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 German bishops gather for key talks from Monday where they will choose a new leader to help steer the country's Catholic Church through a controversial reforms process and settle compensation demands from sexual abuse victims. https://www.thelocal.de/20200302/germanys-under-fire-catholic-church-seeks-new-leader Mon, 02 Mar 2020 12:45:54 +0100 germanys-under-fire-catholic-church-seeks-new-leader With the 101st German Catholic Congress in full swing in Münster, a major event that attracts tens of thousands of people every two years, here are some facts you might not know about Catholicism in the country. https://www.thelocal.de/20180511/6-things-to-know-about-catholicism-in-germany Fri, 11 May 2018 19:24:36 +0200 6-things-to-know-about-catholicism-in-germany Retired pope Benedict XVI fell in love during his student days in Germany and struggled with the idea of celibacy, said the author of a new book to be published Friday. https://www.thelocal.de/20160908/ex-pope-benedict-was-in-love-as-young-man Thu, 08 Sep 2016 10:41:44 +0200 ex-pope-benedict-was-in-love-as-young-man A survey of Catholics in Germany has revealed that most don't stick to traditional religious teachings when it comes to views on marriage and sexuality. https://www.thelocal.de/20150820/germanys-catholics-support-same-sex-marriage-study Thu, 20 Aug 2015 13:31:53 +0200 germanys-catholics-support-same-sex-marriage-study Cardinal Reinhard Marx, head of the Catholic Church in Germany, has warned his flock not to push the Church to go against its traditional teaching about homosexuality and divorce after they called for change. https://www.thelocal.de/20150515/church-lags-faithful-over-gay-couples-divorce Fri, 15 May 2015 16:41:14 +0200 church-lags-faithful-over-gay-couples-divorce The Association of German Rabbit Breeders (ZDRK) said on Tuesday that Pope Francis' injunction to Catholics not to breed "like rabbits" was inaccurate. https://www.thelocal.de/20150120/breeders-say-popes-rabbits-comment-unfair Tue, 20 Jan 2015 16:57:00 +0100 breeders-say-popes-rabbits-comment-unfair A member of activist group Femen will stand before a court in Cologne on Wednesday after jumping topless onto the altar of the city's famous cathedral. https://www.thelocal.de/20141203/topless-cathedral-protest-gets-day-in-court Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:00:00 +0100 topless-cathedral-protest-gets-day-in-court 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 The Vatican pledged on Thursday to take action against a German diocese which gives out Holy Communion to Catholic divorcees who have re-married. https://www.thelocal.de/20131010/52341 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:02:00 +0200 52341 German Catholics have rebelled against a bishop, attacking his leadership style and reading out a letter in a cathedral calling for change. https://www.thelocal.de/20130826/51595 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:30:00 +0200 51595 Pope Benedict XVI will not face charges for not wearing a seat belt in his popemobile during a visit to Germany, after officials confirmed normal traffic rules had been suspended for him. https://www.thelocal.de/20111201/39237 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:55:00 +0100 39237 Mercedes-Benz is making a greener hybrid Popemobile for Benedict XVI based on its own M class car, according to a media report. https://www.thelocal.de/20110621/35785 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:13:00 +0200 35785 The plans for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Germany from September 22 to 25 have been given the pope’s stamp of approval, the German Bishops’ Conference said Tuesday in Bonn. https://www.thelocal.de/20110412/34345 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:57:00 +0200 34345 A Catholic priest in the southwestern German city of Freiburg went on trial on Monday charged with a total of 101 crimes including blackmail, fraud, breach of trust, coercion and assault. https://www.thelocal.de/20080929/14603 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:51:00 +0200 14603