Catholic Scouts of Europe

The Catholic Scout Association of Europe ( KPE ) is a Catholic Scout Association in Germany with about 2,500 members. She is a member of the Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe ( UIGSE ). Within this umbrella association there is also an Austrian association of the name Catholic Scout Association of Europe - leads ( KPE - east ) and near Austria is in his work of the German organization.

Closely related to the KPE is the papal recognized and mandated to youth ministry religious servants of Jesus and Mary ( Servi Jesus et Mariae - SJM ). The KPE interacts with the forum German Catholics and is represented by Martin Hafner and Johanna Countess von Westphalen in the organizing team and Board of Trustees.

Self-representation of KPE

On its homepage, the KPE describes her work as follows:

"With the scouting education, we encourage girls and boys holistically. So they can be responsible, Christian leaders who develop their skills and talents that make their lives from the power of faith and assume responsibility for society and the Church. "

The Federal Rules specifically mentions five goals that will achieve the KPE with their youth work:

About the relationship with other organizations, it means that you " would like to chat with other associations, federations and movements of Christian and non -Christian Scouts and Pfadfinderinnentums, friendly and fraternal relations to work together in the spirit of Baden- Powell's, and in the context of its original educational concept of a more just and fraternal society to build. "

History

The KPE was established on 15 February 1976. Its founders came from the German Scout Association of Saint George ( DPSG ), but they had to leave because there they think both Scouting and religious life have been neglected due to the reforms of the 1960s and 1970s; similar criticism was also leveled at Federation of German Catholic Youth. Instrumental in the founding were Walter and Andreas Günther Hönisch. The latter was, until his death on 25 January 2008 Bundeskurat of KPE and superior of the SJM. Günther Walter had held the office of Master of the Federal field KPE long time.

1977 took the Fédération du Scoutisme Européen ( FSE), the predecessor of the UIGSE, the KPE on as a full member.

Since 1977, the KPE was member of the German scout ring, which also houses the German Scout Association and the Christian scouts of Germany were represented. In 1996, the German scout ring has dissolved.

1980 the governing body of KPE, the UIGSE, the consultative status with the Euro Europe was awarded as non-governmental, international youth organization.

1981 Gisela Scholtissek was elected on the third Annual Federal Thing with the Federal Champion of KPE.

In 1984, the KPE on 1 Eurojam the UIGSE to Châteauroux in France with 5,000 Girl Scouts in part.

1986 left some groups, the KPE because of their " extreme religious views ", and founded their own Scout Association, the European Scout Saint Michael. This covenant was recognized in the diocese of Würzburg on 22 July 1986 as a private association of the faithful church.

In the Diocese of Augsburg, the KPE 1992 by Bishop Josef Stimpfle was recognized as a church youth community. The decree confirms that the specific character of the KPE fits into the basic objectives of the diocesan youth work. Are called " personality develop, build community in the life and faith, practice co-responsibility and participation. "

In 1994, the KPE on 2 Eurojam at Viterbo in Italy in part ( 7500 Scouts ). In the same year, the first Euromoot the Ranger and Rover stage in Le Puy -en -Velay in France was held with 2000 participants.

Südwestfunk sent Likewise, in 1994 the first time the feature film " Heaven and Hell", which is based on events in the KPE. The authenticity of the film, however, is questionable, as a criminal penalty, judgment of the District Court of Stuttgart (Case No. 17 O 190/96 ) was pronounced against the film producers and the relationship between the film and the KPE may no longer be produced since then. The diocese of Augsburg officially launched in a press statement in protection and " strongly supports the young people in the KPE against the allegations in various media allegations and insinuations against (...)" turned the KPE. Nevertheless, the KPE was attacked as a result of the film heavily in the press.

In 1997, the 11th Annual Federal Thing took place. Edeltraut Wessler was elected as the new German Champion.

On 22 February 2002, the KPE led for the first time by the singing and instrumental competition Neu-Ulm Meistersinger. Since then, the event took place every year in the spring in the Edwin - Scharff-Haus in Neu -Ulm. For contest scout groups are invited from all organizations.

2003 confirmed the Vatican UIGSE as a lay organization.

When in the summer of 2004, press reports about a possible link between the KPE, the SJM and the incidents in the seminary of St. Pölten were published (see Kurt Krenn ), the German Bishops' Conference distanced according to a statement of the ARD program monitor from the KPE. The editors received the answer that KPE is not a " officially recognized youth organization ".

End of 2004, leaving two and three members of the previous Federal guidance, the KPE - east, since in their opinion, the German Association - in particular Andreas Hönisch - trying to gain greater influence in the Austrian organization.

2005 started off with the 15th Annual Federal Thing of KPE Martin Hafner as a Federal field champion and thus as successor by Günther Walter, who held this office since its establishment in 1976.

In 2007, the KPE on 2 Euromoot the UIGSE part in the Tatra Mountains and to Czestochowa.

2009 by the Federal Thing Hanni Christoph as new Federal Champion, P. Paul Schindele chosen as the new Bundeskurat.

2011 took over Thomas Rieger as federal field champion the leadership of the young Federal KPE.

On October 7, 2012 Martin Hafner became the Federal Commisair the UIGSE, the European Federation of KPE selected.

Organization and Structure

Structure of the Federal

The federal structure of the KPE is divided into three levels:

• Waistband
• Countries
• Strains

The KPE countries based roughly on the borders of the German states, but the KPE is not represented in all provinces. Currently the following KPE countries: Baden- Württemberg, Bavaria, Franconia, Hesse, North Rhine -Westphalia. Groups in regions without land structure are connected in their organization to an existing KPE country.

The local groups are called tribes and are divided according to the various age groups in other small groups. At every level of the federal Thing is the highest decision-making body ( Federal Thing Thing country, Tribal Thing ); it shall meet at least every two years. Decisions are made ​​democratically. Entitled to vote are all trained and active group leader.

A detailed description of the structure and organization of the KPE is enshrined in the Constitution and the Federal Rules.

Ages

The locals of the KPE are divided into three age groups with a per customized educational concept.

• Wölflingsstufe: 7-12 years. Four to eight Cub Scouts form a pack, several packs form a pack.
• Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Level: 12-17 years. Four to eight Scouts form a guild ( in the Boy Scouts: clan ), several guilds / clans form a squad.
• Ranger and Rover stage: from 17 years. Four to eight Ranger / Rover form a round, several rounds form a clan.

Überverbandliche classification

The KPE is a member of the international Scout Association of UIGSE, who is represented with about 55,000 members in 19 countries. Joint meeting stock beyond the borders of their own country also belong to the group life of the Boy Scouts and Ranger-/Roverstufe. The UIGSE has a consultative status with the Euro Europe and is recognized by the Pontifical Council for Laity as a church lay organization. A single ceremony, scout costume, Scout Law and pedagogy connects all member associations of UIGSE.

Publications of the KPE

The German journal of KPE for all Scouts and Guides of the Association is titled track. By the year 1996, she appeared quarterly, since 1997, three times a year. The magazine ad Mariam Europe is published specifically for the group leader of the KPE and treated appropriate topics. It is published at irregular intervals. Since 1982, the KPE 's quarterly published magazine Scouts of Mary, which is aimed at a wider circle of friends of the KPE.

External perception

From outsiders the work of the KPE is evaluated controversial; there are both supporters and critics. Especially in the 1990s, the KPE was at the center of lively debate.

The criticism refers mainly to the following areas:

• Form and content of religious instruction,
• Collaboration with Catholic fundamentalist groups.

With regard to the religious instruction of the KPE is accused its members to urge to participate in religious exercises, especially for the Mass and to confession. Catechesis contains apocalyptic ideas, younger scouts were described horrific images of hell.

Since the 1990s, the KPE were repeatedly accused of contacts with the Angels work and regarded as evidence of a collaboration with Catholic- fundamentalist circles. After Franz Gruber of the Catholic-Theological Private University Linz can be found in the work of the KPE fundamentalist elements. Hans -Gerd Jaschke of the Academy of Economics and Law Berlin declared in 2004 that they had found in the publications of the KPE references to Christian fundamentalism, ethnic nationalism and anti-Semitic allusions.

End of 2011, the Federal line of KPE has taken a position on these criticisms. Here, the KPE distances itself from right-wing ideology and anti-Semitism. In religious matters they reject special teachings that deviate from the general teaching of the Church, for the KPE on principle, just as pressure and coercion as pedagogical methods of transmission of the faith. Connections to Angel 's work - both organizational and substance type - are strongly denies.

The position of the merged in the German Bishops Conference Bishops to KPE is uneven. During the Augsburg Bishop Joseph Stimpfle the KPE 1992 in his diocese recognized as a " church youth community ," said the German Bishops' Conference in 2004, the KPE was not " officially recognized youth organization ".

Florian Wörner, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Augsburg and director of its youth ministry, said in February 2013 at a meeting with the KPE: "I consider my coming [ ... ] as an expression of my appreciation of your work. In my role as head of the Episcopal youth ministry I've experienced in the last seven years working with the KPE to be extremely good and transparent. It was an open and good cooperation. KPE has been introduced with very positive in the various fields of the diocesan Pastoral. " Recognizing the Bishop mentioned that KPE members outside of their own organization structure in different initiatives such as Night Fever engaged in the diocese. The St. Pölten Bishop Klaus Küng encouraged in the summer of 2013, the members of the KPE to attract many young people for their groups. The stages of the Boy Scouts pedagogy are " something that God gives you, that ye may be effective [ ... ] where you work, where you are. "

. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, the KPE " highly praised and recommended all support " 2003, shortly before his election as pope: " The youth in the KPE is assessed quite positive on the whole, and gives many young people a solid foundation for their way of life. "