Head of German bishops: Positions of the right-wing AfD and the Catholic Church are incompatible

Autumn Meeting of the German Bishop Conference begins 

Starting today, the German bishops will meet in Wiesbaden for their autumn general assembly. They discuss the Synodal Way, the World Synod and the topic of clerical abuse. At the start, Bishop Georg Bätzing made a statement.

The Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), Bishop Georg Bätzing, has renewed his criticism of the Altenative for Germany (AfD). “I am very convinced that the positions of the AfD and the position of the Catholic Church are incompatible,” said Bätzing on Monday at the opening press conference of the DBK autumn general meeting in Wiesbaden. The party is not an “alternative for Germany” but wants an “alternative Germany,” said Bätzing. Bätzing described parts of AfD personnel and positions as xenophobic and extremist. “We as the Catholic Church can only distance ourselves from this.” The church's task is to work for a democratic and cosmopolitan Germany. Holding public office in the church is also incompatible with membership in the party. "We want, that is very clear, a democratic, European, cosmopolitan Germany that faces the problems we have."

At the weekend, Bätzing had already made critical comments about the AfD. In recent weeks, prominent church voices have repeatedly commented on the church's dealings with the party. In August, the President of the Central Committee of German Catholics, Irme Stetter-Karp, reiterated her demand to exclude AfD members from elective church positions. "My position is clear: Anyone who is in the AfD should not have any power in the church." The party's attitude is an "attitude of destruction". Augsburg Bishop Bertram Meier, on the other hand, does not want to exclude AfD members from positions in the Catholic Church, such as lector. When asked about Meier's statements, Bätzing said that the assessments of the party within the DBK were not far apart. "I am very convinced that Bishop Meier is not a friend of the AfD."

After the revelations about the former Essen Cardinal Franz Hengsbach, Bätzing sees the Catholic Church as a whole in a difficult situation. “Everything has to be on the table,” demanded the DBK chairman. This is the only way those affected can get their rights. The fact that concrete allegations of abuse have been made against a cardinal in Germany for the first time has a new quality. The cardinal was an important personality for generations of people. For these people, the allegations are a huge disappointment. From his point of view, the fact that more affected people have now come forward means that the suspicion has been confirmed, said Bätzing.

“An atmospherically very good, very open conversation”

According to Bätzing, a new situation arose after the Cologne verdict for pain and suffering in June. The bishops would therefore also deal with the system of recognition services for those affected by abuse at their autumn general assembly. “We believe that this system is still suitable for achieving recognition for those affected in a good way,” emphasized Bätzing.

The DBK chairman also announced that the Synodal Committee would meet as planned on November 10th and 11th for its constituent meeting in Essen. This year's autumn general assembly will be the first meeting of all bishops after the fifth synodal assembly in Frankfurt. At the end of July there was also a meeting between German bishops and Curia representatives in Rome. “A very good, very open, atmospheric conversation,” emphasized Bätzing. It was primarily about the future culture of discussion and the preparation of joint discussions. The autumn general assembly will now be about a personal and spiritual reflection on the role of the bishops in the synodal path.

From Monday to Thursday, the 65 members of the German Bishops' Conference meet for the autumn general assembly in the Wilhelm Kempf House in Wiesbaden. The focus of the discussions is a reflection process on the synodal path of the church in Germany and questions for the upcoming world synod in Rome, which will take place from October. In addition, the current status of restructuring in the area of sexual abuse will be discussed and a document on the subject of “spiritual abuse” will be presented to the public.

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