Alliance for Family: Controversial Ultraconservative Group’s Recent Activities Raise Concerns Again

The Alliance for Family (Aliance pro rodinu, APR), a Czech ultraconservative interest group, has recently found itself embroiled in multiple controversies. This organization, known for its opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, same-sex marriage, and abortion, has been criticised for its undemocratic practices and potential ties to international ultraconservative movements.

Legal Dispute and Russian Influence
In a recent development, Olga Richterová, Vice-Chair of the Chamber of Deputies, won a legal dispute against APR. Richterová has drawn parallels between APR’s rhetoric and that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly concerning given Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and attempts to divide Europeans through hybrid warfare tactics.

Richterová has also raised questions about APR’s funding sources, citing concerns about the billions of Czech crowns that European ultraconservative organizations have reportedly received from Russia in recent years. While APR claims to rely on “small donors,” it has been confirmed that one of the wealthiest Czechs has repeatedly made significant contributions to the organization, amounting to “higher hundreds of thousands of crowns.”

Concerns from Religious Communities
Despite representing a small fraction of Czech citizens (only about 13% of Czechs identify as members of any religious group), APR has managed to secure positions in government advisory bodies. This influence has raised concerns about the erosion of secular principles in the Czech state.
In June 2023, members of various Czech churches and religious societies called on the government to remove APR from ministerial advisory bodies and other state structures. The petitioners cited APR’s lack of values crucial for both faith and the state, such as understanding, empathy, and solidarity among people.
The petition calling for APR’s removal from government advisory roles was initiated by pastors from the Evangelical and Hussite churches, theologians, academics, and representatives of the Catholic Church.
Their petition cites numerous concerns, including APR’s denial of scientific knowledge, spreading of moral panic, and potential harm to the psychological development of children and youth through their stance on homosexuality, downplaying the importance of women’s voting rights or their close cooperation with organizations criticized for threatening individual rights and freedoms in a democratic state.

APR has recently launched a campaign against the proposed increase in public broadcasting fees for Czech Television. The organization initiated a petition and ran advertisements on Facebook. Interestingly, data revealed that the advertiser behind these paid posts was an employee of the Pilsen diocese, led by Bishop Tomáš Holub. Bishop Holub has since stated that his subordinate’s involvement in APR activities is unacceptable and plans to address the situation.

MPSV Logo Controversy and Prague Pride Support Withdrawal
A recent incident involving the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MPSV) logo on the Prague Pride website has sparked further controversy. APR drew attention to this in their newsletter, questioning whether the Christian Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People’s Party (KDU-ČSL) members were aware of their party leader’s ministry supporting Prague Pride. (APR organizes the annual March for the Family as a counterpart to Prague Pride. The patronage of this March was taken over in 2012 by our “favourite” and much criticized Cardinal Duka.)

Following this, the MPSV logo was promptly removed from the Prague Pride website. The ministry now claims it hasn’t supported the organization for several years, stating that Prague Pride received financial support from MPSV under the previous administration.

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between conservative groups like APR and LGBTQ+ rights organizations. It also underscores the influence that APR wields, even with political parties that have relatively low voter support. KDU-ČSL, formerly a big political party whose leader Marian Jurečka heads the MPSV, currently fights for votes and polls at around 3% of voter support.

As APR continues to push its agenda in the public sphere and within government structures, concerns about its influence and methods persist. The organization’s lack of transparency regarding funding sources, controversial stances on social issues, and potential ties to international ultraconservative movements raise questions about its compatibility with democratic values and secular principles in the Czech Republic. The recent MPSV logo controversy further illustrates APR’s ability to influence public discourse and potentially shape government actions. And serve as a reminder of the importance of critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making in public policy.

zdroje:
https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/rozstrel-jana-jochova-predsedkyne-aliance-pro-rodinu-tradicni-rodina-manzelstvi-homosexualove-lesby.A191125_160906_domaci_pmk
https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/olga-richterova-pirati-prispevek-aliance-pro-rodinu.A240710_142826_domaci_roku
https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/poslankyne-se-nemusi-omluvit-alianci-pro-rodinu-oznaceni-za-putinuv-hlas-v_2407101234_vtk
https://denikn.cz/1472507/miliardar-poslal-alianci-pro-rodinu-stovky-tisic-spolek-pritom-tvrdi-ze-zije-z-drobnych-darcu/
https://echo24.cz/a/H4rkE/zpravy-domov-po-vytkach-alince-pro-rodinu-se-mpsv-distancovalo-od-prague-pride
https://denikn.cz/1486582/to-je-jedine-jinak-s-nimi-nemam-nic-spolecneho-alianci-pro-rodinu-pomahal-s-kampani-pracovnik-plzenske-dieceze/
https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/domaci/aliance-pro-rodinu-petice-vyzva-odvolani-pastroral-brothers.A230713_133726_domaci_tty
photo by Jan Žofák