German bishops Archives

German Catholics plan huge blessing of gay unions on May 10

Apr 15, 2021

Continuing to openly challenge the Vatican, several Catholic leaders in Germany are openly supporting the blessing of same-sex couples, with a massive blessing service scheduled for May 10, in direct opposition to Rome’s chief doctrinal office.

By Inés San Martín

Pope grants German archbishop faulted over abuse ‘time out’

Mar 30, 2021

Pope Francis has granted a “time out” to a German archbishop who offered his resignation after being faulted for his handling of allegations of sexual abuse in his previous diocese, church authorities said Monday.

By Associated Press

Is Synodal Path in Germany a road to schism?

Mar 27, 2021

Some are warning that a Synodal Path envisioned as an effort to restore the confidence lost by the abuse scandals and to promote internal church debate could lead many Germans into schism.

By Inés San Martín

Cardinal Woelki refuses to resign, says church law must be changed

Mar 24, 2021

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, 64, said he won’t resign following the publication of the report on the handling of clerical sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Cologne.

By Catholic News Service

German archbishop offers to resign after abuse criticism

Mar 18, 2021

A report commissioned by Germany’s Cologne archdiocese on church officials’ handling of past cases of sexual abuse found 75 cases in which high-ranking officials neglected their duties. The findings on Thursday prompted the archbishop of Hamburg to offer his resignation to Pope Francis.

By Kirsten Grieshaber and Daniel Niemann

Report on Catholic church abuse to be released in Germany

Mar 18, 2021

A highly anticipated report commissioned by the Cologne archdiocese on church officials’ handling of past cases of sexual abuse by clergy is set to be released Thursday.

By Kirsten Grieshaber

German bishop orders new look at U.S. claims against Schonstatt founder

Mar 11, 2021

Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier has ordered a reexamination of abuse allegations against Father Joseph Kentenich, the founder of the international Schonstatt movement, from his time in exile in the U.S.

By Catholic News Service

Lawyer: New report on abuse in Cologne will incriminate church officials

Mar 3, 2021

The second expert report commissioned to investigate abuse in the Archdiocese of Cologne also incriminates church officials who are still alive and accuses them of mistakes in dealing with cases of sexualized violence, according to its author, Björn Gercke.

By Catholic News Service