In statements endorsed by the ruling Christian Democratic Union party and harshly criticized by MPs, Germany’s top cardinal has warned against “uncritical tolerance” which could lead to Islam enjoying equal standing with Christianity in the country Lehmann, the head of the German conference of bishops, expressed concern about religious freedom leading to all faiths being treated equally regardless of the size of their flock and their history. He pointed to Christianity’s role in shaping European history and even its legal culture. Ronald Pofalla, the general secretary of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democratic Union party, said Lehmann was right to say Islam could not be afforded the same legal standing in Germany as Christianity.
Germany’s constitution obliges the state to maintain strict religious neutrality. Germany, the land of Pope Benedict’s birth, is home to some 3.2 million Muslims, over half of whom are of Turkish origin. It is Europe’s second-biggest Muslim population after France.
GERMAN CARDINAL AGAINST MUSLIMS
In statements endorsed by the ruling Christian Democratic Union party and harshly criticized by MPs, Germany’s top cardinal has warned against “uncritical tolerance” which could lead to Islam enjoying equal standing with Christianity in the country Lehmann, the head of the German conference of bishops, expressed concern about religious freedom leading to all faiths being…