illustrative: Hamas supporters at a rally in Cologne, Germany, on Oct. 22, 2023. photo: Reuters/Ying Tang

As antisemitic incidents continue to rise in Germany, the Catholic Church in Berlin has taken a firmer stance against anti-Jewish hatred by issuing new guidelines prohibiting its members from expressing racist, antisemitic, or extremist views.

On Saturday, the Archdiocese of Berlin, the governing body of the city’s Catholic Church, announced that all candidates for leadership positions must sign a special declaration rejecting racism, antisemitism, and extremist views.

“With this decision, duty falls where it belongs. Anyone seeking to serve on the diocesan committees and run in the elections must actively uphold the values of our Church,” Karlies Abmeier, president of the Diocesan Council, said in a statement.

The Catholic Church’s latest move aims to ensure that anyone seeking a leadership role within the institution commits to rejecting “racism, antisemitism, ethnic nationalism, and hostility toward democracy.”

“It is crucial for us to clearly and unequivocally position ourselves against all forms of antisemitism and racism,” Abmeier added. “This declaration is a binding commitment for all those who want to take on responsibility in our Church.”

The new guidelines come amid growing concerns about the rise of antisemitism in Germany, notably following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.Several pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the country have featured antisemitic slogans and symbols, prompting widespread condemnation.

According to a recent report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic incidents in the United States surged in the wake of the Hamas attack, and similar trends have been observed in europe, including Germany. The ADL reported a 388% increase in antisemitic incidents in the US between Oct. 7 and Oct. 23 compared to the same period last year.

The Archdiocese of Berlin’s decision to implement these guidelines reflects a broader effort by the Catholic Church to address the issue of antisemitism and promote interfaith dialog. in March 2023, the Vatican released a document condemning all forms of antisemitism and calling for greater cooperation between Christians and Jews.