Divine powers could heal Rooney and inspire England
Jun 07, 2006
<b>BERLIN</b> -For soccer fans seeking divine intervention on behalf of their teams or in need of consolation after a crushing defeat, religious pastors will be on hand in each of Germany’s World Cup cities to offer spiritual care.
BERLIN -For soccer fans seeking divine intervention on behalf of their teams or in need of consolation after a crushing defeat, religious pastors will be on hand in each of Germany’s World Cup cities to offer spiritual care.
“Yes - it is sad when a team loses but we will be there to talk with fans and help remind them of the more important things in life,†said Father Matthias Boensmann, a Catholic priest from Dortmund, who will make himself available to fans throughout.
Alcohol solace
“I hope people come to us for comfort though I’m sure some supporters will still seek solace in alcohol instead,†he added.
Among the hundreds of thousands to visit Germany will be supporters from more fervent nations such as Brazil, Mexico or Poland.
Divine intervention
The host nation’s powerful Catholic and Protestant churches have set up a vast programme of events to cater to their needs ranging from confessions to foreign language services. Father Boensmann said soccer and faith had much in common.
“Football has a lot of religious elements, though it is a pseudo religion which can be dangerous,†he said.
The priest added the manifest faith of some football players who cross themselves before taking penalties or who pray for God’s help (like Rooney pictured) on the pitch could prove a good advert for religion and teach more inhibited Christians how to express belief. England were anxiously waiting for news of Rooney’s scan
yesterday.
“Yes - it is sad when a team loses but we will be there to talk with fans and help remind them of the more important things in life,†said Father Matthias Boensmann, a Catholic priest from Dortmund, who will make himself available to fans throughout.
Alcohol solace
“I hope people come to us for comfort though I’m sure some supporters will still seek solace in alcohol instead,†he added.
Among the hundreds of thousands to visit Germany will be supporters from more fervent nations such as Brazil, Mexico or Poland.
Divine intervention
The host nation’s powerful Catholic and Protestant churches have set up a vast programme of events to cater to their needs ranging from confessions to foreign language services. Father Boensmann said soccer and faith had much in common.
“Football has a lot of religious elements, though it is a pseudo religion which can be dangerous,†he said.
The priest added the manifest faith of some football players who cross themselves before taking penalties or who pray for God’s help (like Rooney pictured) on the pitch could prove a good advert for religion and teach more inhibited Christians how to express belief. England were anxiously waiting for news of Rooney’s scan
yesterday.