Extremism: How the church wants to keep right-wing extremists out of committees

The message from the Catholic bishops in Germany at their most recent meeting was unmistakable and clear: Anyone who spreads right-wing extremist slogans has no place in the service of the church – whether in full-time or voluntary work. But how should this be implemented in practice?

The diocesan bishops must follow up with legal action, comments canon law professor Thomas Schüller from Münster. Specifically, he calls for regulations for “all diocesan and parish committees” that someone is ineligible to be elected or loses their mandate if they are proven to behave in a “xenophobic, racist and anti-Semitic manner.” It makes little sense to focus on specific party membership, says Schüller. After all, in Germany no one is obliged to say which party they belong to.

“Tackling the causes of the rise of right-wing extremism”

At its spring meeting in Augsburg, the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) unanimously agreed on a paper in which it strongly condemned right-wing extremism and nationalism. Of course, the AfD is also named as a party. At the same time, the bishops emphasize that the Church will not withdraw from dialogue with “those people who are receptive to this ideology but willing to talk.”

A clear opposition to right-wing extremism does not mean that existing economic and social problems are downplayed or ignored. “They must be addressed. Anything else would only further feed the right-wing fringe.” The chairman of the State Committee of Catholics in Bavaria, Joachim Unterländer, also emphasizes this: “We share the view that the causes of the rise of right-wing extremism in society must be addressed in the spirit of the Christian view of humanity and social justice.”

Würzburg and Berlin are pioneers

So far, only the Diocese of Würzburg and the Archdiocese of Berlin have specific wording in their statutes for the voluntary parish councils, as the Central Committee of Catholics (ZdK) reports.

In Würzburg, the passage dates back to 2021. It says that anyone who “publicly expresses or represents racist, xenophobic or other views that violate human rights or is a member of or supports organizations and parties that do so cannot assume responsibility in the church opinions represented”. So far, this regulation has not had to be applied, says diocesan spokesman Bernhard Schweßinger.

Parish councils usually maintain community life and are involved in charitable activities, but also comment on social and political issues. They then also feed supra-local committees such as the diocesan councils.

The Archdiocese of Munich-Freising, with its almost 1.5 million members, points out that the statutes and statutes of church associations and committees already contain exclusion criteria that affect people who are in open opposition to the teachings or principles of the church and its values ​​such as charity , solidarity and the inviolability of human dignity. In addition to a further review of the existing regulations, the focus is on dialogue on site, says a spokeswoman: “Hate against other people and actions motivated by this must not be given any space.”

ZdK revises “own statute”

The ZdK now also wants to take action: “As an organized representation of Catholic civil society in Germany, we are currently revising our own statutes. A corresponding exclusion clause for dealing with members who represent views that fundamentally contradict the Christian view of humanity is provided for in it,” says a speaker. “There is also a continuous exchange with our member organizations and the diocesan and Catholic councils. We are aware that similar strategies and statute revisions are being discussed everywhere.”

The state committee of Catholics in Bavaria had already decided after the state elections last year that the AfD would not be allowed to send a representative to the committee, as is actually the case with the parties represented in the state parliament. “We extremely welcome the paper from the German Bishops’ Conference and clearly support it,” says Chairman Unterländer.

The church has an easier time with its full-time employees. According to Schüller, a new basic order has been in force here for over a year. Accordingly, there could be sanctions under labor law up to and including termination if racist or anti-Semitic behavior and speech can be proven. “If it becomes known during the application, this is also a reason for non-employment.”