Funeral service of Guido Westerwelle takes place in Catholic church in Cologne

Last week in the German city of Cologne the funeral service of Guido Westerwelle, a former German Foreign Minister, took place.

The service was conducted in a Catholic church in the city by a senior Catholic priest and a Protestant minister.

Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the eulogy.

Guido Westerwelle was a married homosexual man.

He was a man cut down in his prime and greatly respected by politicians across the political spectrum. 

Frau Merkel spoke in glowing terms of her former colleague, who was in his 50s when he died. She also alluded to the sound advice he gave her and of his great sense of humour.

In many a church in Ireland it can happen that the local priest might refuse Communion to someone who is living in a second relationship and it is usually a woman.

Thank God for a broader/wider church, which opened its doors to Guido Westerwelle.