Diocese condemns grotesque Christmas Eve Mass broadcast on German TV
Critical reactions to Christmas Mass broadcast on ARD
Officials express regret. Consultation and decision-making processes to be sharpened.
The Christmas Mass broadcast from St. Mary's Church in Stuttgart on Christmas Eve 2025 on ARD's First Channel has sparked numerous critical reactions. The artistic design of the Nativity scene, in particular, has been polarizing. The Catholic Broadcasting Service of the Church at SWR was responsible for the concept and broadcast.
Bishop Dr. Klaus Krämer and the leadership of the Diocese of Rotenburg-Stuttgart have taken note of the feedback and carefully reviewed it in recent days. The reactions to the broadcast have shown that religious sensibilities were offended. Those responsible for the concept and broadcast of the Christmas Mass deeply regret this and emphasize that at no point was provocation or denigration of central tenets of the faith intended. Nevertheless, it has become clear that the chosen form of presentation has triggered irritation, incomprehension, and anger in many people – especially on a major feast day like Christmas.
Furthermore, the service deviated from the established liturgical order. The liturgy was adapted more freely—with the television format in mind—than is permissible. This applies particularly to the interpretation of individual liturgical roles and the specific linguistic and performative aspects. These deviations were not correct and are being addressed.
As a consequence, for future broadcasts of church services, consultation and decision-making processes will be made more stringent in order to do justice to both the church's responsibility and the particular sensitivity of such formats.
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