Catholic Church in Germany
The Latest
German cardinal thanks Pope Francis for his letter’s call to conversion
German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki thanked Pope Francis for ‘fearlessly’ calling Catholics in Germany to be a missionary church in... Read more
German bishop supports 'Church strike' for women's ordination
At least one bishop has offered his support for a week-long “Church strike” organized by German Catholic women, during which... Read more
German Church membership will be halved by 2060, new study says
The number of Germans who pay a state-administered “Church tax” to the Catholic Church or the country’s largest Protestant group... Read more
Open letter to Cardinal Marx urges changes to Church teaching on sexual morality
In an open letter published Sunday by a German daily, nine German Catholics, including two prominent Jesuits, demand a break... Read more
Cardinal Marx apologizes for sex abuse by clerics in Germany
Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, chairman of the German bishops' conference, personally apologized Tuesday for “failure and pain”... Read more
Leaked German study documents thousands of sexual abuse cases
A study commissioned by the German bishops’ conference reports the sexual abuse of thousands of children in that country over... Read more
After CDF letter, German bishops' next assembly to explore intercommunion
Following months of controversy, the German bishops' conference have said they will further explore, in accordance with a letter from... Read more
Cardinal Marx reportedly to speak to Pope Francis on intercommunion handout
The German bishops' conference has denied reports that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has rejected its planned... Read more
Vatican reportedly rejects German bishops' proposal for intercommunion of spouses
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has reportedly rejected a planned proposal by the German bishops' conference to... Read more
Critic: German Catholicism is rich – but in the wrong ways
The Catholic Church in Germany is “spiritually impoverished and in decline, yet rich in material means.” Read more
Report claims decades of abuse against 500 German choir boys
A new report claims that more students of a prestigious German choir were subjected to physical abuse than originally thought,... Read more
German bishops say the divorced-and-remarried may receive Communion
The German bishops have published their own guidelines on Amoris laetitia allowing, in certain cases, for divorced-and-remarried Catholics to receive... Read more
Cardinal Marx faces accusations over handling of alleged abuse case
Accusations have been raised in a number of German media that Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising failed to... Read more
Number of German priest ordinations plummets to new low
Never before have so few Catholic priests been ordained in the Church in Germany: a total of 58 men joined... Read more
Archbishop Ganswein calls German Church Tax 'a serious problem'
Archbishop Georg Ganswein has criticized the German Church Tax process, calling its handling of people opting out of the controversial... Read more
German bishops release new figures: fewer churchgoers, parishes, and priests
Figures released Friday by the German bishops' conference draw a bleak picture of the ongoing decline of Catholicism in Germany. Read more
Bishop Heiner Koch, a German delegate to Family Synod, appointed Berlin archbishop
The Vatican confirmed on Monday, June 8 that Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Heiner Koch of Dresden-Meissen as Archbishop of... Read more
As synod council meets, 'shadow council' pushes acceptance of gay unions
While the Synod of Bishops' ordinary council gathered to discuss the upcoming Synod on the Family this week, a private... Read more
A crisis in the German church? Synod questionnaire would suggest so
The Synod of Bishops began receiving in April responses to a questionnaire that had been sent to dioceses the world... Read more
As church-goers wane, Germany's controversial tax prompts unease
While church attendees dwindle in Germany, questions have arisen once again over the controversial state-imposed church tax – and whether... Read more
