The clerical cartel - Why the separation of church and state is overdue

We live in a secular constitutional state. Freedom of belief prevails. All citizens are allowed to have their own god, even their own gods, but the state itself must be godless. But that's exactly what is lacking. Although the churches in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are rapidly losing members and only around 16 percent of the population are now members of one of the two major Christian churches (13 percent Protestant, 3 percent Catholic), the churches insist on old and new privileges. And the state grants them these privileges in the form of special rights, subsidies and tax concessions. Helmut Ortner demands: "This complicity must come to an end!"

The author describes the ongoing violation of the constitutional requirement of state neutrality - and what needs to be done about it. He also takes a look at ecclesiastical curiosities that clearly show how far removed the churches are from the enlightened spirit of the 21st century.

Welcome: Lutz Neumann, discussion group säkulares MV, Schwerin

Reading: Helmut Ortner, author of "The clerical cartel - Why the separation of church and state is overdue"

Moderation: Gerhard Lein, former MdHB. Founding chairman of the Working Group for Secularism and Humanism in the SPD (AKSH)

Admission free

Info and seat reservation: neumann@saekulares-mv.de