Suche
Mein Konto
Rainbow flag in Cologne: outrage over ban and political reactions!
Archdiocese of Cologne disguises queer symbols. Parents and children urged to remove rainbow colors at school event.
Rainbow flag in Cologne: outrage over ban and political reactions!
A storm of excitement is sweeping Cologne after the archdiocese took an unexpected step calling on parents and children to refrain from using queer symbols. In particular, the ban on the rainbow flag and the removal of rainbow stickers from clothing during a trade fair have caused a lot of outrage. This measure was announced during the opening of a new archiepiscopal educational campus and is causing heated debates both in public and in the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. How t-online.de reports, some SPD MPs have already made a small request to the state government to shed more light on the legality of the ban.
The focus of the discussion is primarily on the participation and self-determination rights of students and their parents. Inquiries to the state government are aimed at how the archdiocese's ban is compatible with the school law in North Rhine-Westphalia and the state constitution, which emphasizes education in the spirit of humanity. The state government now has four weeks to respond to these critical questions.
Protest service for queer couples
The initiative behind this service is Marian, with the aim of no longer being silent. Around 15 to 20 pastors, including representatives from other dioceses, have already announced their participation. Even though Cologne Vicar General Guido Assmann calls for the event not to be seen as a protest, the message is clear - the church community must stand up for the rights and respect for all believers.
A deeper look into queer theology
The Protestant Church has recently made more progress in recognizing sexual diversity, while the Roman Catholic Church officially considers living homosexuality a sin. Despite Pope Francis' support for same-sex couple blessings, the road to full equality remains rocky.
The debate about queer issues in the church is not just a local debate in Cologne, but reflects what is being discussed in many Christian communities in the 21st century: the question of the acceptance and place of queer people in a faith that actually wants to offer equal love to all people. As the events in Cologne show, there is growing pressure to openly discuss these questions and fight for more equality.