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Number of German Priest Ordinations Plummets to New Low
Catholic News Agency ^ | 8/18/16 | Anian Christoph Wimmer

Posted on 08/18/2016 5:34:59 PM PDT by marshmallow

Munich, Germany, Aug 18, 2016 / 03:15 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Never before have so few Catholic priests been ordained in the Church in Germany: a total of 58 men joined the clergy in 2015, according to official figures published by the German Episcopal Conference this week.

Within the last decade, the number of ordinations has dropped by half. In 2005, a total of 122 diocesan priests were ordained. Five decades ago, in 1965, the number was 500.

While there were almost 20,000 Catholic priests in Germany in 1990, today their number has already dropped to 14,000. The drastic decline is set to continue, judging by the figures: last year also marked the first time in history that the number of new seminarians dropped to double digits. Only 96 new students were registered in 2015. At the same time, 309 priests passed away, and 19 left the priesthood.

The crisis of vocations to the priesthood is not just one of sheer numbers. A recent academic study showed that amongst the current clergy, more than half – 54 percent – go to confession only “once a year or less.”

Further official numbers, published in July, confirm that the precipitous decline of the faith is not just restricted to the number of vocations: average church attendance in Germany is down from 18.6 percent in 1995 to 10.4 percent in 2015. The number of people departing the Church has increased within the same time frame, having peaked at over 200,000 annually in recent years.

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: catholic; german

1 posted on 08/18/2016 5:34:59 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

Any religion that accepts islam as valid should be shunned.


2 posted on 08/18/2016 5:39:48 PM PDT by soycd
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To: marshmallow

The Church needs to read its history ( and the current Moslem murders of Christians). and the damned Koran and hadiths about murdering or subjugating Christians, Jews, and other “infidels.” Get real about the enemy — self- defense is both just and necessary.


3 posted on 08/18/2016 5:43:20 PM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians are not born. They're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero)
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To: marshmallow
How many Catholic children in Germany attend Catholic elementary, high school, and university? My bet is that there could be a **lot** more than are now currently attending.

The number one focus of missionary work to be missionaries to the congregation's **OWN***children first. If there are excess resources, then reach out to others.

Wichita, Kansas, Catholic schools are tuition free. They should be an example and model to all Christian church everywhere.

4 posted on 08/18/2016 5:45:06 PM PDT by wintertime (Stop treating government teachers like they are reincarnated Mother Teresas!)
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To: marshmallow

They won’t need many priests when there are thousands of mosques in Germand. France has over 2000 now. And they are full of Muslims every Friday,unlike the empty Christan cathedrals.


5 posted on 08/18/2016 5:47:55 PM PDT by txrefugee
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To: txrefugee

Christians are mocked in W. Europe.


6 posted on 08/18/2016 5:56:41 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (<<<<<a<< he no longer IS my 'teddy bear'.)
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To: wintertime

“Wichita, Kansas, Catholic schools are tuition free. “

What? How?


7 posted on 08/18/2016 6:09:07 PM PDT by MNDude (God is not a Republican, but Satan is certainly a Democrat.)
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To: marshmallow

No one to blame but the wayward German Bishops.


8 posted on 08/18/2016 6:34:50 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: MNDude
http://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/about-us-schools/we-are-parish-schools

If Wichita Catholics can do so could other Catholics.

The **most** important mission field of any Christian is their **own** children **first**!

9 posted on 08/18/2016 6:42:44 PM PDT by wintertime (Stop treating government teachers like they are reincarnated Mother Teresas!)
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To: marshmallow

Europe should be treated as a mission field.


10 posted on 08/18/2016 6:45:19 PM PDT by marron
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To: marron

Our church supporters missionaries in Germany, France and Scotland.

We’ve had the missionaries in France speak at our church. It was rather disheartening.


11 posted on 08/18/2016 7:20:57 PM PDT by NorthstarMom (God says debt is a curse and children are a blessing, yet we apply for loans and prevent pregnancy.)
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To: soycd

Imagine that.
Happy Hans Kung? This is your party.


12 posted on 08/18/2016 9:30:57 PM PDT by Ouchthatonehurt ("When you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill)
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