Germany’s Catholic Church will be forced to give up a third of its properties in the face of dwindling membership and revenue, according to a new report, with many buildings facing demolition unless converted to other uses.
German Catholicism
Retired Pope Benedict Criticizes Church in Germany, Says Mission Obscured
Retired Pope Benedict XVI has criticized representatives of the Catholic Church in his home country, Germany.
German Bishops Say Talks With Rome on Parish Document Must Include Laity
The German Catholic news agency KNA reported the bishops said they want lay Catholics to be involved in the discussion. The bishops’ conference made the announcement after a meeting of its 27-member Permanent Council.
Auf Wiedersehen to Only German Mass
German-speaking Catholics gathered May 29 to close a chapter in diocesan history as the last regularly scheduled German Mass in the Brooklyn Diocese was held at St. Matthias Church, Ridgewood.
Bishops Are Preparing for Synod
The presidents of the bishops’ conferences of Germany, France and Switzerland organized a study day in Rome to discuss issues likely to be raised at the Synod of Bishops on the Family.
The German Catholic Crisis of Faith
A report for the synod suggests that German Catholic thinking is virtually indistinguishable from that of non-believers on matters of marriage, the family, the morality of human love and the things that make for genuine happiness.