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Central Europe
Book about pastor Latzel's case in Germany: Character assassination
The German judicial system engaged in ‘malicious distortion’ in the trial against Bremen pastor Olaf Latzel, David Wengenroth writes in a recently published book. The lawyer and journalist Wengenroth, who works for the Christian German press agency Idea, co-authored the book *Der Fall Latzel – Ein Rufmord mit Hilfe der…
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Central Europe
Reactions to outcome of the Latzel case: Applause and anger
Supporters of pastor Latzel, about 40 of whom attended Wednesday's trial, reacted happily after the settlement became known. Sighs of relief and applause resounded from the public gallery. “This trial should never have been started in the first place”, Achim Niederbrünning, a member of the Martini church in Bremen, thinks.…
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Central Europe
Latzel lawsuit is terminated after pastor pays 5,000 euros
The court case against the German Rev Olaf Latzel, which has been ongoing since 2020, ended definitively on Wednesday morning. The pastor of St Martini Church in Bremen, Germany, who was accused of inciting people because of statements he made in 2019 about homosexuality, among other things, read out a…
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Central Europe
Why it is strange that Latzel's court case has to be re-done
Olaf Latzel was acquitted in 2022. But this Wednesday, he is on trial again. Is this case against the German pastor beginning to resemble a political trial? Anyhow, the resumption of this long-running case raises many questions. Friday morning, 20 May 2022. Relief shows on the face of the well-known…
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Central Europe
Biblebelt feature: Gender thinking does not attract German on Biblebelt
No crowds of churchgoers rush to the prayer houses on Sundays. Yet many in Germany recognise the image that the Vogtland and the Ore Mountains have something of a Biblebelt. “Modern ideas around gender definitely don't get a foothold here,” he says.There is a buzz of activity at the large…
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Central Europe
How the process against Latzel dragged on for three years
Court X fined him. Court Y later acquitted him. Court Z crossed out that acquittal on Thursday. Thus, the trial against Rev Olaf Latzel has dragged on for over three years. Six questions about an important court case. ***Where did this all start again?*** During a marriage seminar the pastor…
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European Union
Räsänen was not the only homophobia court case; there were also Latzel and Kort
Three Christians in three European countries were acquitted this year of incitement of hatred against homosexuals. Separate issues? Yes, but the cases against the Dutch Rev Kort, the German pastor Latzel and the Finnish politician Räsänen show strong similarities.Judicial experts will always tell laypeople: do not compare one case with…
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Central Europe
Will the judge in Germany say how Mr Latzel should read the Bible?
On Friday, the Bremen District Court will give its decision in the case against Rev Olaf Latzel. The Court discusses the way in which Christians interpret the Bible very extensively in the Latzel case. To what extent is it allowed to do so? Six questions and answers. “Bible study in…
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European Union
“EP report on religious freedom is unjustly weakened”
A report presented and discussed in the European Parliament (EP) on Monday about the increasing persecution of people for their religion has been unjustly weakened by amendments, some Christian parties believe. Five questions about the Karski report. *What kind of report is this, and where does it come from?* The…
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Western Europe
“Cutting ties with Russian church is too easy”
Should the World Council of Churches kick out the Russian Orthodox Church? That’s too easy, say many participants in a debate on Wednesday evening in the Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam. “We have to keep talking.” But there are also other views. “I had a lot to deal with this weekend”,…
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