Bishop Furst: "The laity perform extraordinarily valuable services." © KNA
For 16 years Bishop Gebhard Furst of Rottenburg was spiritual assistant to the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). At the International Convention he passes the baton to the Archbishop of Hamburg, Stefan Hebe. An interview to take stock.
With the goal of a Europe-wide networking of Catholic prevention work, the international conference "One crisis – different answers" began on Wednesday in Luxembourg.
The Vatican has announced a comprehensive reorganization of the "Legionaries of Christ" as a consequence of the scandal surrounding its founder, Marcial Maciel Degollado. The direction of the congregation and its internal power structures would have to be fundamentally revised, says a communique from the Vatican press office.
Christmas service in Freiburg Cathedral © Patrick Seeger
Coming to terms with sexual abuse in the Catholic Church continues to drive the German bishops. In several Christmas sermons the topic played a role. But not all were in agreement.
Abuse, violence, prostitution: accusations against the former Catholic Piusheim make waves. Now the federal government's abuse commissioner is getting involved. He misses a "strong signal" from Cardinal Reinhard Marx.
Symbol image abuse in the church © Andreas Gebert
A new suspicion in the sexual abuse scandal: a senior staff member at the highest Vatican court is on a list of a good 200 abusers from the US state of New Jersey.
Investigations in Chile © O Globo
In the course of the abuse processing in the Catholic Church of Chile against the investigations further. Now the local prosecutor's office has searched the archives of four bishoprics and started investigations against two more bishops.
Bishop Georg Batzing © Harald Oppitz (KNA)
As successor to Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, Bishop Georg Batzing did not have it easy. But he established a new style in the diocese of Limburg. Now Batzing is also at the head of the German Bishops' Conference.
Participants at the start of the synodal assembly's deliberations © Harald Oppitz (KNA)
Criticism of principles, points of order, debates and votes – the first Catholic synodal assembly in Frankfurt began its work. There was talk of opportunities and orders, nervousness and cheerfulness could be felt.
Remarks by German Family Minister Giffey raised eyebrows of Bishop Kohlgraf. He and the other bishops have been implementing the politician's demand that words be followed by deeds for months, he said.