Drink driving affair

Margot Kaessmann stepped down from her post as leader of Germany's 25 million Lutherans after she was pulled over by police for running a red light in a car provided by the church. She was found to have a blood-alcohol level three times above the legal limit.

The 51-year-old resigned Wednesday, saying she could not stay in office "without losing much of the authority I'd need for the post."

Reactions across the board were that Kaessmann's decision was understandable. Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself a Protestant, said she accepted the resignation with respect and also regret.

"I have very much valued the cooperation with Bishop Kaessmann," said Merkel in a statement.

The religious affairs spokesman for the opposition Left party in parliament, Raju Sharma, also came out in support of the bishop.

"Bishop Kaessmann is like we all are - a person with failures and weaknesses. We are all sinners, and so is bishop Kaessmann. She never said she's impeccable in any way."

Katrin Goering-Eckardt, president of the German Lutheran Synod, said Kaessmann "made a serious mistake which she admits and regrets," adding that "she has accepted the consequences and we must respect and understand that, even if it's hard for us to do so."

Enduring faith in Kaessmann

The Protestant Church of Germany (EKD) meanwhile admitted that Kaessmann's resignation was a heavy loss for the Church.

"It is also a great personal loss for us," the EKD said in a statement posted on its website. "The Council of the EKD expresses its unanimous faith in Margot Kaessmann."

The statement added that the deputy chairperson of the EKD council, Nikolaus Schneider, would assume the presidency until new elections can be held.

The most likely date for any elections would be November 5-10, when the next EKD synod is to take place in Hanover, the statement said.

dfm/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Andreas Illmer