General Assembly of the Central Committee of German Catholics is a Christ-free zone

“Persistently seeking peace in times of crisis”

ZdK President Stetter-Karp opens General Assembly ahead of the Catholic Congress

At the opening of the General Assembly of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) in Würzburg, President Dr. Irme Stetter-Karp called on members to “persistently seek peace in times of crisis, strengthen democracy, and stand up for human dignity. Let us encourage one another with the motto of the Catholic Congress beginning on Wednesday: Have courage, stand up!”

“The growing social divide, the sluggish economy, but also the global crises and the destructive policies of the far right are putting social cohesion and democracy to a severe test. However, cohesion and equitable participation are not merely a nice-to-have; they are a necessary foundation for successful reforms and future-oriented policies,” the President continued. “Our democracy thrives on the commitment and the justified hope of its people that they can trust our parliamentary system and the strong welfare state.” What is needed now is a government “that has the courage to finally implement reforms proactively.”

The Welfare State Commission has presented some good reform proposals, according to Stetter-Karp. “However, we at the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) are concerned about the current proposals from a working group in the Federal Chancellery. These proposals include significant cuts to child and youth welfare services as well as integration assistance for people with disabilities.” In light of the ongoing pension commission, an ad hoc working group has been formed within the ZdK “which is intensively discussing the conditions for the acceptance of pensions and will include us in its deliberations tomorrow.”

The wars in Iran and Ukraine, as well as other armed conflicts worldwide, demonstrate “the brutalization of the international order and the undermining of international law.” Pope Leo XIV rightly said that “a handful of tyrants” are devastating the world.

The General Assembly then passed a unanimous resolution on the future of international law and the international order. The lead motion, submitted by the Presidium and the Executive Committee, reaffirms the commitment to a multilateral order "based on law, justice, peace, human dignity, and the protection of the natural foundations of life." The Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) General Assembly calls on the German Federal Government and the European Union to make an unequivocal commitment to international law, international jurisdiction, the Common European Foreign Policy, and the strengthening of economic relations. At the same time, the ZdK supports the Holy See's efforts to give voice to non-state actors at the United Nations. Finally, it demands that "an understanding of multilateral contexts and the foundations of international law" be promoted in political education.

At the beginning of the session, greetings were offered by Joachim Herrmann, Bavarian Minister of the Interior and a member of the ZdK, and Ferdinand Kaineder, President of Catholic Action Austria (KAÖ). Kaineder also referred to a joint declaration issued by the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) and the Catholic Action of Austria (KAÖ) against neo-integralism, right-wing extremism, and right-wing populism on May 8. Dr. Bernhard Kotsch, State Secretary at the Federal Foreign Office and former German Ambassador to the Holy See, addressed current foreign and security policy issues in his keynote speech.

The plenary assembly will continue with discussions on further motions, the status of the Church's investigation into abuse, the future Synodal Conference, and the conditions for accepting statutory pensions.

Source