ecumenism " "
The Federation of the Protestant Churches and the Conference of Swiss Bishops have joined together to defend Sunday in view of the referendum on 27 November in which the Swiss will be called to vote either for or against the Sunday opening of shops “in public transport centres” (stations or airports). In a press conference, the representatives of the Christian Churches launched a campaign in favour of Sunday and presented a brochure with the title: “Let’s protect our Sunday and strengthen the bonds of our communities An ecumenical contribution of the Churches with regard to the reform on the law on labour”. According to the President of the Protestant Federation, Thomas Wipf, the crucial aspect of the question consists in the lack of time for “the family, friends, the Church and the life of associations” that a policy disrespectful of Sunday would cause. Sunday says Wipf is “the main institution of social cohesion” and if it came to be weakened or eliminated “there would be no compensation for such a loss”. A “policy attentive” to Sunday ought therefore to evaluate the “risks” caused by the reduction of “community bonds”. Bishop Pierre Bürcher asks that no change be made to “the current protection of Sunday” guaranteed by the law on labour: Sunday, he said, opens a “window of opportunity on Sunday worship and the activities of the Church” and gives workers the time and chance “to participate in them”. Meanwhile, on the same day, the two main German parties, Cdu-Csu and Spd, reached an agreement on the formation of a new government: the Christian-Democrat Angela Merkel, the first woman Chancellor, will head the “Grand Coalition”.
