Archbishop of Berlin defends Sunday as a day of rest

Heiner Koch, the archbishop of Berlin, said Sunday must remain a day of rest, arguing that the weekly break benefits society as a whole. In a recent interview with Catholic News Agency, Koch said allowing stores to open on Sundays could reduce daily life to a work routine. "If every day is the same, you end up becoming a work robot," he said.

Koch said protecting religious space in society is essential, because as that space shrinks, faith can lose meaning for individuals and for the community. "If spaces of religious freedom are restricted more and more, believers lose their space, both personal and social," he said. He also said families need time together, at a point when work, school and sports commitments often leave little room for family life.

Sunday and the need for community

Koch said one day should be set aside for community, when people can attend religious services together and share in community life. "We need to keep a day when people can go to church and experience community," he said. Failing to protect these religious spaces affects faith and also amounts to a form of human poverty, he said, because social life loses something valuable and formative.

Understanding for shopkeepers, firm on the principle

Koch said he understands the concerns of small retailers, among them Berlin's well-known "Spätis," the city's late-night corner shops, which face competition from online retail and financial difficulties. "I recognize the strong competition that e-commerce represents, and I am aware of the store closures, even in areas considered prosperous," he said.

Koch said he remains committed to protecting Sunday as a day of rest, and that fair exceptions can be discussed without giving up the principle. Keeping the day, he said, is a matter of religious freedom and social health, not an insurmountable economic obstacle.