The announcement of the Minister President of Bavaria that crosses are to be displayed at the entrances of public buildings is causing upheaval in an already tense electoral context. “First win for Markus Söder” was the May 2 headline in the regional Bava-rian newspaper, Mittelbayerische.
“A poll shows that many Bavarians are pleased that crosses will be displayed. However, this will not be enough to gain a majority.”
In a few words, the paper summarizes the political implications of an announcement that is causing upheaval. On April 24, the Minister President of Bavaria, Markus Söder, mandated that a crucifix should be displayed at the entrance of every public building in the state from 1 June.
The Bavarian state government’s new requirement that all entrances to state buildings display a Christian cross was criticized by Cardinal Reinhard Marx, but welcomed by Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer.
The head of the German Bishops’ Conference has sharply criticized the premier of the southern German state of Bavaria for ordering Christian crosses to be hung in all state buildings.
The Austrian nuncio, Archbishop Peter Zurbriggen, has lambasted the German bishops who criticised.
