“Ignorant and inhuman”: Pastor sharply criticizes walkers - and warns of great danger

Created: 01/03/2022, 11:39 AM

From: Hans Moritz

The parish priest Martin Garmaier found clear words in the festively decorated parish church of St. Johannes Erding in his New Year's Eve sermon.

He is particularly concerned about the division in society.

© Hans Moritz

He is a friend of clear words: First pastor Martin Garmaier.

In his New Year's Eve sermon, he criticized the Monday strollers and expressed concern about the division in society.

Erding - Few sermons are as political as those in the New Year's Eve services.

Erdings City Pastor Martin Garmaier has found particularly clear words in this context for years.

If he had dealt critically with the AfD in recent years, the head of the Erding-Langengeisling parish association attacked the recently revealed division of society in the Christmas decorated parish church of St. Johannes in front of around 100 believers.

Corona situation: Pastor criticizes walkers - danger of division in society

First, Garmaier recalled how hopeful 2021 had started - with the new US President Joe Biden and the vaccination campaign against the corona virus. But then the year that had ended was upside down again. The pastor recalled the storming of the Capitol in Washington, the military coup in Myanmar, the stationing of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine and the renewed seizure of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan. "Christians too have to fear for their lives here," criticized Garmaier. "More and more egotistical striving for power and the readiness for terror and violence permeate the whole world."

But it doesn't help to just point your finger at others. “I am also concerned about the increasing propensity to use violence in our own country. A few years ago it was the influx of refugees with which those responsible in the government had to struggle, today it is the Corona virus, which is holding everyone in the world in suspense. While some are understanding and grateful towards politicians, vaccinated and unvaccinated people play off against each other. These divisions can be observed even in families. "

Garmaier also went into the Monday walks - there have already been four in Erding.

“Our Basic Law gives the right and the opportunity to express oneself publicly with one's opinion, criticism and questions.

However, some seem to misunderstand this and vent their anger by acting violent and destructive. "

Compared to those striving for law and order, there are only a few "who behave so ignorantly and inhumanly, but who do so all the louder".

There is a growing danger "that our country and our society will be more and more divided and that bridges will be blown up rather than built".

Walker criticism: "Even anchored in the Basic Law that democracy ends where sheer egoism begins"

In this context, he again attacked the AfD sharply.

Erdinger politicians are also known to have taken part in the “walks”.

It is questionable "if the fire of this and other smear campaigns also stir up politicians who want to be an alternative for Germany".

The majority of society could certainly do without such an “alternative”.

"Even in the Basic Law it is anchored that democracy ends where sheer egoism begins." Here Garmaier built a bridge to religion: "Our basic Christian attitude confirms this recognition of individuality with all its rights and obligations."

Corona vaccination: "I am more and more afraid of division in society"

The city pastor is no less worried about the disruption of society over the vaccination issue. “I too am more and more afraid of division in society, aggression and one-sided accusations. The enemy is still the terrible virus, everyone is called to act responsibly towards themselves and others. "Verbally hitting each other" seems to me to be a helpless expression of personal powerlessness and helplessness, but not of personal strength and acceptance of responsibility “, Says Garmaier.

In this explosive situation he quoted the prophet Isaiah: "It is God who creates justice between the nations and then no longer lets them raise their swords against each other and learn the craft of war." In 2022 too, one can trust his promise and all hopes in him set.

"Whoever can see and recognize him as the Creator who loves everything and everything, will no longer need to think that he or she can and must solve everything."

Read more news from the Erding region here.

By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Erding newsletter.