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the "scandal" is that the church gave 42,000 € for the expenses of the campaign.

Whose money was it?

If it's contributions from church members, then fine. If it's government money, one way or another, then that's a problem.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II

by eurogreen on Fri Feb 7th, 2014 at 10:55:07 AM EST
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Is that a question how churches in Germany get their funds? Complicated... The "scandal" is framed as there goes our church-tax. Could have funded a military chaplain in Afghanistan, I guess. (Joke. I know that the church gets paid for them by the state.)
by Katrin on Fri Feb 7th, 2014 at 02:00:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, if it's "church tax" then it's OK by me, insofar as it's a voluntary tax (though the fact that the state collects it on behalf of the church is problematic). If members of that church disagree with the contribution to a cause, then it's an internal matter for that church (and a test of how democratic it is, perhaps).

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Mon Feb 10th, 2014 at 04:00:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]
You have to actively apply to get out of paying it (if you grow up in Germany. Otherwise, make sure to put "none" for religion when you register). But it's still tax-deductible, meaning that other taxpayers are still paying for your religion (though this is no longer specific to Germany).

In Italy you can redirect where this tax goes to, but you can't get out of paying it.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Mon Feb 10th, 2014 at 04:06:55 AM EST
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Those members who have a problem with it are the most right-wing faction of the CDU. They can't make careers in that party without being paying church members, but they don't like the positions the church takes. It is a problem for sure, but it is NOT my problem, to put it mildly.
by Katrin on Mon Feb 10th, 2014 at 06:32:17 AM EST
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I wouldn't say "fine" without knowing a bit more about the collection of the churchgoers' money. If it was collected under false pretenses, then it's definitely Not Cool.

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Fri Feb 7th, 2014 at 03:46:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Church members fees (church tax) fund a budget that among other things has an item "democracy education and support of democratic initiatives". The money was taken from this title of the budget. The provost okayed that. The synod wasn't asked (would have been optional). The bishop wasn't asked either (optional again).
by Katrin on Sun Feb 9th, 2014 at 05:26:07 PM EST
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