Sunday Mass attendance in Germany falls below 11%
August 05, 2014
Only 10.8% of Catholics in Germany now attend Sunday Mass, according to a report published by the German Bishops’ Conference. The Mass attendance rate was 22% in 1989.
Nearly 179,000 Catholics officially left the Church in 2013-- up from 118,000 in 2012.
“We’ve obviously suffered a loss of trust and credibility which has rarely happened so violently,” said Cardinal Karl Lehmann, according to a Catholic News Service report. “The Church isn’t just another club, and all efforts must now be made to prevent more scandals through repentance and renewal.”
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Further information:
- Arbeitshilfe „Katholische Kirche in Deutschland – Zahlen und Fakten 2013/14“ veröffentlicht (Deutsche Bischofskonferenz)
- Scandals causing more Germans to leave Catholic Church, cardinal says (CNS)
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Aug. 06, 2014 10:55 PM ET USA
"But when the Son of Man returns, will he find any faith on earth?" Luke 18:8 Doesn't look like it.
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Posted by: bnewman -
Aug. 06, 2014 2:22 PM ET USA
Yes the evidence is now clear for many different Churches, particularly in Europe. First there is a large drop off in attendance because the values of mainline culture are declining so quickly, and weak Christians fall away under criticism. However the decline in attendance can be hastened even more by pathetic efforts to ingratiate the main culture. Then the church loses the traditional attendance as well: some of those churches are looking at extinction.
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Posted by: normnuke -
Aug. 05, 2014 9:48 PM ET USA
This is heartbreaking, but it is not surprising. I have no doubt the same will happen here, and for the same reasons. My personal situation could not be better, though. My venue bulges at every Mass. The median age of the congregation is not much more than 10. We just rejoiced at the death of a woman who had 50 grandchildren and 65 greatgrandchildren. There is a steady stream of vocations from us. How? We are traditionalists. Of course
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Posted by: unum -
Aug. 05, 2014 5:42 PM ET USA
Despite the promises of Vatican II, the laity have no "say" while the clergy still ask them to "pray, pay, and obey". The laity, who used to be actively involved in the work of the Church now sit and wait as clergy and employees of the Church are the "experts" who do it all. The laity sit quietly in the pews waiting to be asked to participate in the real work of the Church. Sad!
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Posted by: Lucius49 -
Aug. 05, 2014 12:08 PM ET USA
But is there an inquiry as to why? Could it be the result of the lack of sound doctrine, liturgical abuses, loss of reverence,worldliness, not to mention a virulently anti-Catholic media? Why not review the plan of reform of St. Peter Canisius SJ or St. Clement Maria von Hofbauer? In my view this trend will be reversed with a return to tradition.
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Posted by: filioque -
Aug. 05, 2014 11:39 AM ET USA
Just what would be the reason to be a Catholic in Germany, since its bishops think Catholics should behave pretty much like anyone else, divorcing and remarrying and receiving Holy Communion like It isn't really the Body and Blood of the Lord.
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Posted by: Defender -
Aug. 05, 2014 11:26 AM ET USA
This explains all the changes the German prelates want to make, starting with VII and continuing with the forthcoming synod - they haven't been doing their job and they want rule changes to stem the tide of the laity leaving.
