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Reader Response

Readers support the Bundeswehr and say Catholic priests should be able to marry

In this batch of letters, there's support for criticism expressed by the German armed forces' commissioner and a general rejection of celibacy in the priesthood.

A German ISAF soldier stands in the foreground with some Afghans in the background

Some think the Bundeswehr is not getting a fair shake

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Bundeswehr advocate says armed forces are 'unprepared' for combat

When will the military restrictions be lifted from Germany? It is just slowing down progress and leaving a great and amazing country stuck in the mud. -- Scott Thiel, US

Reinhold Robbe is doing a good job as an advocate for the Bundeswehr, but in these difficult financial times, it is not the time to hand more precious resources to soldiers who are doing their best. The war in Afghanistan has gone on for too long due to the corrupted government and the strategic miscalculations by the US, who did not take the Pakistan problems into consideration. The Bundeswehr is doing great, and hopefully soldiers will soon be able to come safely home as this conflict is going to be resolved on a political level between Pakistan, the Taliban and the US. -- G. Gosau, Canada

I don't think the German population is proud of their military forces. Soldiers need to know that their countrymen back them up and are proud of the service that the soldiers provide. The German military is too politicized. -- Egon Martensen, US

German bishops call for end to celibacy mandate

Yes, priests should be allowed to marry, it's long overdue. -- Peter Braunschmidt, Canada

A real pedophile cannot be stopped by marriage, but will use it as a cover. Anyway, celibacy cannot be used as an excuse for abusing children. These priests knew before that celibacy was expected from them. They could have left the priesthood. -- Gerhard Seeger, Philippines

I believe celibacy to be a very demeaning and Faustian bargain demanded by the Church in return for a secure life of service. It is a demand for biological suicide for the reward of a life in the robe of a priest or the garment of Mother Teresa - a life marked in continual chants from morning to evening so as to avoid appraising the end game being played out to the final disadvantage. -- William Keller, US

Roman Catholic bishops, priests and deacons should be allowed to marry a woman and have children in marriage. The Anglican Church allows its bishops, priests and deacons to marry and there are fewer problems with clergy involved with child abuse scandals. The present German pope would be a very popular person if he changed the rules on celibacy to allow clergy to marry and have children in the Roman Catholic faith. -- Stuart John Pearson, Australia

Compiled by Stuart Tiffen
Editor: Susan Houlton

DW.DE

Bundeswehr advocate says armed forces are 'unprepared' for combat

The German parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, Reinhold Robbe, has blasted the country's political and military leaders for their ongoing failure to prepare the German army for combat. (16.03.2010) 

German bishops call for end to celibacy mandate

Catholic officials deny a direct connection between child sexual abuse by priests and the Church's strict celibacy policy. But the recent wave of abuse claims across Germany has revived the discussion. (16.03.2010)