Bishops Conference
At the plenary meeting of the German Bishops Conference (Dbk) taking place in Bensberg, today the bishops spoke of the situation of German society. Confidence in institutions is decreasing, and not only among young people. This loss of confidence is felt – the prelate states – not only by the state and political institutions, parties, but also by the big welfare organisations and therefore by the churches as well. Speaking at today’s press conference, the bishop of Essen, mgr. Franz-Josef Overbeck, president of the Commission for society and social affairs of Dbk, pointed out that “cohesion disappears when one feels that recovery is only for the rich, and dissatisfaction with society grows as a society is more and more unequal, and progress and chances for participation are fewer and fewer”. According to the bishop of Essen, “many people fear our society is producing too many losers and few winners. Related to this, there are the middle-classes being concerned they can be plunged down”. Overbeck considered that “people living in well-established professional and social conditions contribute to the success – for instance – of such groups as Pegida and Afd” (Alternative for Germany). According to the bishop, “to effectively fight populism, the problem of social inequality needs to be seriously addressed, because – Overbeck concluded –, without confidence in welfare and in the rule of law, social cohesion in our country is weaker”.
