Activists Block Holy Mass at Cathedral in Cologne
On the 6. January at the evening, a group of twelve climate activists blocked a mass in the Cathedral of Cologne. The demonstrators wanted to catch Pope Francis' attention, according to Catholic News Agency request. The cathedral wardens attempted to carry out the activists, who sat in the middle of the church between the aisles. Two of them got injured for trying to carry these persons, but no actual violence was used from any side, they were treated by rescue workers.
As a spokeswoman for the police confirmed that the climate activists belonged to the group "Extinction Rebellion". The service was to be held by Auxiliary Bishop Rolf Steinhäuser, but the activists were laying down in the central aisle of the church and did not move after the requests by church staff to leave the cathedral.
Extinction Rebellion urged: "We appeal to the decision-makers of the church: put Pope Francis' message into action, as Pope Francis had criticised in 2019 that climate targets were unlikely to be met.
The activists stated that they criticized the Aachen diocese, given that churches in the Rhenish mining area had been deconsecrated, as the energy company RWE Power was the owner of churches and chapels in various localities in the Aachen diocese since 2019. There are also complaints regarding resettlement of inhabitants due to coal mining.
The police, who attended the scene, are investigating due to criminal charges of trespassing: "A violation of the Assembly Act must also be investigated," said the police spokeswoman.
Source: ORF, Tagesspiegel, Web.de
Foto: Twitter