German priest dismisses altar boy for taking photo with AfD politician
A Catholic priest in Bavaria has dismissed an altar boy who served for nine years due to a photo with Maximilian Krah, a member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, according to the young man's family. In the federal elections...
TroibNews 
A Catholic priest in Bavaria has dismissed an altar boy who served for nine years due to a photo with Maximilian Krah, a member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, according to the young man's family.
In the federal elections held in February, the AfD secured second place, garnering 20.8% of the votes—an increase from 10.4% in 2021. Despite this rise in support, the anti-immigrant party continues to be ostracized by other major political parties in Germany and is often labeled as ‘far-right’ by both officials and the media.
The young man, who took a photo with Krah at a party event prior to the election, shared it on social media, as reported by Passauer Neue Presse, which cited an open letter from his family. After the photo surfaced online, the priest invited the altar boy for a discussion that the family described as resembling an “interrogation.”
In the open letter, the family indicated that during this conversation, the priest referred to the young man as a “Nazi” and asserted that a Christian cannot support the AfD's views. The priest reportedly questioned the young man, asking: “If you think like a Nazi, talk like a Nazi, act like a Nazi, are you not a Nazi?”
He also provided the altar boy with a pamphlet entitled ‘Ethnic nationalism and Christianity are incompatible,’ encouraging him to read it by stating, “If you are brave enough, then read through this,” according to the family's letter.
The family emphasized that the young man does not support the AfD, highlighting that he had attended campaign events for various parties out of a genuine interest in politics. His dismissal was a shock to him, as he is deeply religious and had been contemplating a path toward becoming a priest. The family expressed, “Since the end of January, our son’s and also our whole family’s world has fallen apart.”
The Diocese of Passau has confirmed the altar boy's dismissal, stating that it supports “a free, democratic basic order” while also wishing to maintain “dialogue with people who sympathize with problematic political positions.”
The young man has reportedly been offered multiple opportunities to return to his altar boy position, but his family has yet to accept these offers.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
In the federal elections held in February, the AfD secured second place, garnering 20.8% of the votes—an increase from 10.4% in 2021. Despite this rise in support, the anti-immigrant party continues to be ostracized by other major political parties in Germany and is often labeled as ‘far-right’ by both officials and the media.
The young man, who took a photo with Krah at a party event prior to the election, shared it on social media, as reported by Passauer Neue Presse, which cited an open letter from his family. After the photo surfaced online, the priest invited the altar boy for a discussion that the family described as resembling an “interrogation.”
In the open letter, the family indicated that during this conversation, the priest referred to the young man as a “Nazi” and asserted that a Christian cannot support the AfD's views. The priest reportedly questioned the young man, asking: “If you think like a Nazi, talk like a Nazi, act like a Nazi, are you not a Nazi?”
He also provided the altar boy with a pamphlet entitled ‘Ethnic nationalism and Christianity are incompatible,’ encouraging him to read it by stating, “If you are brave enough, then read through this,” according to the family's letter.
The family emphasized that the young man does not support the AfD, highlighting that he had attended campaign events for various parties out of a genuine interest in politics. His dismissal was a shock to him, as he is deeply religious and had been contemplating a path toward becoming a priest. The family expressed, “Since the end of January, our son’s and also our whole family’s world has fallen apart.”
The Diocese of Passau has confirmed the altar boy's dismissal, stating that it supports “a free, democratic basic order” while also wishing to maintain “dialogue with people who sympathize with problematic political positions.”
The young man has reportedly been offered multiple opportunities to return to his altar boy position, but his family has yet to accept these offers.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
