GERMANY
ABC – The World Today (Australia)
Mary Gearin reported this story on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 12:42:00
ELEANOR HALL: The Catholic Church has suffered from declining numbers in its congregations for decades. This is not helped by the continuing revelations worldwide about sexual abuse within the church.
In Germany the declining congregations have led to a loss of cash flow as well.
But now German bishops have decreed that any German Catholic who doesn’t pay a significant tax to the church will be excommunicated, as Europe correspondent Mary Gearin reports.
ANDREAS JANKE: I’m very sad, I feel it’s a pity.
MARY GEARIN: Andreas Janke has had to pay his penance for choosing not to pay tax as a Catholic in Bavaria.
ANDREAS JANKE: I lost all my rights as Catholic. In the bible says nothing written that you have to pay tax and you should pay willingly from your free will.
MARY GEARIN: Germany’s church tax is based on the notion of tithing, and it’s the way money flows to all religions in some European countries, including Switzerland and Austria.
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