The same right

At the last minute, the so-called European Congress against Islamisation was forbidden. It had been scheduled for September 20-21 in Cologne. The measure was taken by the city’s police authorities following violent protests, which posed a threat to the security of some 15,000 people opposing the meeting. Anti-Islam sentiments were triggered by the decision to build a mosque in the centre of Cologne. Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of the City, has addressed the issue on several occasions. We hereby report excerpts from the interview published on September 19th by the archdiocese’ newspaper. In the interview, the Cardinal also discussed the progress in the negotiations with the Turkish government for the construction of a Church and a pilgrim centre in Tarsus, the birthplace of Saint Paul. Reaffirming the freedom of religion. As regards Cologne’s township’s authorization to erect the large Ehrenfeld mosque, Cardinal Meisner reiterated, “the Church in our Country, as elsewhere, is committed in the implementation of religious freedom”. The construction of a mosque, he added, is “a supremely good deed” since “it implies that the faithful are erecting the home of God where they can pray and celebrate their religious services. In our Country, Muslim fellow-citizens can certainly erect mosques in Cologne or wherever else, provided they comply with building and financial requisites. Where and how these are to be built is not up to the Church to decide, nor to the archbishop of Cologne”. “These decisions are to be taken by city-planners and by the politicians in charge”. When asked about the possible links between mosques and churches (with reference to Cardinal Meisner’s efforts to be granted authorization to erect a church in Tarsus), His Eminence replied: “As regards the debate over Tarsus, this is the same fundamental right which I just mentioned in the case of the mosque. Freedom of religion ought to be the same in Turkey and in Germany. It is a human right, and any State, especially if it intends to become a member of the European Union, must guarantee the implementation of this right at international level. As Christians, we ask Turkey’s authorities for nothing more – but also for nothing less”.A church in Tarsus. As relates to the ongoing negotiations with Turkey, Cardinal Meisner declared “Turkey’s authorities granted Christians in Tarsus permission to use the old church for the Masses while exempting them from paying the entry fee during the Pauline Year. In fact, the State considers the building as a museum, not as a church. As relates to the freedom of religion guaranteed at juridical level, this is not sufficient. Christians in Turkey, especially in Tarsus, will need a home of God also after the Pauline Year, along with a pilgrim centre. This is our objective. We are doing our best to ensure that the decision of Turkey’s authorities is taken as soon as possible, well before the end of the Pauline Year”. When asked what would happen with the mosque in Cologne if Turkey’s decision should not be taken or if Christians’ situation in Turkey should worsen, the Cardinal affirmed that this “is not strictly related to the mosque in Cologne”. “There is no relationship” between the two issues, he remarked. It would help however, “if local Muslims showed sympathy and support towards our request in Turkey. Christians don’t need as many churches in Cologne as the mosques requested by Muslims in Germany. This is why it doesn’t make sense to counterbalance the two issues. I only know that where Christians live and where Christianity has existed since the beginning, as is the case of Tarsus, Christians should be free to live their faith in security. This is a human right”. Learning from Saint Paul. As relates to anti-Muslim sentiments, displayed in the case of the so-called anti-Islamization Congress, Cardinal Meisner recalled the example of the apostle Paul, pointing out that “the very increase in the number of mosques erected in Germany is evidence of the fact that the principles of Paul continue being valid. Major political and cultural challenges need to be met. This is a fact. However, the solution does consist in fomenting or exploiting feelings of fear. Instead, we ought to let our faith be heard and our solidarity be seen. We must focus on mutual exchange and dialogue, following the example set by Saint Paul”.