In January 1989, 163 Catholic theologians signed the Kölner Erklärung, the Cologne Declaration. Its title was Wider die Entmündigung – für eine offene Katholizität, against being treated as minors, for an open catholicity. The signers criticized what they saw as the authoritarian style of the church leadership under Pope John Paul II. They asked that local churches have a stronger part in appointing bishops. One occasion was the appointment of Cardinal Joachim Meisner as Archbishop of Cologne. The signers said they wanted to contribute to a serious theological conversation. In all, more than 700 theologians worldwide supported it.
The Vocabulary of Respectful Objection
Mit Verlaub — by your leave, if you permit
Bei allem Respekt — with all due respect
Das sehe ich anders. — I see that differently.
Da muss ich widersprechen. — I have to contradict you there.
der Einwand — the objection
Widerworte geben — to answer back
Keine Widerworte! — No answering back! This is what the person in charge says to end it.
Argue, but Obey
In December 1784, Immanuel Kant answered the question Was ist Aufklärung?, what is enlightenment, in the Berlinische Monatsschrift. From all sides he heard the cry: do not argue! Der Offizier sagt: räsonniert nicht, sondern exerziert! (The officer says: do not argue, drill!) Kant’s answer kept obedience and objection together. An officer who receives an order must obey it while on duty. But he cannot fairly be prevented, as a scholar, from writing about the errors in the military service and putting them before the public. A citizen cannot refuse to pay his taxes. He may still argue publicly against them. Kant quoted the one ruler who allowed this: räsonniert, so viel ihr wollt, und worüber ihr wollt; aber gehorcht! (Argue as much as you like, and about whatever you like, but obey!)
The Duty to Object
German civil servants carry die volle persönliche Verantwortung, the full personal responsibility, for the lawfulness of what they do in office. The law states what follows: Bedenken gegen die Rechtmäßigkeit dienstlicher Anordnungen haben Beamtinnen und Beamte unverzüglich bei der oder dem unmittelbaren Vorgesetzten geltend zu machen. (Civil servants must raise concerns about the lawfulness of official orders without delay with their immediate superior.) It is a duty, not a right. If the order stands and the doubts remain, the civil servant must go to the next superior above. If that superior confirms the order, the civil servant carries it out and is no longer personally responsible, unless the conduct ordered would violate human dignity, or is a criminal or administrative offense that the civil servant can recognize as such. This procedure is called Remonstration. The German Wikipedia adds that it is rarely used in everyday practice, because a civil servant who uses it often fears being labeled a Querulant, a troublemaker.