In the tranquil Bavarian district of Regen, a local Catholic parish has become the unlikely epicenter of a national debate on faith, political tolerance, and the boundaries of ideological affiliation. A young altar boy, who had faithfully served the church for nine years, was recently dismissed after sharing a photo taken with a member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The case, first reported by Passauer Neue Presse, has sparked outrage and reflection in equal measure, not just within religious circles but across German society.

The controversy began when the teenager, a devout Catholic with an interest in politics, attended a campaign event ahead of the federal elections. There, he posed for a photo with Maximilian Krah, a prominent AfD figure who now serves in the German parliament. The image, which was later posted on social media, triggered an unexpected and dramatic fallout.

According to an open letter written by the boy’s family, shortly after the photo was made public, the local priest summoned him for what was described as a tense and accusatory meeting. The priest allegedly accused the young man of being a “Nazi,” and asked pointedly: “If you think like a Nazi, talk like a Nazi, act like a Nazi, are you not a Nazi?” He also handed the boy a pamphlet titled Ethnic Nationalism and Christianity are Incompatible, suggesting he read it if he had the courage.

The family has made clear that the boy is not a supporter of the AfD, and that his attendance at campaign events-including those hosted by other political parties-was part of a broader curiosity and engagement with the political process. “He wanted to understand different political positions firsthand,”........

© Blitz