There are over 4 million unemployed in Germany: a deeply felt problem that the Schröder government is trying to tackle with the controversial Hartz laws, which provide for the introduction of far-reaching reforms in the labour sector. In the diocese of Rottenburg Stuttgart, the patronal feast of St. Martin on 11 November includes a traditional charity event named after the “Mantle of St. Martin”, and introduced for the unemployed in 1987. The bishop of the diocese, Msgr. Gebhard Fürst, prepared an appeal for support of the project, which was read out in churches on Sunday 14 November. The donations collected are being allocated to the funding of the charity. In his appeal, Bishop Fürst expressed the fear that the projects in support of employment, promoted by ecclesiastical organizations, will have to be discontinued due to the reduction of funds. According to the bishop, the Hartz laws reinforce the pressure on those seeking work, “without new jobs being made available in sufficient quantities. But long-term unemployment”, he warns, “violates the dignity of man”. And since the problems of the unemployed concern the dignity of the person, “the Church is at the side of the unemployed”. The charity annually funds projects to help the unemployed for a total amount of roughly 500,000 euros. Many of these projects are run by Caritas, others are supported by the parishes and Catholic foundations.
