German bishops Archives

German bishops press ahead with plans for reform consultation

Catholic News Service, Church in Europe
Oct 2, 2019

Germany’s Catholic bishops are pressing ahead with a national reform consultation, or “synodal way,” despite cautions from the Vatican and criticism from some bishops.

German ‘synodal way’ is rapid response to abuse scandal, conference says

Catholic News Service, Church in Europe
Sep 20, 2019

The bishops of Germany, reacting to an independent study of the extent of clerical sexual abuse in their country and its possible causes, chose to initiate a “synodal” process that was not a synod or a plenary council.

Vatican officials offer guidance for German Church gathering

Catholic News Service, Church in Europe
Sep 13, 2019

The German bishops’ plans for a two-year process of consultation and deliberation on key issues facing the Catholic Church must conform to universal church law and must be approved by the pope, said the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

Marking start of WWII, Polish, German bishops urge new peace efforts

Catholic News Service, Church in Europe
Sep 4, 2019

Catholic bishops from Poland and Germany have warned that peace and unity are still needed in Europe, 80 years after the start of World War II.

German court says Catholic Church can keep billions secret

Associated Press, Church in Europe
Jun 13, 2019

A court in the western city of Cologne has ruled that Germany’s richest Catholic archdiocese doesn’t have to reveal what it does with the billions it receives from taxpayers each year.

German churches to see sharp drop in membership by 2060

Associated Press, Church in Europe
May 2, 2019

Germany’s two main Christian churches will lose millions of members over the coming decades and will have to tighten their financial belts as a result, according to a study published Thursday.