The chairman of the German bishops’ conference, joined by the leaders of the Lutheran church and the ecumenical Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen (Association of Christian Churches), issued a statement today deploring the landslide victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
“Our worst fears have been realized, but the result must be accepted,” said Bishop Heinrich Wilmer, S.C.J., of Münster and the two other Christian leaders. “The churches are particularly concerned about the coexistence and cooperation of the people in Saxony-Anhalt, and especially about respecting the God-given human dignity that belongs unconditionally to everyone. This concern also extends to the free and democratic order in Saxony-Anhalt.”
“We will closely observe and critically monitor the political actions of the future state government,” the Christian leaders vowed. “We will not look away, and we will not remain silent when human dignity is violated, our democracy is jeopardized, or the rule of law is undermined.”
Bishop Wilmer, Rt. Rev. Kirsten Fehrs, and Rev. Christopher Easthill also acknowledged that “the election result shows how great the dissatisfaction and the loss of trust are. This must be taken seriously.”
Founded in 2013, the AfD party has faced strong criticism for its positions on immigration and Islam.