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.

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."
Participants at the "Church Day" during a "concert."
The satanic Buddhist "guest speaker" Dalai Lama received one-minute long applause.
Burundi drummers entertain
Bingo Party? No: "intercommunion" between "Catholics" and Protestants at Protestant church in Berlin.
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."

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.

 

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:

  • Pro-Life booth showing pictures of Aborted Babies forced to close down
  • Supermodernist and schismatic Hans Küng "the King" at the Ecumenical Church Day in Berlin


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


Return to Top of Page

Fair Use Notice:
This web site may contain copyrighted material the use of which may not always have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of political, human, religious, and social issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.