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German bishops issue guidance on dismissing AfD members
The Pillar ^ | Sept. 26, 2024 | LUKE COPPEN

Posted on 10/04/2024 10:06:45 AM PDT by ConservativeMind

Germany’s bishops clarified Thursday their criteria for dismissing supporters of “extremist” parties from Church positions.

In a 36-page document published Sept. 26, the bishops said decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, weighing the intensity of a person’s “extremist tendencies” and the prominence of the post he or she holds.

“The basic idea is that no one should be excluded or stigmatized per se,” the text said.

The bishops’ guidance, which is not binding on dioceses, comes seven months after they issued a landmark declaration condemning what they described as “racial (völkisch) nationalism.”

The declaration, prompted by the surging Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, ruled that “the dissemination of right-wing extremist slogans — including racism and anti-Semitism in particular — is incompatible with professional or voluntary service in the Church.”

Following the bishops’ declaration, AfD members began to be dismissed from Church positions.

In April, the Diocese of Trier expelled a politician representing the AfD in a state parliament from a parish administrative council.

In July, a 20-year-old AfD official was reportedly told he could no longer act as an altar server, lector, and occasional organist at a parish in Hamm, western Germany.

The new document offered advice on interpreting the German Church’s employment regulations, known as the Basic Order of Church Service, in light of the February declaration.

The text said the regulations, which apply to volunteers as well as full-time employees, require those holding posts to identify with the Church’s goals and values.

“These fundamental principles of the Catholic Church are not compatible with extremist positions or a racial [völkisch]-national ethos that aims at an unchanging cultural identity and a homogeneous community of descent and, as a result, systematically and regularly excludes people,” said the document, reportedly approved by the German bishops’ conference’s permanent council Aug. 26.

(Excerpt) Read more at pillarcatholic.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: afd; europe; germany
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You can’t have “right-wing” views and hold any sort of position in “professional or voluntary service” in Germany’s Catholic churches, according the all of Germany’s bishops.
1 posted on 10/04/2024 10:06:45 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: ConservativeMind

Our dear NATO allies - united in woke, globohomo statism


2 posted on 10/04/2024 10:11:25 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: ConservativeMind
The public statement is ( tongue-in-cheek ) advice, but the real demographic issue is working behind the scenes. Many German Catholics and Evangelicals do not “register” for the mandatory church tax, and as the economic slump grows in Germany more will very likely “un-enroll.” One of my students (when we were legal reisdents of Germany) left the country, to participate actively in his parish, but while he was in Germany was legally not enrolled. The churches threaten to withhold services from those who won't pony up the additional 7-9% levied on them and collected by the government as yet another "service" to the faithful,,,,,

The Church Tax in Germany Explained

3 posted on 10/04/2024 10:20:51 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

That tax is bizarre and disgusting.

Does that tax money go to the church, or is it just a real tax on belonging to a Christian church, but not other faith communities?

Why don’t they change perverse incentive to never go to any church service?


4 posted on 10/04/2024 10:36:29 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

I have read that another aspect of this issue is cemeteries. German cemeteries are religious. So if you are not enrolled, where are you going to be buried? This is a hook that keeps enrollment up.


5 posted on 10/04/2024 10:37:47 AM PDT by married21 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Satan lovers, homosexuals, pedos all welcone. Haters of sin NOT welcome.


6 posted on 10/04/2024 11:13:02 AM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: PGR88

You are correct. This mind-rotting disease has infected all of our nations, to some degree, even our most southeastern partner Turkey - which has serious other issues…you certainly know.

🙁


7 posted on 10/04/2024 11:22:08 AM PDT by Menes
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To: ConservativeMind

The AfD opposes further liberalization of abortion laws, so it appears that by punishing AfD members and trying to force them out of office, the Church itself will be responsible for an increased number of abortions.

This Church, led by an imposter pope, is becoming more satanic every day.


8 posted on 10/04/2024 11:31:17 AM PDT by Apparatchik (Русские свиньи, идите домой!)
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To: married21

As Churchill said, “The Hun is either at your throat or at your feet.”


9 posted on 10/04/2024 11:33:06 AM PDT by Bookshelf
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To: married21

Most cemeteries in Germany are run by the local council. It doesn’t matter whether you are part of any church, cult or whatever. You pay for the plot, you get put in the ground. If you opt for cremation, they have places for your urn, for less money.

Now, getting a priest or pastor to perform a service on your behalf may be a different matter. (Don’t know; I’m not dead yet.)


10 posted on 10/04/2024 1:38:42 PM PDT by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building.)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

Yes, it’s a “tithe” (though not the literal 10%) that many churches expect from their flock.

The difference in Germany is that the tax authorities collect directly from employees’ withholdings and pass it on to the church. Saves the church a lot of administrative costs.

Tick (or untick) a box on your tax return and you’re OUT.


11 posted on 10/04/2024 1:43:45 PM PDT by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building.)
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To: Bookshelf

Not all quips of his are true. Witty, yes, often. Sometimes less so😀


12 posted on 10/04/2024 1:44:16 PM PDT by Menes
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To: Moltke

Thanks for the clarification. I guess I was misinformed. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, as they say. I am indeed dangerous.


13 posted on 10/04/2024 2:05:26 PM PDT by married21 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: married21

👍🏻 We all are... And you’re welcome, of course.


14 posted on 10/04/2024 2:08:23 PM PDT by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building.)
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To: ConservativeMind
Well, as in the US, the churches in Germany profit hugely from the migrant crisis, offering all sorts of services...for a fee!

Now, would they ostracize people who are critical of the last decade of uncontrolled immigration? Oh yes they would!

Not very Christian of them IMO, but never mess with another man's prophets profits, or he'll get angry at you.

15 posted on 10/04/2024 2:14:57 PM PDT by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building.)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

I guess wanting to start World War 3 doesn’t qualify as insane and subject to removal? If it did, German would have a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT government.


16 posted on 10/04/2024 4:43:58 PM PDT by BobL
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To: BobL
--- "I guess wanting to start World War 3 doesn't qualify as insane and subject to removal? If it did, German would have a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT government."

On a thread about German Catholics and the Kirchensteuer? The thread is titled "German bishops issue guidance on dismissing AfD members." AfD has made no statement on WWIII not have the Catholic bishops in Germany. Sie scheinen in dieser Hinsicht verwirrt zu sein.

17 posted on 10/04/2024 5:22:48 PM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Moltke

A Berliner friend is buried near to Dietrich. When the rent comes due and is not paid, removable to another location comes. Ah, tempus fugit.


18 posted on 10/04/2024 5:24:55 PM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time; BobL

Indeed. What does Mr. L. mean by starting World War 3? That is really not the issue in this debate.😱


19 posted on 10/04/2024 8:54:50 PM PDT by Menes
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To: Menes

More than you think. Why do you think AfD is doing so well, so quickly? It’s because they knew a large portion of the German population had NO INTEREST in going to war, even though that’s just where they’re leaders were taking them, at least until very recently, when they saw the rise of AfD.


20 posted on 10/04/2024 8:59:42 PM PDT by BobL
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