Voting Events - Church Election Challenges Against the AfD Become More Defined
Before the upcoming European election, the significant churches have cautioned against voting for the AfD. This is noteworthy since, according to an expert, past elections saw more individual opinions, whereas this time, the appeals are more arranged and clear. This change is partly due to the rising influence of the AfD, but also because their positions are becoming more evident.
Distancing from the AfD is commonly considered an effective way to engage with them in the long-term, according to Sabrina Mayer, a Political Sociologist at the University of Bamberg. She adds that while religious affiliation and piety used to safeguard against supporting right-wing parties, mainly through connections to the CDU/CSU, this has shifted. "This change is attributed to the increase in individual voting behavior," she said.
Rather than addressing their messages to a specific audience, appeals related to elections would typically encompass broader groups, including their members or adherents. These appeals mainly serve to distance themselves from the AfD. Mayer notes that although the number of people with a strong connection to the churches has decreased, there are potentially less significant effects due to the limited reach of these appeals. Nonetheless, it's crucial not to disregard the significance of media reporting in shaping public perception.
February's German Catholic bishops' spring meeting in Augsburg saw a clear statement against the AfD. They stated that "after several radicalization steps, a nationalist-nationalist mindset now dominates in the party 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD). We appeal to our fellow citizens, even those who do not share our faith, to reject and reject the political offers of the fringe right."
In February, the Bavarian Committee for Catholic elections issued a statement, advocating for a "decision for a democratic party" in the European election. They also stated, "candidates of the AfD are therefore not electable."
Earlier this year, the Evangelical Church in the Free State held a state synod where Landesbishop Christian Kopp declared that "parties that represent nationalist, right-wing extremist, and anti-foreigner positions cannot be voted for by Christians."
These warnings serve various purposes, highlighting religious leaders' concerns about the growing influence of the AfD and the threats it poses to democracy and social harmony. They show that the churches are taking a firm stance against the incidental escalation of extremist ideologies and seeking to maintain a unified front against them. To accomplish this, churches are reminding their members and the general public of their values and why the AfD stands in contradiction to these shared principles.
