German archdiocese distances itself from parish collection for mosque

Published: 2007-03-23

COLOGNE, Germany (CNS) -- The Archdiocese of Cologne has distanced itself from a parish rector after he organized a Sunday collection to help fund the building of a mosque. "This was a private parish initiative, intended as a goodwill gesture from Catholics toward the Muslim community -- it had no official support from us," archdiocesan spokesman Stephan Schmidt told Catholic News Service. "There was a lot of discussion about it and not everyone was happy, since many local parishes are themselves in dire straits financially. ... We would also wish for similar gestures toward Christians in countries with a Muslim majority, such as Turkey. It's a question of reciprocity," he added. The rector of St. Theodore Parish, Father Frank Muerer, told the German Press Agency he had organized the March 18 collection with unanimous backing from his parish council to support the central mosque in Cologne's Ehrenfeld district. The parish raised more than $2,600.

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