German bishops

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Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg. Credit: Diocese of Regensburg.

Catholic bishop: ‘Synodal Way’ procedures give impression of ‘authoritarian despotism’

Feb 4, 2021

A German Catholic bishop said on Wednesday that he detected an “authoritarian despotism” in the procedures of the country’s controversial... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki. Credit: Jochen Rolfes/Archdiocese of Cologne.

German cardinal says he will keep promise to publish abuse report

Feb 4, 2021

A German cardinal facing calls to resign confirmed on Thursday that he would release an eagerly awaited report on abuse... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne. Credit: www.ewtn.de.

Confidentiality dispute piles pressure on cardinal accused of mishandling abuse cases

Jan 8, 2021

German media have criticized the Archdiocese of Cologne for offering to provide a “background briefing” to journalists about an unpublished... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne.

German cardinal asks Pope Francis to review his handling of abuse case

Dec 11, 2020

A German cardinal announced Friday that he would ask Pope Francis to review his handling of a clerical abuse case.  Read more

Archbishop Stefan Heße of Hamburg.

German Catholic archbishop asks Vatican to review his handling of abuse allegations

Nov 23, 2020

A German archbishop asked the Vatican Friday to review his handling of abuse allegations.   Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing. Courtesy: Diocese of Limburg.

Leading German Catholic bishop renews intercommunion call after Vatican objections

Nov 9, 2020

Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops' conference, reaffirmed Sunday his view that intercommunion with Protestants should be possible,... Read more

Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, pictured Oct. 24, 2019.

Vatican to discuss parish instructions with German bishops, not Synodal Way committee

Oct 26, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican has told the German Bishops’ Conference that a forthcoming meeting in Rome to discuss Germans’ concerns about the... Read more

Bishop Heinz-Josef Algermissen.

Catholic bishop says Pope Francis is deeply concerned about German Church

Oct 9, 2020

Pope Francis has expressed “dramatic concern” about the Catholic Church in Germany, according to a bishop who met him this... Read more

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne.

German cardinal issues stark warning about ‘Synodal Way’

Sep 28, 2020

A German cardinal issued a stark warning Saturday about his country’s controversial “Synodal Way.”  Read more

The final press conference of the German bishops’ fall general assembly Sept. 24, 2020 in Fulda.

Germany’s Catholic bishops agree on uniform compensation system for abuse victims

Sep 25, 2020

Germany’s Catholic bishops agreed this week to a uniform system for compensation payments to abuse survivors.  Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in Rome on Oct. 23, 2019.

Vatican cardinal: Pope Francis ‘concerned’ about Church in Germany

Sep 22, 2020

A Vatican cardinal said Tuesday that Pope Francis has expressed concern about the Church in Germany.  Read more

The then Archbishop Luis Ladaria at the Vatican Sept. 8, 2015.

Vatican’s doctrinal office critiques German theologians’ intercommunion call

Sep 21, 2020

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has criticized an appeal by German theologians for intercommunion between... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference in St. Peter’s Square, June 27, 2020.

German Catholic bishop dismisses cardinal’s fear that ‘Synodal Way’ could lead to split

Sep 18, 2020

The president of the German bishops’ conference dismissed Friday suggestions that the controversial “Synodal Way” could lead to a split... Read more

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer preaches in Regensburg Cathedral June 11, 2020.

German Catholic bishop criticizes ‘Synodal Way’ draft text on role of women

Sep 3, 2020

A Catholic bishop has sharply criticized a text produced by the German Church’s “Synodal Way” forum on the role of... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishop's conference in St. Peter's Square, June 27, 2020.

Pope Francis ‘appreciates’ the ‘Synodal Way,’ says German bishop after private audience

Jun 27, 2020

Pope Francis “appreciates” the German Church’s “Synodal Way,” the president of the German bishops’ conference said after meeting with the... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference. Courtesy: Diocese of Limburg

Catholic Church in Germany lost a record number of members last year

Jun 26, 2020

A record number of Catholics formally left the Church in Germany in 2019, according to official figures released Friday.   Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing. Courtesy: Diocese of Limburg

German bishop calls for Rome synod to discuss German synod

Jun 3, 2020

The president of the German bishops' conference has called for a synod in Rome that would discuss resolutions of the... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx and the Secretary General of the German Bishops' Conference, Father Hans Langendörfer SJ (left). Photo: EWTN.TV

German bishops reelect secretary on interim basis

Mar 4, 2020

The secretary of the German bishops’ conference has been reelected to his position, despite announcing last week that he was... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg.

German bishops elect new conference chairman

Mar 3, 2020

The German bishops’ conference has elected Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg as its new chairman. Bätzing replaces the outgoing chairman,... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx at the German Bishops' Press Conference at the Pontifical Teutonic College on October 5, 2015.

German bishops' news agency launches English edition

Jan 10, 2020

A news agency owned by the Catholic Church in Germany has launched an English language service, which it says will... Read more