Pastors in East Germany's 4,300 Evangelical Christian churches read a pastoral letter as the Sunday sermon, calling for religious freedom and tolerance of activities outside of those allowed in the constitution of the German Democratic Republic (DDR). Although the DDR guaranteed freedom of private religious services, and permitted Protestant and Roman Catholic churches to operate hospitals and retirement homes, other laws prohibited parochial schools and religious instruction to children.
Pastors in East Germany's 4,300 Evangelical Christian churches delivered a pastoral letter as their Sunday sermon, advocating for religious liberty and acceptance of activities beyond those permitted by the constitution of the German Democratic Republic (DDR). Although the DDR ensured freedom of private religious services, and allowed Protestant and Roman Catholic churches to operate hospitals and retirement homes, other laws forbade parochial schools and religious instruction to children.