Bishop Mixa slams Germany’s 'hostile' attitude toward children
Walter Mixa, the outspoken Catholic bishop of Augsburg, has slammed the German government’s modest increase in money paid to parents an “insult” and called the country’s “hostile” attitudes to children more dangerous than the global financial crisis.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet on Wednesday agreed to raise the state-funded Kindergeld – paid to all parents in Germany for breeding – by €10 a month to €164 for the first two children. Mum and Dad will receive €170 each month for their third ankle-biter and €195 for the fourth and all successive children. This would total €693 each month for families with four children.
“We will ensure that it’s easier for families to make ends meet,” said German Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
But Bishop Mixa labelled the increase “an insult to families with children” and a “gross disregard of what families do for our society.” He also said it was “societal scandal of the highest degree” that the government was able to cobble together a multi-billion euro rescue package for Germany’s banks within days while it scrutinized every cent for family programmes.
“The threat posed to our country from a society hostile to children is much larger than the banking crisis and it must be addressed just as urgently,” Mixa said in a statement released diocese of Augsburg.
Mixa has long been known for courting controversy. In 2007, he created a stir by accusing Ursula von der Leyen of wanting to degrade German mothers into "birthing machines" by increasing access to daycare.
Comments
See Also
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet on Wednesday agreed to raise the state-funded Kindergeld – paid to all parents in Germany for breeding – by €10 a month to €164 for the first two children. Mum and Dad will receive €170 each month for their third ankle-biter and €195 for the fourth and all successive children. This would total €693 each month for families with four children.
“We will ensure that it’s easier for families to make ends meet,” said German Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
But Bishop Mixa labelled the increase “an insult to families with children” and a “gross disregard of what families do for our society.” He also said it was “societal scandal of the highest degree” that the government was able to cobble together a multi-billion euro rescue package for Germany’s banks within days while it scrutinized every cent for family programmes.
“The threat posed to our country from a society hostile to children is much larger than the banking crisis and it must be addressed just as urgently,” Mixa said in a statement released diocese of Augsburg.
Mixa has long been known for courting controversy. In 2007, he created a stir by accusing Ursula von der Leyen of wanting to degrade German mothers into "birthing machines" by increasing access to daycare.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.