Cardinal Marx: Right-wing populists don't want freedom, but power

The Archbishop of Munich, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, rejects the social diagnosis of right-wing populism. He sees them as enemies of democracy. It is more important to focus on freedom.

Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx has refuted the accusation by right-wing populists that one can no longer say anything in Germany: "That is an absurd accusation. I don't see why one should have the right to lie publicly as a politician or opinion leader," Marx told the Catholic magazine Pausenhalten on Friday.

When right-wing populists pose as fighters for freedom, it is hypocritical. "They don't want a change of government, they want a change of power. There's a difference." As soon as such representatives are in government, they attack the judiciary and the media.

Freedom: The Foundation of Human Dignity

Freedom of expression, the cardinal stated, does not mean being able to say anything – regardless of the facts. Nor is it a license to slander people. Such developments endanger freedom. "Do those who shout the loudest prevail? Those who are willing to lie and have no inhibitions? That's what we're seeing," Marx warned. He has the impression, especially with the extreme right, that they want to destroy the reputations of others. That has nothing to do with freedom.

Marx sees freedom as the foundation of human dignity: "Man is the image of God – a God who is free." For him, freedom means not being imprisoned, not being oppressed, thinking freely, meeting other people; and also that no one else is constantly telling him what to do.

The Archbishop of Munich and Freising has already addressed the topic of freedom in several books. His episcopal motto is: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is at work, there is freedom." This recent interview appeared in the front section of a Catholic magazine, which is a joint effort of 15 Catholic church newspapers.

Source