Rheinbund
Established Nation
Press conference Archbishop Strelecki and Oberpräfekt of Heilbach Bronstein
"Good evening, dear listeners and watchers, this is Reglinde Sydow for RFR Nachrichten with a live report of the press conference by Archbishop Strelecki and Oberpräfekt Bronstein on the elaboration of the Tiburan Reforms on the Tiburan Catholic Church and the Prince-Bishopric Heilbach. The Archbishop indicated earlier that he had to study the Pope's edict, a speech that has become known in the Rheinbund as the Tiburan Reforms. Meanwhile, the Archbishop held several meetings with the Rheinian Bishops to discuss the matter, and also discussed with the Oberpräfekt of Heilbach on what the consequences to the Prince-Bishopric would be. We now switch over to Gereon Halm at the Oberpräfektur in Heilbach to hear what the Bishops have decided and what will happen in Heilbach. Hello Gereon Halm."
"Hello Reglinde Sydow. We got a message that the press conference is about to begin. And indeed, the door is opened. Archbishop Strelecki and Oberpräfekt Bronstein enter the room and seat themselves behind the table."
«Archbishop Strelecki is a man in his early sixties, with grey hair and brown eyes. He appears in the black robe typical for Archbishops. Eduard Bronstein is a man in his early fourties, with black hair and black eyes. He wears a dark blue suit, a white shirt and a dark red tie. He also wears the pin that identifies him as the Oberpräfekt (i.e. sort of Head of Government) of Heilbach. The Archbishop starts talking.»
"Good evening everyone, thank you for coming. As you know, the Tiburan Catholic Church is in turmoil at the moment. Actually, the whole Christian Faith is in turmoil. In a turmoil that can be compared with the Great Schism in the 11th century and the Reformation in 16th and 17th century. I also heard that a new schism has taken place. It fills me with great sadness to see this all happen. Who is right in this? Who is wrong? I don't know. Only God knows. We can only guess what God wants here. But that guessing can only be successful when we remain calm.
The most important guidance we have, is the Bible. It indicates which behaviours are sins, One of those behaviours is homosexuality. His Holiness did not declare that homosexuality is no sin any more. He only indicated that we should not consider it a reason any more to deny Communion. This part of his edict was the one that caused the most controversy, I think.
The Bible also describes how to approach sinners. The Old Testament describes and orders some harsh punishments, but the New Testament tells about Jesus Christ who approaches the sinners with friendliness. At least the regretful sinners. This is an aspect in which the New Testament supersedes the Old Testament.
With those two facts combined, how to handle Communion? Indeed, you can only receive Communion when you are free of sin. But how do you as Priest know that the person in front of you is free of sin? Even if the person in question is not free of sin, how do you as Priest know whether that person is standing before you only to keep up appearances or because that person really wants to be close to God and needs our support to repent? When somebody stands before the Priest to receive Communion out of the wish to be close to God and Jesus Christ, the Priest should not refuse to give Communion. The opinion of the Rheinian Tiburan Catholic Bishops is, that Priests always have to presume that the person standing in front of them to receive Communion stands there in good faith. When that person does not stand there in good faith, the Priest will still act in good faith when presuming that person's good faith. The sin will be a matter for the person receiving Communion while not in good faith. God and Jesus Christ will know what to do then, and exactly the story of Sodom and Gomorrah describes how God spares the good people while punishing the sinners.
On the other hand, there is the issue of so-called 'very minor sins'. We disagree with His Holiness that we can simply step over so-called 'very minor sins'. Even if a sin is a very minor one, it is still a sin. Although it is the Church's ultimate task to keep the good on the good path and lead the sinners towards the good path, the Church should not facilitate sinful behaviour. We should be warm and welcoming to sinners, but we should still call a sin a sin. So while being a safe haven for homosexuals, people committing adultery and people living together unmarried, the Tiburan Catholic Church in the Rheinbund will continue to preach that homosexuality, adultery and extramarital sex are sins.
I also want to make clear that, although we have a difference in opinion regarding 'very minor sins', the Tiburan Catholic Church in the Rheinbund will continue to be part of the Tiburan Catholic Church. The Tiburan Reforms not mentioned by me in today's speech will be carried out by the Tiburan Catholic Church in the Rheinbund.
Now I hand the word over to Oberpräfekt Bronstein."
"Good evening everyone. I will talk about how this will influence legislation in the Prince-Bishopric of Heilbach. At this moment, homosexual intercourse, adultery and extramarital sex are considered a crime punishable by maximally ten years imprisonment or a 4th level fine (or both). The latter means maximally 20 daily bruto wages, i.e. in practice one monthly wage. We will follow the Tiburan Reforms and will decriminalise homosexual intercourse, adultery and extramarital sex.
At the same time, we will follow His Eminence Archbishop Strelecki's explanation of the Tiburan Reforms. Heilbach is a Prince-Bishopric, ruled by a Prince-Bishop, ruled based on the teachings of the Tiburan Catholic Church as explained by the Prince-Bishop. Heilbach cannot facilitate sin. Allowing homosexuality, adultery and extramarital sex would mean that we let sins happen. That cannot be. Therefore, homosexuality, adultery and extramarital sex will be considered offenses, punishable by a 1st level fine, meaning maximally 2 daily bruto wages. Considering these deeds offenses instead of crime also means that homosexuality, adultery and extramarital sex will not lead to a criminal record any more."
"Good evening, dear listeners and watchers, this is Reglinde Sydow for RFR Nachrichten with a live report of the press conference by Archbishop Strelecki and Oberpräfekt Bronstein on the elaboration of the Tiburan Reforms on the Tiburan Catholic Church and the Prince-Bishopric Heilbach. The Archbishop indicated earlier that he had to study the Pope's edict, a speech that has become known in the Rheinbund as the Tiburan Reforms. Meanwhile, the Archbishop held several meetings with the Rheinian Bishops to discuss the matter, and also discussed with the Oberpräfekt of Heilbach on what the consequences to the Prince-Bishopric would be. We now switch over to Gereon Halm at the Oberpräfektur in Heilbach to hear what the Bishops have decided and what will happen in Heilbach. Hello Gereon Halm."
"Hello Reglinde Sydow. We got a message that the press conference is about to begin. And indeed, the door is opened. Archbishop Strelecki and Oberpräfekt Bronstein enter the room and seat themselves behind the table."
«Archbishop Strelecki is a man in his early sixties, with grey hair and brown eyes. He appears in the black robe typical for Archbishops. Eduard Bronstein is a man in his early fourties, with black hair and black eyes. He wears a dark blue suit, a white shirt and a dark red tie. He also wears the pin that identifies him as the Oberpräfekt (i.e. sort of Head of Government) of Heilbach. The Archbishop starts talking.»
"Good evening everyone, thank you for coming. As you know, the Tiburan Catholic Church is in turmoil at the moment. Actually, the whole Christian Faith is in turmoil. In a turmoil that can be compared with the Great Schism in the 11th century and the Reformation in 16th and 17th century. I also heard that a new schism has taken place. It fills me with great sadness to see this all happen. Who is right in this? Who is wrong? I don't know. Only God knows. We can only guess what God wants here. But that guessing can only be successful when we remain calm.
The most important guidance we have, is the Bible. It indicates which behaviours are sins, One of those behaviours is homosexuality. His Holiness did not declare that homosexuality is no sin any more. He only indicated that we should not consider it a reason any more to deny Communion. This part of his edict was the one that caused the most controversy, I think.
The Bible also describes how to approach sinners. The Old Testament describes and orders some harsh punishments, but the New Testament tells about Jesus Christ who approaches the sinners with friendliness. At least the regretful sinners. This is an aspect in which the New Testament supersedes the Old Testament.
With those two facts combined, how to handle Communion? Indeed, you can only receive Communion when you are free of sin. But how do you as Priest know that the person in front of you is free of sin? Even if the person in question is not free of sin, how do you as Priest know whether that person is standing before you only to keep up appearances or because that person really wants to be close to God and needs our support to repent? When somebody stands before the Priest to receive Communion out of the wish to be close to God and Jesus Christ, the Priest should not refuse to give Communion. The opinion of the Rheinian Tiburan Catholic Bishops is, that Priests always have to presume that the person standing in front of them to receive Communion stands there in good faith. When that person does not stand there in good faith, the Priest will still act in good faith when presuming that person's good faith. The sin will be a matter for the person receiving Communion while not in good faith. God and Jesus Christ will know what to do then, and exactly the story of Sodom and Gomorrah describes how God spares the good people while punishing the sinners.
On the other hand, there is the issue of so-called 'very minor sins'. We disagree with His Holiness that we can simply step over so-called 'very minor sins'. Even if a sin is a very minor one, it is still a sin. Although it is the Church's ultimate task to keep the good on the good path and lead the sinners towards the good path, the Church should not facilitate sinful behaviour. We should be warm and welcoming to sinners, but we should still call a sin a sin. So while being a safe haven for homosexuals, people committing adultery and people living together unmarried, the Tiburan Catholic Church in the Rheinbund will continue to preach that homosexuality, adultery and extramarital sex are sins.
I also want to make clear that, although we have a difference in opinion regarding 'very minor sins', the Tiburan Catholic Church in the Rheinbund will continue to be part of the Tiburan Catholic Church. The Tiburan Reforms not mentioned by me in today's speech will be carried out by the Tiburan Catholic Church in the Rheinbund.
Now I hand the word over to Oberpräfekt Bronstein."
"Good evening everyone. I will talk about how this will influence legislation in the Prince-Bishopric of Heilbach. At this moment, homosexual intercourse, adultery and extramarital sex are considered a crime punishable by maximally ten years imprisonment or a 4th level fine (or both). The latter means maximally 20 daily bruto wages, i.e. in practice one monthly wage. We will follow the Tiburan Reforms and will decriminalise homosexual intercourse, adultery and extramarital sex.
At the same time, we will follow His Eminence Archbishop Strelecki's explanation of the Tiburan Reforms. Heilbach is a Prince-Bishopric, ruled by a Prince-Bishop, ruled based on the teachings of the Tiburan Catholic Church as explained by the Prince-Bishop. Heilbach cannot facilitate sin. Allowing homosexuality, adultery and extramarital sex would mean that we let sins happen. That cannot be. Therefore, homosexuality, adultery and extramarital sex will be considered offenses, punishable by a 1st level fine, meaning maximally 2 daily bruto wages. Considering these deeds offenses instead of crime also means that homosexuality, adultery and extramarital sex will not lead to a criminal record any more."