The Local Germany

Six things to know about Catholicism in Germany

Fri, 11 May 2018 19:24:36 +0200

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.

Host refugees at Christmas: Berlin bishop

Wed, 09 Dec 2015 11:38:38 +0100

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.

Catholic Church launches child sex abuse probe

Tue, 25 Mar 2014 09:35:00 +0100

Germany's Catholic Church on Monday launched a new study into sexual abuse by clergy after a first attempt involving criminologists ended in acrimony last year.

'I'll make Catholic Church heard in Germany again'

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:12:00 +0100

Germany’s Catholic Church has a new leader after Munich's Archbishop was chosen to head the national Bishop Conference.

Cologne's controversial cardinal resigns

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:56:00 +0100

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.

'Untrusting' Catholics rush to leave church

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 15:31:00 +0100

The number of Germans leaving the Catholic church as much as tripled in October. Trust among followers has plummeted after a major financial scandal, experts said on Thursday.

'Lavish' bishop flies Ryanair for Pope talks

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 14:16:00 +0200

A German bishop who is under fire for spending €31 million on his new headquarters, including €15,000 on a bath tub, was summoned to Rome on Sunday – and flew with budget airline Ryanair.

Vatican calls rebel German diocese to order

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:02:00 +0200

The Vatican pledged on Thursday to take action against a German diocese which gives out Holy Communion to Catholic divorcees who have re-married.

Bishop racks up €31 million building bill

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 11:32:00 +0200

A German bishop is spending €31 million on a luxury complex, including €380,000 on furniture for his new home. The project costs ten times more than the original estimate, it was revealed on Monday.

Catholics rise up against bishop's leadership

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:30:00 +0200

German Catholics have rebelled against a bishop, attacking his leadership style and reading out a letter in a cathedral calling for change.

Lack of Catholics kills holiday in unlucky areas

Wed, 14 Aug 2013 14:33:00 +0200

Three areas in Bavaria will see their public holidays trimmed by a day next year - because there are not enough Catholics to justify them. Instead of having a day off, everyone in the affected districts will have to head into work.

Student priests sacked for Hitler salutes

Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:46:00 +0200

Two student priests were on Wednesday kicked out of their German seminary for telling anti-Semitic jokes and making Hitler salutes.

Fire resurrects 'devil talk' in exorcism town

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:33:00 +0200

Klingenberg would like to be best known for its wine production and countryside holidays - but its dark history of exorcism was resurrected by a huge fire last week, sending talk of the devil once again flying around the small German town.

Cardinal: Women should stay at home and breed

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:25:00 +0200

A leading German Catholic cardinal says the government should encourage women to stay at home and breed - rather than bring immigrants into the country to solve its demographic problems.

Catholic churches up for sale on eBay

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:38:00 +0100

A dramatic slump in the number of regular churchgoers is forcing the German Catholic Church to go to desperate lengths to save money. Now dioceses are resorting to flogging barely-used churches on eBay.

Facebook 'censors' radio host's pope criticism

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:22:00 +0100

An outspoken German TV presenter said he was "speechless" with fury after he claimed Facebook censored his status updates criticising the social values of the Catholic church and Pope Francis himself.

Pope Francis surprises German Catholic bishops

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:31:00 +0100

Germany's political leaders and Catholic faithful voiced confidence in the Church's new pontiff on Thursday, although some German bishops admitted they were surprised by the conclave's decision to pick Pope Francis.

Bullies, bishops, big gaps, and The Hoff

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:46:00 +0100

In The Local's latest Weekly News Roundup, Ben Knight looks at the government's purportedly whitewashed poverty report, a fake bishop in the Vatican, some bullied soldiers, and how David Hasselhoff will save the Berlin Wall.

Cardinal: Picking pope like 'visiting the dentist'

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:27:00 +0100

A German cardinal on Thursday said the upcoming papal conclave to pick the next head of the Catholic Church would be as pleasant as a visit to the dentist.

German Catholics bid farewell to their pope

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:49:00 +0100

Catholics all over Germany are marking Benedict XVI's last day as pope with an outpouring of national pride, including some vowing that “Bavaria is still the pope.” Meanwhile, the country's clergy has rallied behind the outgoing pontiff.