A clear course is required: AKV wants to stop division in the church and society

A clear course is required: AKV wants to stop division in the church and society

The Working Group of Catholic Associations (AKV) is calling for a fundamental change in the culture of debate in politics and the church. President Matthias Tschirf has urgently warned that the current situation is not only unsettling people, but is also further dividing society. This happens through the spread of fake news and one-sided information, which accompany a massive flood of information. Tschirf expressed concern about the increasing scarcity and simplification of messages, which not only poisons the discourse, but can also lead to emotional protests on the streets instead of dealing with these concerns objectively. According to Tschirf, general and sweeping statements such as “those up there” or “the bad foreigners” put a considerable strain on social cohesion. He explained: “In our opinion, this is not a good starting point for productive cooperation.” These critical observations were highlighted by the AKV in a recent broadcast, which also emphasized the need for more objectivity and willingness to compromise in order to loosen up the tightened fronts again.

The position of AKV in the Catholic community

The AKV, which sees itself as an association of 21 autonomous Catholic associations in Austria, was founded in 1954 to give the member organizations greater weight in society and politics. With around 1.2 million members, the group is a significant player within the Catholic lay movement. Tschirf made it clear that the challenges facing the Catholic Church affect all members of the community and should not be exploited for political purposes. Good cooperation is of crucial importance for the AKV; It calls on people to have the courage to question supposed dogmas and to actively stand up for the values ​​of the church. The president particularly criticized the tendency to sideline and publicly defame dissenting Christians, which jeopardizes the basis for serious dialogue.

The working group of Catholic associations is seen as a kind of communication forum that not only protects the interests of its members, but also critically observes social developments and takes a position on them. Your current call to improve the culture of debate should not only be understood as an internal demand, but also as an appeal to society as a whole. The AKV is committed to respectful interaction and a more honest communication culture that recognizes and promotes the complexity of our world today, which, according to Tschirf, should be clearly anchored in an objective discussion in order to achieve progress. Kathpress reported about this important step by the AKV.

In addition, the AKV emphasizes how important it is to concentrate on the challenges of the present and to enable all those involved - both within the church and at the political level - to participate honestly in the discussion. Through a clear formulation of goals and a return to respectful interaction, a way could be found that overcomes the current division and creates a platform for authentic exchange. The AKV has the clear goal of strengthening the voice of Catholic lay people and promoting constructive conversations in society.