Integration instead of discrimination - against the Bavarian cross decree

The Bund für Geistesfreiheit (bfg) München (Association for Freedom of Thought Munich), together with the bfg Bayern, is defending itself against the Bavarian cross decree: instead of the crosses prescribed by the Bavarian government, Article 1 of the German Constitution is to be displayed in all state offices in Bavaria: "Human dignity is inviolable [...]"

In the view of the bfg Munich, displaying a cross in places where citizens come into contact with government agencies violates the state's ideological neutrality requirement. People with non-Christian, religious, atheistic or agnostic world views are disadvantaged. Even the Bavarian Administrative Court, although it rejected the complaint, confirmed in its judgement that these crosses represent an "objectively unjustified preference for the Christian symbol".

It's about fundamental values: Does Bavaria want to send a signal of integration to all people, regardless of their religions, world views and cultures - or does Bavaria want to marginalise people who do not identify with the conservative image of Christian Bavaria?  Michael Brenner, LMU Munich, says, translated to English: "Everyone else, regardless of whether they have suffered under the cross or not, cannot feel included by this symbol. [...] It makes them outsiders. Maybe they do belong a little, but not completely."  Quote taken from "Ein Kreuz" (Federal Agency for Civic Education). The theologian Graf writes here about the significance of the cross decree. The proposal to display Article 1 of the German Basic Law on the walls was first voiced by Heribert Prantl.

The bfg has filed lawsuits against the cross decree in various instances; all lawsuits were dismissed, most recently on 19 December 2023 at the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig. The bfg is defending itself against this - all the way to the Federal Constitutional Court. The bfg Munich has shown how to successfully defend itself in its lawsuit against the "dance ban", all the way to the Federal Constitutional Court.

The bfg München is asking for donations to finance the lawsuit. Legal fees and court costs are to be financed in order to file a lawsuit with the Federal Constitutional Court in the course of 2024 and obtain a judgement against the cross decree.

[Picture: J. Tilly, gbs], Translation supportey by deepl.com