Community is behind Pastor Aulinger: Protest against dismissal!

Community is behind Pastor Aulinger: Protest against dismissal!

Hauzenberg, Deutschland - in Hauzenberg, Bavaria, there is an unusual protest against the decision of the Diocese of Passau, the 47-year-old pastor Alexander Aulinger due to rumors about drenching with young people. A significant part of the community shows solidarity with its pastor by appearing firefighters, home associations and footballers in uniform and costume for the service in the St. Vitus Church. This support illustrates the great support that Aulinger enjoys within the community.

The allegations against the pastor are serious. He is accused of problematic handling of alcohol, "spiritual manipulation" and excessive alcohol consumption when excursions with young people. In response to the diocese's decision, around 100 altar servers have resigned, which further increases the outrage in the community. Lawyer Holm Putzke, who defends Aulinger, rejects the allegations as vague and unfounded and emphasizes that the pastor has always devoted himself to his appointment with passion and responsibility.

reactions and protests

The enthusiasm of the community for Aulinger means that some worshipers express the suspicion that it could be a denunciation. This shows how deep the connection between the pastor and the community is and that many consider the allegations illegally. Aulinger waived a sermon on Sunday during the service, which draws attention to the precarious Situation.

The diocese itself reacted to the allegations with a "preliminary ban on celebration" and a "ban on public occurrence as a priest". This is in the context of church disciplinary law, which, according to the legal framework, is not subject to the control of state courts. The area of ​​church service and disciplinary law is constitutionally guaranteed in Germany and is intended to guarantee the independent regulation of internal church matters. Ecclesiastical measures, such as those imposed here, are therefore not verifiable by state institutions, which is important in the current discussions about transparency and control within the church, such as Haufe explained.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the situation for Pastor Aulinger will develop and whether the protest of the community can influence the decisions of the diocese. The serious allegations and the reaction of the municipality also raise questions about the handling of church disciplinary measures, especially with regard to the trust that the members put in their clergymen.