Church - Fewer Catholics in the diocese of Erfurt again
The number of Catholics in the Diocese of Erfurt has decreased. Approximately 134,400 members of the Catholic Church belonged to the Diocese last year, as stated by the German Bishops' Conference on Thursday. In 2022, there were still around 137,300 Catholics in the Erfurt Diocese. The Diocese reportedly recorded 1,811 departures - opposed to 675 baptisms, 14 conversions, and 1,233 burials.
Nationwide, the number of Catholics in Germany is also declining. Currently, there are still 20.3 million people who belong to the Catholic Church. The 20-million mark could be undercut for the first time in the current year 2024, according to the Bishops' Conference.
"The numbers are alarming. They show that the Church is in a comprehensive crisis," said the Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference and Bishop of Limburg, Georg Bätzing. Reforms are necessary to address the crisis, but they alone will not solve it.
The declining significance of churches in Germany, according to findings from scientists, is a long-term development with societal causes that the Church cannot influence. A study by the University of Freiburg predicted in 2019 that the number of church members - Catholic and Protestant - would decrease by half to about 23 million by the year 2060.
The Bishop of Thuringia, overseeing the Diocese of Erfurt, attended a meeting with other bishops at the Bishops' Conference in Bonn. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic organization, has been working extensively within several dioceses, including Erfurt, to address social issues. The Catholic Church in Thuringia is currently facing a crisis, echoing the concerns expressed by Bishop Bätzing at the Bishops' Conference. The Bishop of Erfurt diocese has been vocal about the need for reforms to mitigate this crisis in their local diocese.
