Bishops' conference demands peace: diplomacy instead of armor!

Bishops' conference demands peace: diplomacy instead of armor!

In the middle of the tense global situation, the Austrian bishops in their Ash Wednesday sermons have strongly pointed out the devastating effects of the Ukraine War. Archbishop Franz Lackner in the Salzburg Cathedral expressed the deep concern about the ongoing violence and called for an end to the enemy acts and the commitment to peace and justice. Lackner warned that military solutions alone cannot lead to stability and expressed the need to strengthen diplomatic paths. He emphasized: "Weapons alone cannot secure peace", which underlines the urgency of a holistic peace policy. Cardinal Schönborn also emphasized the importance of peace and solidarity, while the bishops called in view of the increasing challenges to support war refugees and to create retreat for the suffering, such as katholisch.at reported.

Appeal of solidarity

At the Bishops' Conference, which for the first time since 1991 was carried out without the emeritus Cardinal Schönborn, basic topics were also addressed that are discussed in society, such as the ban on headscarves. Lackner made it clear that a responsible church policy must not be carried out at the expense of disadvantaged. While the church acknowledges the need for budget consolidation, Lackner pointed out that Austria as a wealthy country should be willing to expand humanitarian aid both in Germany and internationally: "Let us remain generously with humanitarian aid abroad, in development cooperation and to refugees," he said. This, as Kleinezeitung.at reported.

The bishops not only called for prayer attitude, but also to the active support of the refugees who have become desperate by the war. Bishop Manfred Scheuer addressed the spiritual dimension of peace and the inner conflict of man, which can serve as the basis for external peace. The appeal to the community is clear: In the midst of war clumsy and social divisions, a return to the values of charity and disinterest in their own advantages is more in demand.