"Both Catholic and Protestant church leaders as well as academics have opposed the move, warning the Bavarian government about misappropriating the cross for political ends."
Religious symbols have always been used for political ends. Nothing new here.
They identify commonality as do football scarves, or tartans or heraldic devices and regimental insignia.
The problem is not the symbol but the ideology attached to it. The swastika is a classic example.
If you don’t align to it pay it no heed. If you do then it is a sign of a collective agreement.