Fulda Diocese Rejects Pastor Winfried Abel’s Claim Terror Attack Was ‘Divine Sign’

Retired Fulda priest Winfried Abel, 87, wrote a letter in the Fuldaer Zeitung claiming the terrorist attack on Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade – which killed a woman and injured many participants – was “a signal of heaven and a call for repentance.” His remarks, describing the violence as a divine warning, sparked outrage for being homophobic and dehumanising.

The Diocese of Fulda issued a formal statement distancing itself from Abel’s comments, rejecting any interpretation of the crime as a divine act. The diocese expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, affirmed that “no one may be tolerated being threatened because of sexual identity,” and reiterated its support for a peaceful, respectful CSD. It emphasized the church’s duty to uphold the dignity of every person regardless of sexual orientation.