“Proceeding firmly against right-wing extremism”: that is the priority enunciated by the Federal Committee of the KJG (Katholische Jungen Gemeinde), the youth association of the Catholic Church in Germany that can claim some 80,000 members (children and youths), organized in 24 diocesan associations. In a communiqué issued on 18 May, the KJG urges political leaders to curb the spread of extremism especially among the young: “The realization of effective strategies against extremism of the right, xenophobia and anti-semitism remains a challenge. Christian youth associations can make their contribution with their values – democracy, self-determination and toleration”, says the statement. “The advance of right-wing extremism in our society” is recognized by the KJG. It “especially fills the shortcomings in rural areas caused by measures to contain the costs of public services for youth”. “Right-wing extremists succeed in reaching youths with a deficit in social and personal development, who are often deprived of access to education and to the transmission of values in school and in families. This is compounded by the few opportunities they have of gaining access to the labour market. They thus lack suitable existential prospects”. The federal committee of the KJB calls on Christian youth associations “to curb the creeping advance of the thought and action of right-wing extremism”: many projects have already been launched to this end both on a local and on a federal scale to promote democracy and tolerance. “The intercultural opening of youth associations to youth with a past of migration, and multicultural dialogue with other religious communities, are equally necessary”, says the statement”.
