Munich (dpa / lby) - In his Christmas message, the Protestant regional bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm called for more dialogue. "How else but through communication, through conversations, through encounters should love, respect, insight, repentance have a chance at all?" said Bedford-Strohm on Christmas Day in the almost full Matthäus-Kirche in Munich.
That applies in social disputes - and in world politics. "We all lament the suffering that the illegal and reprehensible invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army brings to the people there. And we condemn the terror associated with the bombing of the Ukrainian infrastructure for the population there. But that must not be the mean a complete break-up of the relationship. It cannot be that the military logic determines everything," said Bedford-Strohm in the sermon, which was broadcast live on Bavarian television.
It is unacceptable that people in this country have to justify themselves if, in addition to military support for Ukraine, they also want to keep channels of communication open between people from different sides. "We need both: support for Ukraine in defending its country and at the same time communication between the different sides through all possible channels. This is the only way to open doors to overcoming violence."
Bedford-Strohm also called for discussion on social issues. "How is the desperation of the climate activists glued to the streets to be overcome if you don't talk to each other, but the anger about their actions determines everything?" But also: "How else should people in politics be convinced that the speed of global warming requires much more decisive action than through discourse and good arguments?" Talks are needed from all sides. "The Christmas message must remind us that we listen to one another and talk to one another."
