German Church

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The cross of the German “Synodal Way.”

Critics challenge German Synodal Way in light of abuse study

Jan 30, 2024

By AC Wimmer

A new study looking at survivors of abuse within the Evangelical Church in Germany calls into doubt the narrative that... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing addresses journalists on Sept 28, 2023.

German bishops conclude tense gathering with all eyes on Synod on Synodality in Rome

Sep 29, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Conscious of mounting tensions and open defiance around certain issues, the assembly in Wiesbaden served as a charged prelude to... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing

Religion is ‘interruption,’ not continuity, German bishops’ president says

Sep 27, 2022

By AC Wimmer

Bishop Georg Bätzing spoke in a live-streamed Mass on Tuesday on the occasion of the bishops’ plenary assembly in Dulda,... Read more

Bishop Helmut Dieser, chairman of the Synodal Way forum on ‘Living in Successful Relationships,’ welcomes the #OutInChurch campaign, Jan. 24, 2022.

German Catholic bishops welcome initiative seeking change in Church teaching on sexuality

Jan 25, 2022

By CNA Staff

The campaign criticized what it said were ‘defamatory and outdated’ expressions of Catholic doctrine. Read more

Archbishop Stefan Heße of Hamburg.

Pope Francis declines resignation of German Catholic archbishop

Sep 15, 2021

By CNA Staff

Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Heße announced in March that he was offering his resignation. Read more

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg, southern Germany.

German Catholic bishop proposes alternative ‘Synodal Way’ text

Sep 3, 2021

By CNA Staff

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer presented the text on a new website. Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx.

Cardinal Marx won’t rule out offering resignation for a 2nd time

Jul 27, 2021

By CNA Staff

Pope Francis declined the archbishop of Munich and Freising’s resignation in June. Read more

The Catholic Cathedral of Limburg in Hesse, Germany.

More than 220,000 people left the Catholic Church in Germany in 2020

Jul 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

The figure was lower than the record number set in 2019. Read more

Fr. Andreas Wollbold, a professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany.

Theologian: Germany’s practicing Catholics need more encouragement

Jul 12, 2021

By CNA Staff

“They are the avant-garde, and not the last of the Mohicans,” said Fr. Andreas Wollbold. Read more

Deutsche Bischofskonferenz/Matthias Kopp.

Vatican cardinal urges unity with universal Church on Germany visit

Jul 1, 2021

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Parolin was marking the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and the Vatican. Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing, chairman of the German bishops’ conference, meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, June 24, 2021.

Pope Francis encourages us to continue on ‘Synodal Way,’ says German bishops’ leader after audience

Jun 24, 2021

By CNA Staff

Bishop Bätzing said he “made it clear that the rumors that the Church in Germany wants to go its own... Read more

St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, the cathedral of the Berlin’s Catholic archdiocese.

Berlin Catholic archdiocese releases previously unpublished section of abuse report

Jun 18, 2021

By CNA Staff

Part C of the report presents the personnel files of 61 accused clerics. Read more

The Regensburger Domspatzen, a choir based at Regensburg Cathedral in Bavaria, Germany.

Girls’ choir to join 1,000-year boys’ choir at German Catholic cathedral

Jun 17, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Regensburger Domspatzen choir traces its roots back to the year 975. Read more

Thomas Sternberg, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), speaks at a ‘Synodal Way’ press conference.

The German Synodal Way: A CNA explainer 

Jun 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

The “Synodal Way” – in German: Synodaler Weg – is a controversial discussion process underway in Germany with the declared... Read more

Essen Cathedral, Germany.

Catholics submit ‘dubium’ to Vatican asking if Church in Germany is in schism

Jun 10, 2021

By CNA Staff

Three Catholics from the Diocese of Essen have formally requested a ruling from the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation. Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, pictured in January 2020.

Pope Francis declines Cardinal Marx’s resignation

Jun 10, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope asked the influential German cardinal to continue as archbishop of Munich and Freising. Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, pictured in Rome Feb. 24, 2019.

Cardinal Marx offers resignation to Pope Francis

Jun 4, 2021

By CNA Staff

“Without doubt, these are times of crisis for the Church in Germany,” the cardinal wrote to the pope. Read more

Cardinal Vinko Puljić in Marija Bistrica, Croatia, in 2012.

Bosnian cardinal: Synodal Way’s ‘exotic ideas’ alien to a Church that survived communism

May 27, 2021

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Vinko Puljić said: “We cannot understand a Church in which sacrifice is a foreign word.” Read more

A blessing service as part of a day of action in defiance to the Vatican’s ruling on same-sex unions in the Youth Church in Würzburg, Germany, May 10, 2021.

German Catholics defy Vatican with blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples

May 10, 2021

Ceremonies took place in around 80 cities, though the precise number of services is unknown. Read more

Cardinal Camillo Ruini answers questions at the Vatican press office on June 17, 2014.

Cardinal Ruini sees ‘risk of schism’ in Germany after Vatican ‘no’ to same-sex blessings

May 4, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I hope with all my heart that there will not be any schism, and I pray for this,” said the... Read more