German Catholic assembly was ecumenical event, organizers say

Published: 2004-06-21

ULM, Germany (CNS) -- For the first time in its history, the German Catholic Church assembly followed its closing Mass with an ecumenical service in which Protestant clergy participated. Cardinal Karl Lehmann of Mainz, chairman of the German bishops' conference, said in his closing homily June 20 he was convinced that the assembly "has given many people a sense of direction and encouragement." He spoke of Catholics continuing to grow "together with our Protestant and Orthodox brothers and sisters in faith." Hans Joachim Meyer, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics, which organized the assembly, or Katholikentag, told journalists at a closing press conference that the June 16-20 assembly attended by some 35,000 people each day was an "ecumenical event." Cardinal Lehmann said at the same press conference that last year's ecumenical church assembly in Berlin had had an influence on this year's Katholikentag. "Something is growing together which cannot be revoked," he said. About 10 percent of participants were from the German Protestant Church, a federation of Lutheran, United and Reformed churches.

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