- Hessen anticipates the shift in financial contributions towards the state church.
Hessen will initially hold back its response to the federal government's proposal to eliminate state church subsidies by paying out a billion-dollar sum. Spokesman Tobias Römann shared with the German Press Agency in Wiesbaden: "If a federal law is passed to discontinue these state payments, Hessen will work towards a fair resolution for all parties concerned." However, he pointed out: "So far, the federal government hasn't made significant progress in establishing a system that will pave the way for the elimination."
The federal government is determined to weaken the religious ties between churches and the state, as stated in its coalition agreement for nearly three years: "We will establish, in consultation with the states and the churches, a fair framework for the elimination of state subsidies, stipulated in a constitutional amendment."
The Hessian state constitution also includes the clause: "The state subsidies to religious and philosophical organizations, granted based on law, contract, or special privileges, will gradually be phased out through legislation." However, there's resistance among the federal states against the proposal to eliminate these annual payments, amounting to a billion-dollar sum.
Critical leaders of states
The Brandenburg Ministry of Culture declared: "The conference of minister presidents has previously scrutinized this issue and expressed concern about it." As of now, no consensus-based elimination strategy for all parties involved has been identified. "The elimination through compensation, either as a one-time payment or in installments, is currently unlikely given the numerous crises and their financial repercussions," the Brandenburg Ministry of Culture stated.
In fact, this issue is over two centuries old: The churches receive state subsidies as reparation for the expropriation of German churches and monasteries at the beginning of the 19th century during the secularization process. Apart from Hamburg and Bremen, all other federal states pay an annual sum to the Catholic and Protestant churches. Last year, this totaled around 550 million euros nationwide.
The Brandenburg Ministry of Culture voiced concerns shared by other critical leaders of states, stating, "The conference of minister presidents has previously examined this issue and expressed concern about it." Despite the federal government's intention to eliminate state church subsidies, The Community, represented by Hessen, is striving for a fair resolution for all parties involved, as Spokesman Tobias Römann mentioned.
