- Feb 5, 2002
- 166,650
- 56,274
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Others
COLOGNE, Germany (OSV News) — Several hundred people gathered Sept. 20 near the cathedral in Cologne, Germany, to hold a blessing service that catered especially to LGBTQ+ people and people who remarried after a divorce, while those protesting the service prayed the rosary next to it.
Some participants waved rainbow flags and held up placards with statements such as “Love wins” or “Blessings for all” on the square in front of Cologne Central Station in the shadow of the world-famous twin-towered cathedral.
A carpet of flowers in the shape of a heart laid in front of an altar. According to the police, about 600 people attended the service, held under the motto “All you need is love.”
It was conducted by 19 Catholic priests and pastoral ministers, 16 of whom were from the Archdiocese of Cologne. In addition, a choir of 120 singers in colorful sweaters provided musical accompaniment to the service.
The event was held in reaction to the reprimand of a priest from the archdiocese who celebrated the first such service in the town of Mettmann in March.
Continued below.
Some participants waved rainbow flags and held up placards with statements such as “Love wins” or “Blessings for all” on the square in front of Cologne Central Station in the shadow of the world-famous twin-towered cathedral.
A carpet of flowers in the shape of a heart laid in front of an altar. According to the police, about 600 people attended the service, held under the motto “All you need is love.”
It was conducted by 19 Catholic priests and pastoral ministers, 16 of whom were from the Archdiocese of Cologne. In addition, a choir of 120 singers in colorful sweaters provided musical accompaniment to the service.
The event was held in reaction to the reprimand of a priest from the archdiocese who celebrated the first such service in the town of Mettmann in March.
Clarifying Catholic teaching
Continued below.
Catholic priests bless same-sex couples in front of Cologne cathedral in Germany
Several hundred people gathered near the cathedral in Cologne, Germany, to hold a service for LGBTQ+ and divorced and remarried Catholics.
www.oursundayvisitor.com