Community of Catholic Soldiers
The Association of Catholic Soldiers is a German association based in Berlin. The lay organization, founded in 1960, is in the jurisdiction of the Catholic Military Bishop . It is particularly based on the results of the Second Vatican Council and the Church's teaching on peace . Their self-image is based on the following statement by the Second Vatican Council:
“Anyone who is in the service of the fatherland as a soldier see themselves as servants of the security and freedom of peoples. In doing this rightly, he truly contributes to the consolidation of peace. "
assignment
The association is active in the area of the Bundeswehr and there especially in the areas of security, peace and justice. The aim is to provide answers to the life questions and life possibilities of the soldiers and their families from the perspective of the Christian faith. It wants to offer Catholics in the Bundeswehr, soldiers in the Catholic Church and Catholic soldiers in the state and society a moral religious orientation and a spiritual home.
She wants to bring her concerns, which arise from the special features of the soldier's profession, into the opinion-forming process of church, politics and society and contribute to the realization of Christian witness in the armed forces.
With this objective, the GKS is expressly not limited to its members or to Catholic soldiers. She is open to the cooperation of everyone who is looking for the ethical foundations of their profession and the meaning of their life.
Association structure
The federal conference is the highest decision-making body of the GKS and elects the federal board. It consists of the members of the divisional boards and one delegate for each GKS group. The Federal Conference meets once a year as part of the Week of Encounter .
In 2019, the federal conference in Stapelfeld elected staff captain Andreas Quirin as federal chairman. He succeeded Colonel Rüdiger Attermeyer, who held the federal chairmanship from 2009.
Committees
- Security and Peace Committee (SA SF)
Here, security and peace policy issues are examined from the perspective of Catholic peace ethics and, from a soldier's point of view, a contribution is made to the formation of opinions in the church and the public.
- Internal Management Committee (SA IF)
This technical committee deals with fundamental and current questions of internal guidance and evaluates them from the perspective of Christian social teaching . To this end, he proposes answers and solutions to the federal executive committee and the other committees.
- International Technical Committee (SA IS)
He coordinates international activities of the GKS, represents the federal board at international events ( AMI , OIC, AKS, etc.) and supports areas and circles in their efforts to establish contacts with military chaplaincy in foreign allied armed forces.
- Communication (SA KI)
Association of Catholic Soldiers (FGKS)
The Association of Catholic Soldiers Association (FGKS) is a non-profit association providing material and financial support to the Association of Catholic Soldiers (GKS).
The FGKS was founded in Bonn in February 1997. After the federal office of the GKS was relocated from Bonn to Berlin, the headquarters of the FGKS was also relocated to Berlin. He supports and promotes aid projects and activities of the GKS.
- Chairman: Staff Captain Andres Quirin
- Deputy Chairman: Staff Sergeant a. D. Gerhard Pape
- Treasurer: Hubert Berners
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Scope and objectives of the GKS ( Memento from October 5, 2013 in the Internet Archive )