Germany--Christian Persecution in Germany

Europe: Germany Country Report Last Updated: October 2001 Code: A-3 (Click here for a code description.)
	(Click here for a list of ICC articles on Germany.) List of Articles Last Updated: October 25, 1999

Religious Atmosphere: 75.8% of this country's people are Christian with half being Protestant and half Catholic. Attendance is quite low in most established churches with most growth coming from smaller, independent charismatic movements. 29.6% are non-religious and 2.5% are Muslim.

• DIALOG - This is a religious information network that has many sektenbeaufragers (sect commissioners) of sect (read cult) experts within it who are very critical of any religious minority or new religious group. They seem to feed the tabloid newspapers with allegations and accusations.
• While some acts of vandalism have been reported, what the motivation was, or if there was any organizational structure behind these acts is not known.

• The Basic Law supports the freedom of religion. Many religious groups in Germany enjoy tax-exempt status. Catholic, Lutheran, and Jewish religions are able to participate in a state-administered church tax service. The state governments subsidize church-affiliated schools and provide religious education at all levels for Protestants, Catholics, or Jews. Religious organizations, which do not have special legal status, do not receive any of these benefits.
• The issue of sekts (sects) is a growing concern among the Christian population in Germany. Sektenbeaufragers (sect commissioners) are priests and pastors of established churches who often speak out against new religious minorities. Government officials are often accused of labeling groups with this term when "off-the-record." In the German society, the word sekt often implies something akin to " the most evil threat to society." Public opinion can turn against such a group and make them the target of violence and vandalism. Nothing is done by the government to stop this slandering.

• Ongoing - Dr. Wolfhard Margies, senior pastor of the Gemeinde Auf Dem Weg-Berlin and Dr. Terry Jones of the Christliche Gemeinde Köln mentioned below, have faced numerous tabloid reports that label them as "sekts" and "Psycho-terrorists," citing extreme events such as David Koresh, Jim Jones, etc. as examples of typical sect behavior. Dr. Jones' church has suffered multiple acts of vandalism and repeated bomb and assassination threats. An attempted assassination was carried out against Dr. Jones once.
       
• October 2001 – The Federal Parliament is discussing an amendment to the Association Law, and if passed would allow a state official to ban any group he or she considers to have “unconstitutional content” being taught or promoted.  The ban includes a prohibition on exhibiting religious symbols and a prohibition of the reformation of the group, even in private gatherings. (IRRP)
      
• July 20, 1997-- The Köln Finanzamt issued a letter demanding that every payment made to the church (see below) by any private individual since 1990 be made available to them. If any individual fails to comply, he or she can be taken to court.
          
• May-June 1997--Perpetrators unknown--Five churches, including Catholic and Protestant buildings, were vandalized and suffered arson attacks.
            
• 1995 - Authorities in Köln revoked the tax exempt status of the Christliche Gemeinde Köln (CGK), a large mainstream charismatic church, claiming it was not a charitable institution and was not producing spiritual, cultural, or material good for the community. This order was issued despite the fact that this church has a very successful drug-rehabilitation program, has the largest soup kitchen in the city, and that no financial irregularities were found by a two-year investigation by the Finanzamt. Authorities also demanded that the church pay taxes for the 5 years prior, which comes to more than 397,000 DM.

Prisoners: There is no evidence that prisoners are being held for their Christian beliefs at this time.

• Pray for all denominations of Christians in Germany that they may continue to be protected from harm and that the Christian message may be heard and received by all. Pray that the recent trend against new religious groups would remain balanced, just, and open-minded.
          
• Write a respectful letter to one or more of the government officials listed below. Express your continuing concern about legislation concerning new religious groups in Germany. Point out the seemingly obvious rule of reciprocity that taking away religious rights from one group weakens everyone’s rights. Request information about what steps the government is taking to ensure the protection and freedom of all religious groups to practice their faith as laid out in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights documents.
          
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of minority Christian groups in Germany asking them to make an inquiry into their status.
           
• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at ICC@persecution.org.

POSTED:  October 24, 2001

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