Germany
German bishops apologize for thousands of sex abuse cases
By Kirsten Grieshaber — September 25, 2018
BERLIN (AP) — The apology came on the same day that Pope Francis acknowledged that the sex abuse scandal rocking the Catholic Church was driving people away.
Jewish teens enlisted to fight anti-Semitism in Germany
By Yonat Shimron — August 1, 2018
LUCKAU, Germany (AP) — With the number of survivors dwindling and schoolchildren today at least three generations removed from the Nazis, young Jews are being tapped to put a modern take on an old message.
German Catholics’ confusing attempt to allow Communion for Protestants
By Tom Heneghan — July 12, 2018
(RNS) — New guidelines intended to allow German Protestants to receive Catholic Eucharist with their Catholic spouses has left the country's Catholics caught between its majority’s desire for a relaxation of the rules and the limits to change in the world’s largest church.
In Europe, religious minorities face mounting hostility, harassment
By Tom Heneghan — June 27, 2018
PARIS (RNS) — Times are getting more difficult for members of minority religions across Europe as nationalism, security fears and anti-immigrant movements gain ground.
Vatican stalls German bishops’ plan to give Protestants Communion
By Christopher Lamb — June 11, 2018
ROME (RNS) – Disagreements between Catholic bishops in Germany about plans to give Communion to Protestants have spilled out into the wider Roman Catholic Church.
Bavarian leader puts crosses in state offices
By Tom Heneghan — June 7, 2018
(RNS) —The governor of Bavaria in southern Germany has ordered that Christian crosses be displayed at the entrances to government buildings across his state. The measure, designed to woo conservative voters away from the burgeoning anti-immigrant AfD party, has drawn criticism from church and state alike.
More anti-Semitism, but less of it is violent, report says
By Jerome Socolovsky — April 11, 2018
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Violent attacks on Jews worldwide dropped in 2017 despite a rise in other forms of anti-Semitism, researchers reported Wednesday, in a year characterized by normalization and mainstreaming of anti-Semitism not seen in Europe since World War II.
Hindus chant to ‘purify’ former Nazi concentration camps
By Tom Heneghan — March 30, 2018
PARIS (RNS) — Should they be embraced as allies against racism or condemned for trying to whitewash and deny history?
German interior minister questions Islam’s place in country
By Jerome Socolovsky — March 16, 2018
BERLIN (AP) — Interior Minister Horst Seehofer told Friday's Bild newspaper that 'Germany is characterized by Christianity. ... My message is Muslims must live with us, not parallel to or against us.'
Top German cardinal signals cautious support for blessing same-sex couples
By Tom Heneghan — February 5, 2018
(RNS) — His comments made clear that he is open to approving such benedictions in private ceremonies.
German nationalist politician converts to Islam, quits post
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 24, 2018
BERLIN (AP) — A longtime member of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party has resigned his post on its regional leadership after converting to Islam.
In Germany, Catholic Church grapples with blessings for gay marriage
By Tom Heneghan — January 23, 2018
(RNS) — Though presiding at a gay marriage remains out of the question, some church officials have suggested that priests should be allowed to bless gay unions.
Germany worried about ‘imported anti-Semitism’ after immigrant protests
By Tom Heneghan — January 9, 2018
(RNS) — By adding Jews to the immigration debate, last month’s anti-Israel and anti-Jewish protests touched Germany’s most sensitive wound and prompted politicians to ask how to counter a new 'Islamic anti-Semitism.'
German law takes initiative in countering hate speech on social media
By Tom Heneghan — December 8, 2017
PARIS (RNS) — Under a new law that takes effect Jan. 1, Germany will impose fines of up to 50 million euros for any major online service that fails to take down illegal content — religious or otherwise — within days of a complaint.
Germany marks 500th anniversary of church’s Reformation
By Emily McFarlan Miller — October 31, 2017
BERLIN (AP) — In remembrance of the 500th anniversary, Reformation Day is a public holiday in Germany this year.
