The refusal of German Catholic bishops to dedicate Pentecost Monday to ecumenical celebrations for Christian unity has aroused a controversy in Germany. The proposal had been made by the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK), which considered the choice of the Monday appropriate for an ecumenical celebration, since no particular mass is prescribed in the Catholic universal Church for this day. The intention was to turn the day into a signal of unity aimed especially at interconfessional families. But the proposal was turned down by the Bishops’ Conference at their last meeting held in Bernsberg from 1 to 4 March. The Lutherans have expressed their disappointment about the Catholic veto. “We are really very sorry said Bishop Johannes Friedrich, who is responsible for relations with the Catholic Church that the German Catholic bishops have lost another occasion to give an ecumenical signal”. Friedrich contests the reasons for the rejection. “I can’t see how a common service, already celebrated by many Protestants and Catholics, can damage the Catholic celebration of the Eucharist. It has always been said that the Day for Christian Unity was to be intended as a supplement to and not as a substitution of the Eucharist”. The Lutheran bishops invite the congregations and parishes in which Pentecost Monday is already being dedicated to ecumenical celebrations, to maintain this tradition.
