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Bundestag President Julia Klöckner Faces Backlash Over Church Criticism

Klöckner's Easter remarks likening churches to NGOs and urging a focus on pastoral care have drawn sharp criticism from SPD and Greens, while CDU figures defend her stance.

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Overview

  • Julia Klöckner, in her role as Bundestag President, criticized German churches for acting like NGOs and called for a return to core pastoral duties during an Easter interview.
  • Her remarks have sparked immediate criticism from SPD and Green leaders, including Karl Lauterbach and Britta Haßelmann, who defended the churches' political engagement.
  • CDU figures, including Armin Laschet and Thorsten Frei, have supported Klöckner, arguing that churches must accept criticism when engaging in political debates.
  • The use of the term 'NGO' has been highlighted as a deliberate rhetorical choice, reflecting broader conservative concerns about the politicization of civic institutions.
  • This controversy underscores deeper ideological divides in Germany over the intersection of religion, politics, and the role of religious institutions in public discourse.