Eklat at Christmas mass: Protests against termination of the cathedral band master!

Eklat at Christmas mass: Protests against termination of the cathedral band master!

At this year's Christmas mass in the Freiburg Münster there was an unexpected scandal when Archbishop Stephan Burger had to interrupt the service. After a moving appearance of the cathedral singing boy, the conductor Boris Böhmann reacted with a loud applause. Immediately afterwards, however, protest calls followed that disturbed the event considerably. In this context, Catholic television K-TV switched off the transmission and described the disorder as willful.

This argument revolves around the termination of Boris Böhmann, which was pronounced in the summer and should apply by the end of February 2025. During the service, flyers were distributed that requested to withdraw the termination and collected signatures for a petition. This petition is directed against the cathedral chapter of the Archdiocese and emphasizes the uncertainty and dismay among the approximately 300 affected singers. Despite several attempts to talk to the choir representatives with the cathedral chapter, there was no solution.

conflicts and protests

The spokesman for the Archdiocese, Marc Mudrak, pointed out in his statement that the disruption was willful and that no detailed information on the termination could be disclosed for data protection reasons. The reasons for this decision are the result of a long history, which is characterized by numerous conflicts. The cathedral factory fund ultimately looked at the termination as the last way out after failed attempts at arbitration.

The archdiocese criticized the form of protest as unsuitable during the service and emphasized that many visitors were not involved in the conflict. Mudrak also emphasized the need for a new beginning in the management of the cathedral music. The reactions during the final blessing, in which laughter was heard, as well as the renewed applause and speeches for Böhmann after the exhibition celebration illustrate the emotional location of those present.

The termination of Boris Böhmann, which was the basis for the protests, was addressed in an labor court procedure and was the subject of intensive internal conflicts. A lawsuit against the termination was dismissed by the Freiburg Labor Court, but is not yet final.

more about the incidents rnd.de and katholisch.de .