400,000 Leave German Catholic Church Amid Abuse Scandals and Reform Demands
June 28, 2024In 2023, the Catholic Church in Germany saw 400,000 individuals leave, a decrease from the previous year's record high.
The church is dealing with a long-standing abuse scandal and calls for reform.
Tensions have arisen during the 'Synodal Path' process, particularly over the issue of blessing same-sex unions.
This division has pitted liberalizers against conservatives within the church.
The German Bishops' Conference has acknowledged the crisis and emphasized the need for reforms to address the decline in membership.
The Protestant Church is also experiencing a similar decline in membership due to past abuse cases.
Church leaders in both denominations recognize the urgent need for changes amid the ongoing crisis.
Summary based on 16 sources
Get a daily email with more World News stories
Sources
Yahoo News • Jun 27, 2024
Another 400,000 people left Germany's Catholic Church last year, but the pace slowed from 2022