Not to support the Alternative for Germany (AfD) with their vote, and any far-right organization, the leadership of the Catholic Church in Germany is calling German citizens.

In a statement released after its Spring General Assembly in Augsburg, the German Bishops’ Conference emphasized that “ethnic nationalism is incompatible with the Christian view of God and humanity”, and clarified that “far-right parties and those that multiply on the fringes of this ideology cannot be a politically suitable place for Christians – They cannot be voted for by Christians.” Right-wing populism is the bright side of the far-right, the Bishops further warned, explaining that in both cases all the stereotypes of resentment against immigrants, Muslims, finally Jews and against the supposed global elite conspiracy are being expressed.

The president of the Bishops’ Conference, Georg Betsing, however noted that there is always the disposition of the Church for dialogue, as “it is about the souls of men”. However, he pointed out at the same time that “here we are not just talking about different views, but about a fundamentally different view of humanity”. Already in the meantime the Bishoprics of Berlin and Würzburg exclude AfD members from church voluntary work, with a corresponding provision in their operating statutes.

For “wake up message” the first channel of the German public television ARD speaks in a relevant comment, emphasizing that the rest of the social bodies are now facing their responsibilities. “The bishops are so concerned that for the first time they are officially advising citizens not to vote for a party with representation in the Bundestag. Not one of them said “for heaven’s sake, we can’t exclude anyone”. Such voices were heard a few months ago”, the comment states, and there is talk of a “wake-up message” to society, from an institution that traditionally avoids partisan political positions.