Overview

• Bundestag President Julia Klöckner expressed concerns that German churches are acting like NGOs by focusing too much on day-to-day politics.
• She urged churches to concentrate on existential and moral issues such as life, death, and environmental stewardship rather than topics like speed limits.
• Klöckner criticized the churches for missing opportunities to provide stability and spiritual guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Heribert Prantl countered Klöckner’s stance, arguing that religious teachings are inherently political and that churches serve a vital socio-political role.
• The debate comes as German churches face declining membership, driven by secularization, wealth, and a perceived lack of meaningful answers.