A far-right member of a German state parliament should remain banned from a Catholic Church council, officials in the Vatican decided on Monday, reported dpa.
Christoph Schaufert, a member of Germany's anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, had appealed against his expulsion from the administrative board of the parish of St Mary's in Neunkirchen in western Germany.
His appeal was rejected due to a lack of legal and factual merit, according to a decision announced by the Dicastery for the Clergy, a central authority of the Roman Curia, the central body handling affairs of the Catholic Church.
Schaufert was dismissed from the administrative council in April 2024.
As the "face of a party that represents attitudes contrary to the Christian view of humanity," Schaufert was damaging the credibility of the church, Vicar General Ulrich von Plettenberg said.
The Bishop of Trier, Stephan Ackermann, had rejected an initial complaint from Schaufert.
The decision was primarily based on a declaration from German bishops which said that Christianity is incompatible with race-based nationalism, a concept central to the AfD party.
Schaufert had always said that the expulsion was "incomprehensible and untenable" for him. "I personally cannot be accused of anything."
The measure was imposed solely because of his affiliation with the AfD, he said. Following the decision from Rome, he told dpa that he has now resigned from the church.
He said the step was very difficult for him, but also added: "I don't have to and won't put up with everything."
Schaufert has been a member of the AfD since 2016 and is the deputy leader of the AfD parliamentary group in the Saarland state parliament.
- Vatican
- Bans
- Far-right politician
- Germany
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
