Berliner Erklärung

The Berliner Erklärung (Berlin Declaration) is a statement issued by German scholars and church leaders in 2009, expressing concern about the influence of the German government and courts on religious freedom and church rights. They emphasized the importance of respecting the autonomy of religious communities, particularly regarding marriage and ecclesiastical matters. The declaration advocates for maintaining the separation of church and state and warns against policies that could interfere with religious practices. Essentially, it calls for upholding religious liberty and the integrity of faith-based institutions within a democratic society.