebell.
[...] Only Hans Küng,
tanned and spiffy, seems fresh and awake -- and more willing to
attack than ever. Standing at the booth of the organization "Church
From Below," he says he is still quite under the influence
of the previous event [a meeting at which he spoke--transl.].
He had received standing ovations for his vision of what it means
to be a Christian today. The hall was completely crowded.
Believable without being
authoritative [or authoritarian]
As usual, the people
of the Church rushed on when Küng was scheduled to speak. Perhaps
the reason is simply that he is believeable without seeming authoritative;
he is intellectual without being arrogant. And almost no one can
express the criticism of the official Church as articulately as
he can, criticism which is bubbling and boiling at the level of
the common people. [He is] a charismatic rebel against a rigid system
of Church dogma and morals. This time, it's about the controversial
joint communion issue, and again snoopy people, fans, and journalists
are beginning to gather.
Küng visibly gets
involved and calls on Catholics and Protestants to resist by means
of celebrating joint Last Supper services. "Under this Pope,"
Küng says, "we cannot expect any progress with regards
to ecumenism. The faithful will simply have to solve the ecclesial
prohibition to celebrate joint Last Supper services on their own
-- just like they did it on the question of birth control, always
under the auspices of their conscience."
"Not Willing to
Wait"
The more pastors will
decide to celebrate joint services, the more things will change,
he says, being applauded by those around him. "There will be
no parish which will not discuss this after this meeting. We are,"
he yells, "not willing to wait another 30 years." If the
faithful were able to vote by a show of hands or through signatures,
the problem would have long been solved.
[According to Küng,]
the questions of ecclesial ecumenism have "long been solved"
theologically: now all that needs to be done is apply this in practice.
However, here the Vatican's consciousness of power is the problem.
"Here the authoritative standing of the Church is definitely
supposed to be kept in tact, and that's why they're playing power
games with the Eucharist."
"Banishing the Fanatics"
The theologian is convinced that this really has nothing to do with
Jesus anymore. If he [Jesus] could be at this Church Day today and
see the churches with their power structures and dogmas exclude
each other from the Lord's Supper, which he instituted, he would
banish the fanatics as he banished the money changers from the temple.
"Hoho, listen to this!" one female listener enthusiastically
says to her companion.
But, someone objects,
"does this unity not mean that we will have to give up our
own identity?" ... Not at all, Küng says: "I imagine
the future of ecumenism is going to be like osmosis. No one has
to be scared that he will now have to accept the infallible Pope.
No one will have to do without the Eucharist."
Finding a Solution
But the real question,
[says Küng,] is much broader: how can Christendom, how can
the Pope, advocate world peace, advocate dialogue with Islam, if
it's not even possible to come to terms with each other and find
a solution to such a problem? The churches make themselves incredulous
this way [he argues].
At the end, a question
comes up that always comes up at some point in Church Day discussions:
"Just where are women in the church?" a female visitor
wants to know. Isn't God actually female? This question, too, [Küng]
says, will be solved by practice, simply because there will not
be enough priests. . . .
But then time becomes
of the essence, as other people too would like to listen to the
Christian dissident. Besides, they want to have books signed, hands
shaken, and opinions exchanged, at another booth in another hall.
One thing is certain: Küng is King on this Church Day.
Of course, Küng
is as Christian as Saddam Hussein---the difference being that while
Saddam Hussein has only killed bodies, Küng has killed
countless souls. And we all know what Christ said about those
people. Anyone see a millstone?
By
contrast, here's a vision that the Ven. Anne
Catherine Emmerich had. This is what she saw on April 22,
1823:
"I
saw many pastors cherishing dangerous ideas against the Church. .
. . They built a large, singular, extravagant church which was to
embrace all creeds with equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics, and
all denominations, a true communion of the unholy with one shepherd
and one flock. There was to be a Pope, a salaried Pope, without possessions.
All was made ready, many things finished; but, in place of an altar,
were only abomination and desolation. Such was the new church to be,
and it was for it that he had set fire to the old one; but God designed
otherwise."
--from Life
and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Vol. 2, pp. 352-353
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