The German bishops’ outcry; the US bishops’ silence

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Sep 08, 2026

The German Catholic bishops have voiced their distaste for the AfD Party, and Christian leaders joined in a statement promising to “closely observe and critically monitor” the policies of a potential AfD government in the Saxony-Anhalt state.

“We will not look away, and we will not remain silent when human dignity is violated, our democracy is jeopardized, or the rule of law is undermined,” vowed the leaders of several German Christian groups, including Bishop Heinrich Wilmer, the president of the German episcopal conference.

Should the US bishops take a similar public posture? Let’s compare the two situations.

First: Germany. Since I do not claim any particular familiarity with the German political trends—or with the German language, for that matter—let me try to summarize the criticism of the AfD in neutral terms, cutting through the fog of overheated rhetoric:

Some people affiliated with the AfD have reportedly made statements redolent of racism and a distinctly un-Christian hatred toward immigrants. These statements do not represent the official platform of the AfD, but the party’s critics say that AfD appeals to the baser motives of immigration opponents. Thus the AfD is condemned as “extremist.” Whether or not that verdict is warranted, the German Catholic bishops evidently accept it.

Here let me pause for a couple of comments about the practical politics of the German debate.

1. Generally speaking, political candidates welcome support from anyone, even those with whom they would ordinarily disagree. (When I ran for the US Senate in 2000, I was happy to receive an endorsement from the Prohibition Party, although we differ on their signature issue.) At some point, to be sure, a responsible politician must break ties with extremists. But party-builders are understandably reluctant to condemn the people who have helped them build their coalition.
2. On the other hand, an ambitious candidate has an obvious interest in portraying his opponents as extremists. In Germany, where the law allows public officials to bar “extremist” groups from participation in the elections, those who are in office have the opportunity to exclude their loudest opponents. The rising popularity of the AfD is evidence that, in the view of many Germans, the current political establishment has drawn the boundaries of acceptable public discourse too narrowly.

So the charges that the AfD is “extremist” or racist should be treated with some skepticism. A party that draws more than 40% of the popular vote can no longer be accurately described as extreme, or even as representing the “far right.” The right, yes, but with that degree of support, the AfD must not be too far from the center of public opinion.

The AfD criticizes the German government’s current policies regarding immigration. Certainly it is possible to express that criticism responsibly, without pandering to racists and other haters. But the party’s critics, including the German bishops, charge that AfD leaders have not done enough to discourage the panderers.

Now turn to the situation in the United States, where the Democratic Party has fully embraced a stand in favor of unrestricted abortion on demand. (For now I am leaving aside the Democratic platform stands on same-sex marriage, euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, transgender rights, and other issues involving the dignity of human life, simply because the abortion issue is so very clear-cut.) The party’s platform is unambiguous; the rhetoric of party leaders is uncompromising. No one who aspires to a position of leadership in the party can afford to express any opposition to abortion under any circumstances. This has become, ironically, a litmus test.

So compare the situation in the two countries. In Germany the AfD takes a stand on immigration which might, in some circumstances, conflict with Church teaching on inherent human dignity. In the US the Democratic Party stands four-square in favor of a practice that the Church (in line with the perennial Judeo-Christian tradition) condemns in all circumstances. In Germany some AfD supporters may encourage contempt and even hatred for vulnerable foreigners. In the US the Democratic mainstream encourages the killing of vulnerable unborn children. In Germany the complaint against AfD leaders is that they have not used party discipline to rein in extremists. In the US the complaint is that Democrats have exercised strict party discipline to silence those who criticize the party’s extreme stands.

Are the German bishops right to denounce the AfD? From this distance, and acknowledging my ignorance, I would say No. But if there is any justification at all for the German bishops’ outspoken stand, there can be no excuse for the continuing silence of the American bishops, in light of the Democratic Party’s tight alliance with the culture of death.