Dance with frozen chicken in nappies and with a scythe in the Cathedral escapes legal consequences

Curious incident in Paderborn

Against the Desecration of Paderborn Cathedral.  For the protection of our holy places.

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Paderborn · Frozen chicken, scythes, bare torsos: An unusual dance performance in Paderborn Cathedral is causing a stir. However, according to the public prosecutor's office, it was not a criminal offense.

Following a controversial dance performance in Paderborn Cathedral, the Paderborn public prosecutor's office has rejected an investigation against Archbishop Udo Markus Bentz. In May, a lawyer from Iserlohn filed a criminal complaint against an unknown person for disturbing religious practice and made allegations against Bentz and officials from the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association. However, there was insufficient evidence of a criminal offense, the public prosecutor's office announced on Friday.

At the performance on May 15, three performers, including two bare-chested men, danced through the sanctuary with frozen chickens and scythes. The performance was part of the "1,250 Years of Westphalia" ceremony, which was also attended by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU), and Archbishop Bentz.

Archbishop knew nothing in advance

According to the public prosecutor's office, the performance was based on a last-minute, arbitrary change to the program by the group of artists and was not approved by either the archbishop or the regional association. It was part of a secular event and did not disrupt any religious celebration. Nor were any religious beliefs insulted.

Back in May, a petition calling for the cathedral's rededication was launched on the right-wing conservative online platform "citizengo." According to the platform, more than 20,000 signatures were collected. The cathedral chapter and the regional association distanced themselves from the event shortly afterwards. They said in a joint statement that they had no prior knowledge of the specific performance and regretted the offense against religious sentiments.

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