In the dispute over Augsburg Bishop Walter Mixa, the church policy spokesman for the Greens and the Forum of German Catholics (FDK) have now also spoken out. On this site, the Green Party's Josef Winkler regretted Claudia Roth's choice of words, but maintained his criticism of Bishop Mixa's content. This defends itself on Thursday in the this site. In a statement, Hubert Gindert of the FDK stressed the "incompatibility of Green and Christian positions," saying Roth's remarks were reminiscent of the "aggressive tone of the Nazis and the Communists". Meanwhile, the public relations officer of the diocese of Augsburg regrets his own NS comparison.
In a speech on the dispute over the expansion of childcare, Green Party leader Claudia Roth had dubbed Augsburg Bishop Mixa a "crazy, divisive grandfundi from Augsburg". Thereupon the public relations officer of the diocese Augsburg, Dirk Hermann Vob, reproached her, her attack reminds in the choice of words "in frightening way of the propaganda agitation of the National Socialists against the Catholic church and its representatives". He said he has long recognized "disturbing fascistoid traits" in Roth's personal attacks and her attempt to turn herself into a "censorship authority".This comparison had then led to serious disgruntlement between the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Catholic Church. Central Council President Charlotte Knobloch demanded steps against Mixa from the Vatican in Munich on Monday.
Augsburg diocesan advisor Vob moves away from NS comparison Meanwhile, Vob pleads for "verbal disarmament" on both sides. He backed away from his own NS comparison at the same time in a press release in Augsburg on Wednesday. This historical comparison was "unnecessary in retrospect," the public relations officer acknowledged.In view of the intemperance of Roth's statements, which were unprecedented toward a Catholic bishop in Germany, the criticism "initially came out harsher than necessary". With his reaction, he had not wanted to offend anyone, but to admonish a democratic culture of debate.At the same time, Vob called on the Greens to clarify their position "in order to re-establish a reasonable basis for discussion between Bishop Mixa and the party". The diocesan retracted his statement that the Greens were no longer electable for Christians. "Of course, there is also common ground between the Church and the Greens in important policy areas, such as the preservation of creation or bioethics," Vob said.
Winkler: All parties involved should row back Josef Winkler, church policy spokesman for the Green Party, admits on this site that one cannot expect a factual counter-argument if one turns against a bishop in this manner. Nevertheless, the reaction of Bishop Mixa's spokesman was absolutely exaggerated. To put Claudia Roth on the same level with the National Socialists is "an inappropriate comparison". "I think that's where all the participants should row back a bit and weigh their words better," Winkler said. In a political debate, it's possible to lose one's cool. Only, he said, they should not dwell on it and take up the differences more on the basis of their real ies. "The political debate certainly stops at "wacky,"" explains Winkler. "I think now, however, the steam should be taken out of the boiler."
Forum of German Catholics: "Greens" are enemies of Christianity! From the " Forum of German Catholics", however, come statements that are more likely to fuel the dispute. "What you get to hear from Claudia Roth was most recently the aggressive tone of the Nazis and the communists," explained their chairman Hubert Gindert. The leader of her party would have unmasked all the talk by other "Greens" about the compatibility of their political goals with Christianity and the church as tactical maneuvers: "Even 20 years later, Cardinal Hoffner's statement about the incompatibility of Green and Christian positions remains," said Gindert. The "Greens" are simply enemies of Christianity and fight against Christian forms in the legal system, society and culture. They were to blame for the "collapse of public education in some parts of Germany" and the "decline of ethics in dealing with sexuality, marriage and the family."Mixa also received backing from the State Committee of Catholics in Bavaria. National committee head Helmut Mangold called on Roth to apologize for her "intolerable" choice of words. Mixa argues "factual and restrained" in dispute over family policy. However, Mangold distanced himself from the statements of the diocesan spokesman. The Nazi comparison is "not appropriate".