https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As Germany prepares for another traditional Christmas, the Catholic bishop of Berlin has called on his flock to invite refugees to join their celebrations this year. https://www.thelocal.de/20151209/host-refugees-at-christmas-bishop-tells-berliners Wed, 09 Dec 2015 11:38:38 +0100 host-refugees-at-christmas-bishop-tells-berliners Germany's branch of the Catholic Church will "never" be finished dealing with the fallout from decades of abuse against children by members of the clergy, a bishop said on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20151208/church-still-dealing-with-history-of-abuse Tue, 08 Dec 2015 11:36:03 +0100 church-still-dealing-with-history-of-abuse The Bishop of Augsburg has announced plans to build a €300,000 altar in the city cathedral, just days after complaining that the city was underfunding refugees. https://www.thelocal.de/20151124/bishops-300000-new-altar-as-refugee-home-crumbles Tue, 24 Nov 2015 17:59:46 +0100 bishops-300000-new-altar-as-refugee-home-crumbles A German bishop has compared planned 'transit zones' for refugees arriving in Europe to concentration camps, prompting a stinging backlash from conservative politicians. https://www.thelocal.de/20151104/bishop-likens-refugee-zones-to-concentration-camps Wed, 04 Nov 2015 18:16:33 +0100 bishop-likens-refugee-zones-to-concentration-camps Reports that the former Bishop of Limburg has received a new job at the Vatican, despite being ousted from his post for a €31-million spending spree, sparked bafflement on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20150210/german-bling-bishop-lands-new-vatican-job Tue, 10 Feb 2015 18:37:56 +0100 german-bling-bishop-lands-new-vatican-job New awareness of Germany's Church tax and outrage at lavish clergy spending have triggered a rapid exodus from the Church – much to the upset of institutions that could lose millions in revenue. https://www.thelocal.de/20140814/flock-flees-church-over-tax-and-opulence-shock Thu, 14 Aug 2014 15:04:00 +0200 flock-flees-church-over-tax-and-opulence-shock Germany’s disgraced “bling bishop”, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, who earned his name blowing €31 million on his luxurious headquarters in central Germany has been given a new home in Bavaria. https://www.thelocal.de/20140611/germanys-bling-bishop-tebartz-van-elst-finds-new-home-in-regensburg-bavaria Wed, 11 Jun 2014 17:22:00 +0200 germanys-bling-bishop-tebartz-van-elst-finds-new-home-in-regensburg-bavaria Germany’s ‘bling bishop’, who made headlines around the world for blowing €31 million on his headquarters, will be given a new job abroad, according to reports on Thursday. Meanwhile, he is still living in his controversial residence. https://www.thelocal.de/20140523/bling-bishop-of-limburg-tebartz-van-elst-to-live-in-31m-hq-until-new-job-found Fri, 23 May 2014 14:50:00 +0200 bling-bishop-of-limburg-tebartz-van-elst-to-live-in-31m-hq-until-new-job-found Germany’s most controversial clergyman, who earned the nickname the “bling bishop” for spending €31 million on a new headquarters, has resigned from his post. https://www.thelocal.de/20140326/germanys-bling-bishop-tebartz-van-elst-resigns Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:05:00 +0100 germanys-bling-bishop-tebartz-van-elst-resigns A disgraced German bishop who spent €31 million building a new headquarters used cash reserved for good causes to fund his lavish projects, according to reports on Monday. https://www.thelocal.de/20140217/german-bishop-of-bling-tebartz-van-elst-used-charity-cash-for-new-headquarters-in-limburg Mon, 17 Feb 2014 09:53:00 +0100 german-bishop-of-bling-tebartz-van-elst-used-charity-cash-for-new-headquarters-in-limburg A cleric dubbed the "bling bishop" for his luxury lifestyle is unlikely to return to his diocese after Catholics in the area said he could not come back. https://www.thelocal.de/20131118/bling-bishop-told-a-return-to-his-diocese-not-possible-franz-peter-tebartz-van-elst-limburg Mon, 18 Nov 2013 13:33:00 +0100 bling-bishop-told-a-return-to-his-diocese-not-possible-franz-peter-tebartz-van-elst-limburg A controversial bishop has found sanctuary in a Bavarian monastery after being suspended indefinitely by Pope Francis last week. https://www.thelocal.de/20131031/suspended-bling-bishop-takes-refuge-in-abbey Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:59:00 +0100 suspended-bling-bishop-takes-refuge-in-abbey The Vatican on Wednesday suspended indefinitely a German Catholic cleric dubbed the "bling bishop" for his luxury lifestyle, despite multiple calls in Germany for him to be dismissed. https://www.thelocal.de/20131023/52535 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 13:53:00 +0200 52535 A big-spending Catholic bishop was called before Pope Francis on Monday, as speculation grows over whether he will be forced to resign for his high-roller lifestyle. https://www.thelocal.de/20131021/52501 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 16:02:00 +0200 52501 The Catholic Church in Germany is urging its followers to put their money where their faith is. Under a new rule, anyone who doesn’t pay church tax will no longer be considered a member of the flock. https://www.thelocal.de/20120920/45097 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:09:00 +0200 45097 A German court has slapped Holocaust-denier Richard Williamson with a fine of up to €12,000, which the English bishop’s lawyer vowed on Monday to fight. https://www.thelocal.de/20091026/22833 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:02:00 +0100 22833