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Sobotka: It is important to give people perspectives
Vienna (PK) – Last night, the joint prayer ceremony entitled “Hope in the crisis” took place in Parliament, due to the crown, via live video broadcast. In his speech, the president of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, emphasized that the social distance that Corona requires is counterproductive for people, but that the protection of the elderly and the protection itself currently has priority, because the disease must be contained. The president of the National Council had already pointed out in advance that religious beliefs can serve as a source of guidance and strength for many people, especially in difficult times.
The greetings came from the Minister of Education Susanne Raab via video, as well as the prayers of ecclesiastical representatives of various denominations and religious communities: H. Em. Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Bishop Michael Chalupka, AB Evangelical Church in Austria, Chief Rabbi Jaron Engelmayer, Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien, HE Bishop Andrej Cilerdzic, Serbian Orthodox Diocese for Austria, Switzerland and Italy, HE Bishop Anba Gabriel, Orthodox Church Coptic in Austria, Reinhard Kummer, President of the Free Churches in Austria, H.Em. Archbishop Arsenios Kardamakis, Greek-Orthodox Metropolitan of Austria, and Vicar General Yuriy Kolasa, Ordinariate of the Faithful of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
“The little light drives away a lot of darkness! The light represents wisdom and God. May unity shine in its diversity,” said Chief Rabbi Jaron Engelmayer, Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Vienna.
The prayers in the three prayer blocks were for hope in the crisis, for all those affected by the pandemic, for the sick, the afflicted, victims of terrorism and their survivors, and for those responsible in times of crisis. The prayer blocks were presented by National Councilor member Martin Engelberg, who, as a member of the Jewish religious community, gave part of the reading in Hebrew.
Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler, President of the Federal Council, noted the importance of hope in her opening prayer: “Not fear of the unknown, but hope that the crisis will end soon and that a new beginning is possible. Serenity it is based on trust, that we are all in God’s hands. Faith and hope have played an important role in Austrian history even in dark times. “
Waltraud Klasnic, former governor of Styria, quoted Mother Teresa in his statement: “Life is happiness, spread it!” It is important that people find a balance, that they continue to believe and inquisitive. Klasnic welcomed the important political milestones: the clear position of the parliament in the parliamentary inquiry “Dignity at the end of life”, the unanimously approved resolution on the regular funding of palliative and palliative care, the law on anonymous birth and the protection of victims. The youth chaplain Georg Mayr-Melnhof from Salzburg pointed out that 2020 would be a great challenge and an existential crisis for everyone, but you always have to admit and pause on the major problems in life. The event was moderated by the member of the National Council Gudrun Kugler (ÖVP), who emphasized in her opening: “We are not gathered here on behalf of the parties, not even on behalf of Parliament or any institution, but as members of parliament with a personal belief. “Musical contributions were made by” HOME Medienhaus Salzburg “.
At the European level, prayer breakfasts in the form we know today have been available since the late 1990s. Now there are in the European Parliament, the German Bundestag and many other European countries such as B. Finland, Romania, UK or meetings similar in Ukraine. The 25th United Nations International Prayer Breakfast took place in September 2020. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a video: “We have a responsibility to reduce human suffering and create a better and more caring world for all.”
Austria started the parliamentary prayer breakfast in 2017. Last year, more than 250 guests attended Parliament’s interdenominational prayer breakfast in the Hofburg’s rooftop lobby. Participants included high-ranking representatives from 20 Christian denominations, the Israeli and Islamic faith communities, as well as guests from more than 25 countries. The tradition of the prayer breakfast dates back to the 1980s when a smaller group gathered to pray and exchange ideas. (Conclusion) ibe
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