Catholic Church leaders in Switzerland have protested the “arbitrary” abolition of traditional military service exemptions for clergy, in a move which could encourage similar changes in other European countries. Source: OSV News.
“All Christians are deeply concerned – they don’t agree with what’s been done and will certainly support our position,” Arianna Estoreli, communications officer for the Swiss bishops’ conference, said.
“No one questions the right of state officials to make decisions. But this isn’t the way to change important rules affecting the Churches,” she said.
The lay Catholic was reacting to a new Military Law amendment by Switzerland’s seven-member Federal Council, or collective presidency, requiring for the first time priests and monks to undergo military service.
Ms Estoreli said none of Switzerland’s Christian denominations had been invited to comment during the legislative process or even informed about the revision.
“We don’t know how those who’ve introduced this change view Christian churches, or how far they’ve just acted from personal preferences,” Ms Estoreli said.
“But to claim this is correcting a historic anomaly simply isn’t true,” she said. “During national emergencies and conflicts, Churches routinely provide support and accompaniment, as they’ve always done.”
The Catholic Church’s six dioceses in Switzerland include German, French and Italian speakers, and make up 30 per cent of Switzerland’s population of 9 million, according to September 2025 data.
Evangelical Reformed church members comprise a further 20 per cent, although both the Catholic and Evangelical Reformed churches have reported declining membership and participation.
In a March 2025 statement, the Federal Council said the Military Law’s article 18, exempting clergy from service, was a “product of historical evolution” and was now being scrapped because it was “obsolete” and no longer reflected “contemporary realities”.
It added that Christian clergy could not be placed on a level with other professional groups working in national security, transportation and health care that the government deems essential to the nation’s core functions.
“The aim of exempting clergy was to ensure local spiritual care for the civilian population in extraordinary circumstances,” the council said.
“However, in light of societal changes over recent decades – including a significant number of people leaving the Church – the demand for pastoral care has shifted so much that these individuals can no longer be considered indispensable.”
FULL STORY
Swiss churches deplore ‘arbitrary’ scrapping of military service exemption (By Jonathan Luxmoore, OSV News)
