From CNA German newsroom
Krefeld – Thursday, August 31, 2023, 6:30 a.m.
Believers who have been fighting the closure of their church in Krefeld for months and now have to celebrate mass in a tent have accused the Aachen diocese of “abuse of power” because a decision there on whether to preserve the building is being delayed.
While the association wants to take over the church and renovate it itself, the diocese closed it about two months ago as planned. A multimillion-dollar donor known to CNA Deutsch is behind efforts to preserve the Church of St. John the Baptist in Krefeld.
According to an expert opinion commissioned by the association, a refurbishment is possible for a significantly lower sum than what emerges from an expert opinion commissioned by the church community in 2014. “Taking into account the increase in costs over the past ten years, costs of around 2.5 to 3 [Millionen Euro] can be expected for a complete renovation of the church building”, explained the diocese of Aachen. The association expects costs of less than 500,000 euros over the next 15 to 20 years.
As representatives of the association explained to CNA Deutsch, funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia could also be mobilized immediately – but the diocese of Aachen has not yet signed the application. In general, both telephone calls and written inquiries from the association are now no longer answered at all by the diocese of Aachen.
Against this background, representatives of the association are now talking about “abuse of power” by the diocese of Aachen or by the church council, which, after approaching the position of the association, is now blocking efforts to preserve the church, according to the association.
A press spokeswoman for the Diocese of Aachen “emphatically rejected” the “alleged accusation” of abuse of power at the request of CNA Deutsch.
The Bishop of Aachen, Helmut Jeder, had previously “clearly spoken out in favor of preserving the church”, as the Rheinische Post reported on August 20th. But: He has “so far not decided on the de-dedication or on the model for the transfer of ownership of the church building to the community’s development association. […] The diocese is silent about the reasons why Aachen is hesitating.”
The diocese of Aachen only explained to CNA Deutsch: “All parties involved are asked to find a compromise. On site, a viable solution and a temporary alternative location for the community should be found in joint discussions with all those involved. The Diocese of Aachen advises and supports these discussions.”
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The association, however, is not waiting for advice and support, but for a decision from the diocese – and is currently no longer able to reach the assigned contact persons.
Not only Catholics want to work for the preservation of the church. The Turkish Union also “offered its help,” like the WDR reported. “She would pay part of the clean-up costs. ‘For us, this is first and foremost something to do with the neighborhood,’ explains Tufan Ünal, the chairman of the Turkish Union in Krefeld. ‘We don’t see it as a religious issue. This is for Krefeld from Krefeld. A support from people who live together in one city.’”
As the Rheinische Post reported, in St. Johann Baptist “a rather conservative religious life oriented towards popular piety is cultivated. There is a marked Marian devotion; there is a depiction of the shepherd children of Fatima, who wrote piety history with Marian apparitions; there is an adoration chapel where Mother Teresa, who was canonized in 2016, is venerated. The pastor of St. Johann Baptist, Joachim Schwarzmüller, cultivates conservative forms of liturgy with conviction. He continues to like to stand with his back to the congregation and his face to the altar; and he regularly celebrates Latin Masses.”
In addition, there is “an amazing charitable work,” according to the newspaper. “In the spirit of Mother Teresa, the congregation set up the ‘Johannes-Stube’, where around 30 to 50 needy people get breakfast every day and up to 140 people get lunch on Sundays – financed by private donations. The needy – homeless, drug addicts or simply very poor people – always find a connection to religious life, take part in masses and are particularly moved and touched by acts of blessing, for example when Pastor Schwarzmüller walks through the rows and blesses everyone in the pews .”
“A social treasure,” commented the Rheinische Post. According to the association, this offer could also fall victim to a permanent church closure.
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