- Bavaria expresses disapproval towards proposals to halt church subsidies.
The Bavarian administration has strongly condemned the proposals by the traffic light alliance to cease state funding to religious organizations. The alliance aims to enforce a law on the states, which would financially burden them for years to come, as mentioned by State Chancellor Florian Herrmann to the German Press Agency.
"This initiative, which is inconsistent, not only challenges the autonomous identity of the states but also everything that religious establishments contribute to our societal framework, such as daycare centers, hospitals, and elderly care facilities," stated Herrmann. It appears that the traffic light alliance is intent on forcing its socio-political principles "in the final stages of its political existence."
Compensation for property seizures
German churches receive state payments as compensation for the seizure of churches and monasteries during the secularization process in the early 19th century, with the exception of Hamburg and Bremen. All federal states give an annual sum to the Catholic and Protestant churches. Last year, this totaled approximately 550 million euros nationwide. According to the budget plan, Bavaria pays 80 million euros to the Catholic Church and 26 million euros to the Protestant Church - along with joint construction expenses of 28 million euros for both denominations, as stated by the Ministry of Culture to dpa upon request.
The traffic light alliance intends to introduce legislation to phase out state funding to religious institutions by the fall, despite the states' rejection of the project. The reform is to be designed in such a way that the Bundesrat does not require consent. "The resistance of the states necessitates this approach from the coalition," said FDP politician Sandra Bubendorfer-Licht.
Separator of state and religion
As the money originates from tax revenues and, consequently, all taxpayers, including those who do not belong to a religious community, are contributing. This group is expanding annually, with hundreds of thousands leaving the religious institutions every year. The current traffic light administration now intends to disburse the funds to the religious institutions and separate church and state. However, the states would likely be responsible for the redemption amount - and there is strong opposition to this.
Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) has already stressed that the states are "strongly opposed" to these plans. "I would advise against proceeding with these proposals," he said to the "New Osnabrücker Zeitung". The financial situation in many federal states is so precarious that redemption payments to the religious institutions are simply not feasible in the foreseeable future.
The traffic light alliance's proposal to end state funding for religious organizations may conflict with the autonomous rights of the state governments, as pointed out by State Chancellor Florian Herrmann. Despite the rejection of this project by various states, the alliance plans to introduce legislation to phase out funding by fall, bypassing the need for Bundesrat consent, as suggested by FDP politician Sandra Bubendorfer-Licht.
