German President Frank- Walter Steinmeier called on the World Council of Churches to oppose the propaganda of the Russian Orthodox Church, directed against the freedom and rights of citizens of Ukraine.
The politician bluntly stated that the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church joined the crimes of the war against Ukraine.
Steinmeier said this in a speech at the World Council of Churches Assembly, held for the first time in Germany.
“Here in Germany, we remember with gratitude that the German churches were actually allowed to attend the first Assembly in Amsterdam in 1948, and they were accepted as equal members.After the horror that the German Reich unleashed on the world,after the war, after the systematic persecution and murder of European Jews – after all these unspeakable crimes, this could not be taken for granted”, – said the President of Germany.
He added that the fact that the World Council of Churches accepted the German churches as members shortly after World War II did not mean that he closed his eyes to this guilt. However, this acceptance helped pave the way for a fresh start.
On anti-Semitism
Steinmeier recalled “deadly anti-Semitism”, which has been kindled among Christians and by Christians for centuries – in Germany and beyond. Therefore, one of the most current responsibilities of Christian churches around the world is to speak out against anti-Semitism.
“We must be aware that anti-Semitism can take many forms. However, it always remains an ideology of hatred with a history of destruction. The safety of the Jewish community is in Germany, in Israel, in the countries of the world – should be one of the tenets of all religions. We must never allow a religion that seeks to build, encourage and teach people to become a means of humiliating others, an instrument of hatred and violence,” the President of Germany emphasized. .
On the ROC and Russia's war against Ukraine
After that, he stated that today the heads of the ROC lead their members and their entire church in a “dangerous and truly blasphemous way, which contradicts everything what they believe.”
“They justify the war of conquest against Ukraine – against their and our brothers and sisters in faith. We must also speak out here, in this room, in this Assembly, against this propaganda directed against the freedom and rights of citizens of another country, this nationalism that arbitrarily asserts that the dictatorship's imperial dreams of hegemony are the will of God. How many women, men and children in Ukraine have been victims of this hate speech, this hatred and this criminal violence!” Steinmeier said.
He added that today it is impossible to remain silent about the war crimes in Ukraine that are taking place before the eyes of the world: carpet bombing and targeted attacks on civilian buildings, residential buildings, hospitals, shopping centers, railway stations and public places.
“We we must call it by its name, in fact, we must condemn it, and last but not least, as a Christian community, we must express our devotion to the dignity, freedom and security of the people of Ukraine.I would like to take this opportunity to convey my sincere congratulations to the delegations of churches in Ukraine – and I hope that from this meeting they will be able to receive strength and support for their suffering churches and communities in their homeland,” the German president said.
< p>He noted that representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church are also present at the assembly.
“The fact that they are here is not something that we should take for granted in our time . I expect this assembly will not deprive them of the truth about this brutal war and criticism of the role of their church leaders,” Steinmeier said.
“The leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church has joined in the crimes of the war against Ukraine.
strong> This totalitarian ideology, disguised as theology, has led to the complete or partial destruction of many religious sites on the territory of Ukraine – churches, mosques, synagogues, educational and administrative buildings of religious communities. Not a single Christian who still possesses his faith, his mind and feelings will be able to see the will of God in this,” the President of Germany added.
Recall that in July Canada imposed sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.< /p>
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