Freiburg (dpa / lsw) – After almost eight weeks of compulsory break due to the corona virus, the churches in the southwest have once again celebrated joint services with believers in the churches. Hygiene and clearance rules applied to Sunday services. This worked well, said a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Freiburg. Almost 100 believers attended the first Eucharist since mid-March in Freiburg’s Münster. It was one of the first Christian celebrations in the country since corona rules were relaxed and services were allowed again.
In mid-March, joint services in the churches were prohibited by the authorities because of the corona virus. “Let us enjoy the progress that is made possible for us,” said the Catholic priest Bernd Gehrke to the faithful. The last time visitors were allowed to attend services in the Münster Cathedral, the archbishop’s seat, on March 17. The fresh start is encouraging, said Gehrke. Common faith and reflection on Christian values could lead through the crisis. Many people are thankful that they can now go back to the churches for services.
In other church congregations, services were once again celebrated together with believers. According to the requirements of the country, the number of visitors must be limited. In addition, a minimum distance must be maintained in the churches. Singing together should initially be avoided due to the risk of corona infection. The churches recommend wearing protective masks, but it is not compulsory. The reception of holy communion, like on Sunday in Freiburg, is made possible for worshipers. Visitors had to disinfect their hands at the entrance to the church.
During the Corona crisis, many churches had broadcast services over the Internet. Some communities want to continue with this for now. This offer is aimed primarily at people who cannot come to church or who do not yet want to for fear of the corona virus, said a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Freiburg.
Several church congregations want to wait a little longer for religious services to start again, the Catholic diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart and the two Protestant state churches of Baden and Württemberg said. Infection risks should be kept as low as possible. For the time being, the churches have to do without larger Christian celebrations because of Corona. This applies to, among other things, first communion celebrations and confirmation services. The priestly ordination planned for Sunday in the Freiburg Minster was postponed to a later, not yet determined date.
The Evangelical State Bishop of Württemberg, Frank Otfried July, called for peace and human interaction at a service on Saturday evening in the Stuttgart Collegiate Church. “It may and must be possible to argue in a society. Open, democratic societies in particular thrive on the discussion about the right social and political measures,” he said: “But the argument must end where the dignity of the individual is questioned . ” This is what Christians should be aware of today.
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