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 You might not have the day off today, but many people across the country do. The Catholic celebration of Mariä Himmelfahrt is a lesser known yet rather floral public holiday in many parts of southern Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20170815/why-bavarians-are-busy-hanging-out-bouquets-on-mari-himmelfahrt Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:11:10 +0200 why-bavarians-are-busy-hanging-out-bouquets-on-mari-himmelfahrt A new study has come to a dramatic conclusion about the decline of Germany’s churches in the coming decades. But it also argues that churches have the power to turn back the tide. https://www.thelocal.de/20190502/german-churches-could-lose-half-of-members-over-coming-decades-study Thu, 02 May 2019 19:27:06 +0200 german-churches-could-lose-half-of-members-over-coming-decades-study The former choirmaster of a Catholic school in Germany where more than 500 children were abused, including sexually, was a "fanatic" who was "feared" by pupils, his immediate successor said on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20170720/former-german-popes-brother-criticized-for-system-of-fear-at-choir-accused-of-child-abuse Thu, 20 Jul 2017 10:51:18 +0200 former-german-popes-brother-criticized-for-system-of-fear-at-choir-accused-of-child-abuse The Catholic Church in southern Bavaria is offering religious asylum to refugees who fled Isis, and who the state now wants to deport. https://www.thelocal.de/20160526/church-hides-refugees-from-state-in-bavarian-beauty-spot Thu, 26 May 2016 10:26:44 +0200 church-hides-refugees-from-state-in-bavarian-beauty-spot 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 The Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled that the Catholic Church has the right to dismiss employees who remarry after divorcing. https://www.thelocal.de/20141120/remarrying-is-a-sacking-matter-rules-top-court Thu, 20 Nov 2014 19:10:00 +0100 remarrying-is-a-sacking-matter-rules-top-court Germany’s bling bishop, who blew €31 million on renovating his headquarters, has been given a luxury apartment in an upmarket area of Regensburg after being forced to resign from his post. https://www.thelocal.de/20140804/germanys-bling-bishop-tebartz-van-elst-moves-into-luxury-flat-regensburg Mon, 04 Aug 2014 11:01:00 +0200 germanys-bling-bishop-tebartz-van-elst-moves-into-luxury-flat-regensburg 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 Hate the system? Think you could run things better? Jan van Leiden did. He took over Münster in the 16th century to create a new kingdom for God. But things did not go as planned. https://www.thelocal.de/20140328/16th-century-mayhem-in-muenster-with-jan-van-leiden-expat-dispatches-the-local-germany Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:33:00 +0100 16th-century-mayhem-in-muenster-with-jan-van-leiden-expat-dispatches-the-local-germany A disgraced German bishop who resigned on Wednesday after building costs at his new headquarters spiraled to at least €31 million, spent €213,000 on a fish tank. On Thursday he passed some of the blame onto his deputy. https://www.thelocal.de/20140327/how-bishop-of-limburg-franz-peter-tebartz-van-elst-blew-31-million-euros Thu, 27 Mar 2014 13:02:00 +0100 how-bishop-of-limburg-franz-peter-tebartz-van-elst-blew-31-million-euros Germany is a land infested with saints. Travel more than a few miles in any direction and you're liable to trip over a shrine to some ascetic or hermit with the reputation for performing miracles. https://www.thelocal.de/20140307/germanys-best-saints Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:23:00 +0100 germanys-best-saints The leader of a key workers' lobbying group has resigned after it was revealed he was being investigated for child porn allegations. https://www.thelocal.de/20140306/head-of-catholic-workers-group-resigns-over-child-porn-allegations Thu, 06 Mar 2014 11:36:00 +0100 head-of-catholic-workers-group-resigns-over-child-porn-allegations The Vatican on Friday said the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, who has made controversial comments about Muslims, was stepping down from his duties as archbishop after reaching retirement age. https://www.thelocal.de/20140228/controversial-cardinal Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:56:00 +0100 controversial-cardinal 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 Activist group Femen is facing criticism in Germany for its latest stunt. On Christmas Day a half-naked protester clambered onto the altar of Cologne cathedral with the words “I am God” scrawled across her chest. https://www.thelocal.de/20131227/topless-femen-protest-interupts-church-service-cologne-cathedral-germany Fri, 27 Dec 2013 11:03:00 +0100 topless-femen-protest-interupts-church-service-cologne-cathedral-germany The Bishop of Limburg's lavish new headquarters sparked anger at the Catholic Church's use of money in Germany. Its wealth has been estimated at €430 billion with interests ranging from television stations to mineral water. https://www.thelocal.de/20131018/52455 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 11:19:00 +0200 52455 The lavish lifestyle of a bishop who is spending €31 million on building a new headquarters in west Germany was exposed on Friday, when it emerged he has spent €783,000 on a garden, €25,000 on a table and €15,000 on a bath tub. https://www.thelocal.de/20131011/52349 Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:03:00 +0200 52349 Abolishing celibacy for priests would encourage more to take up the cloth, Alois Glück, president of the central committee for German Catholics argued on Friday. https://www.thelocal.de/20121123/46339 Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:19:00 +0100 46339 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 The ancient town of Trier is expecting at least half a million pilgrims over the coming month to view a tunic, put on display Friday, that was reportedly worn by Jesus. https://www.thelocal.de/20120413/41931 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:38:00 +0200 41931