German Catholics: no sacraments for you!

Or be buried or receive most of the sacraments of the Roman church (they have at least said those dying will be prayed for - that's nice isn't it!).

This means that marriage, standing as a godparent and even handing out the hymn books are all gone too!

Not only will those Catholics who choose to opt out of paying Germany's 'religious tax' find themselves refused the sacramental stuff, they will also find themselves barred from working for the church or any charities, organisations, schools or hospitals associated with, or run by it.

Germany isn't apparently doing too well with keeping those who were once members of the Catholic church and the fact that they are opting out of the religious tax, about 8% of their annual income, not only means that the church is seeing less footfall but also losing income and it is (sadly) the income that has brought about this (vatican supported) response.

Many of the reports I have read about the church's decline point to a background of child abuse which had led to the church becoming less than popular.

A comment from the bishops' conference that one cannot 'partly leave the church' might well be the spur for some to totally leave it! Sad really because surely the answer is for the church to raise their game and be more pastorally and community active and encourage those who won't pay to change their mind through relationship, not the hard-line and (in my book) extremely negative response, or removing sacraments and employment.

Bit of a sad story this :-(

Read more here: CathNews