May 8: Churches Stress the Legacy and Duty of Current and Future Generations
Duty Calls for Current and Coming Generations: Churches Highlight Their Message - Churches Urge Current and Future Audiences of Their Obligations
Church leaders Kirsten Fehrs and Georg Bätzing have labeled May 8, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, as a day symbolizing both liberation and the dawn of a new era of peace, unity, and transatlantic friendship. However, they emphasize that remembering this day also entails a serious responsibility for the future.
Fehrs and Bätzing reminded us, "We acknowledge the factors that permitted the atrocities and the collapse of civilization. This includes the fact that democracy in Germany did not have sufficient defenders who could counter the looming threats of the time." Now, they declare, "In this time, we safeguard our values! We stand firm against any attempts to stir the spirits of violence and hatred: Not on our watch, never again!"
This May 8, memorial events will unfold across Western Europe to honor the end of hostilities in WWII in Europe. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled to deliver a speech at a notable gathering in the Bundestag.
On the occasion of the anniversary, Verena Bentele, President of the social welfare association VdK, stated, "Remembering the victims of the war and the Nazi dictatorship compels us to stay vigilant against any form of discrimination, exclusion, or devaluation of people."
Bernd Fabritius, the head of the Federation of Expellees (BdV), added, "May 8, 1945, was the day of liberation from National Socialism, but for many, it was not a day of true freedom." Around 15 million Germans were forced to flee or violently expelled from their ancestral homes, making remembrance of the war's end also about acknowledging the plight of those who suffered during displacement and repression.
Insights:
- Kirsten Fehrs and Georg Bätzing view democracy in post-WWII Germany as a safeguard against authoritarianism and a foundation for peace and unity.
- They underscore democracy's essential role as a moral commitment, demanding active responsibility for safeguarding freedom, promoting tolerance, and upholding human dignity for future generations.
- As high-ranking Protestant and Catholic leaders, Fehrs and Bätzing emphasize that democracy’s role extends beyond politics, encompassing spiritual and ethical dimensions grounded in human dignity and lessons learned from Germany’s dark past.
In summary, on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, church leaders Fehrs and Bätzing remind Germany of its responsibility to uphold democracy as a means to ensure peace, justice, and moral progress for generations to come.
- Church leaders Kirsten Fehrs and Georg Bätzing view democracy in post-WWII Germany as a safeguard against authoritarianism and a foundation for peace and unity.
- They underscore democracy's essential role as a moral commitment, demanding active responsibility for safeguarding freedom, promoting tolerance, and upholding human dignity for future generations.
- On this significant anniversary, Verena Bentele, President of the social welfare association VdK, stated that remembering the victims of the war and the Nazi dictatorship compels us to stay vigilant against any form of discrimination, exclusion, or devaluation of people.
- Bernd Fabritius, the head of the Federation of Expellees (BdV), added that May 8, 1945, was the day of liberation from National Socialism, but for many, it was not a day of true freedom, as around 15 million Germans were forced to flee or violently expelled from their ancestral homes.
