Germany

Churches are shrinking more slowly

The two major churches in Germany are losing more of the faithful. In the past year, half a Million Catholics and Protestants. After all, The number of Church dropouts is slightly on the decline.

Around 360,000 Protestants have quit in the last year from the Evangelical Church, the Catholics 178.000 believers have left their Church. These Figures the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and the German bishops conference (DBK) on Friday, citing a nation-wide Church statistics of both denominations for the year 2015. Thus, the shrinkage has slowed down compared to the previous year, the number of Church dropouts, however, remains with a half a Million on a high level.

A total of 46 million people, are still one of the two major churches in Germany. The Catholics stay with 23,76 million members or 29 percent of the population of the largest religious community in Germany. The Evangelical Church comprises nearly 22 million members, or 27.2 per cent of the Federal citizens. Thus, each Second one of the two major churches is, with around 56 percent of the population still is – Ten years ago there were, however, more than 62 percent.

More deaths than Baptisms

The Christian churches lose for years, members. One explanation for the decline in the demographic change. Both churches reported more deaths than Baptisms.

“Even if the number of Church dropouts is decreased compared to the year 2014, we must pause, nevertheless, a high number continue to be, in our pastoral Efforts not to,” said the Chairman of the German bishops conference, the cardinal of Munich, Reinhard Marx. The statistics 2015 show, however, that the Church in Germany is still a powerful force, their message is being heard, according to Marx. The EKD-Chairman Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Bishop of Bavaria said he was “for the future of the Church confident”.

vk/haz (epd, kna, dpa)