Federal Council Abolishes Military Exemption for Pastors and Priests in Switzerland

The Federal Council has revoked the exemption from military service for pastors, priests, chaplains, and other religious leaders, a change that has sparked concern among several Swiss Christian denominations. Simeon Bürki, a young pastor from a free evangelical church in Basel, was surprised to be called back into military service at age 30. He had previously been released from his obligations two years ago due to his religious role, returning all military equipment. Now, he is once again required to serve.

The decision, made by the Federal Council and approved by Parliament, removes the exemption from the Army Act. The Federal Department of Defence, Population Protection and Sports (DDPS) stated that the rationale for this change is the secularization of society, arguing that the role of religious leaders is no longer deemed “indispensable to the maintenance of social life.” This shift has been implemented without prior consultation with the churches, a fact that has led to frustration among religious leaders.

Maurice Greder of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference expressed regret over the lack of prior communication. “We were taken by surprise,” he said. The Evangelical Reformed Church of Switzerland also criticized the manner in which the decision was made, with its spokesman, Stephan Jütte, stating that the Churches would have preferred to be directly involved in a decision affecting their staff.

The Federation of Free Evangelical Churches has taken a more critical stance, arguing that the legislative process was not rigorous. Peter Schneeberger, president of the Federation, noted that Free Churches may be the most affected, as their pastors are often younger and still subject to military service. He also warned that if Parliament were to raise the age of service in response to rising threats, the number of affected individuals could increase significantly.

The DDPS explained that it did not invite the churches to vote on the change, citing the small number of military personnel involved. It also noted that many religious communities could be affected, making it too tedious to contact each one individually. The amendment was part of a broader revision of the Army Act, which included numerous other changes. The removal of the exemption for religious leaders was largely overlooked and received little debate in Parliament.

The Swiss army has received a serious warning. After discussions with other religious organizations, Peter Schneeberger estimates that around 20 pastors will now have to resume or continue their military service. Some may eventually become military chaplains.

Source: Read the original report (translated from French)