No One Goes to Confession in Germany

The  "Institute for Demography, General Welfare und Family" reports on statements by the ZdK President in a Slovakian church newspaper - the reaction of the newspaper: "That sounds quite unbelievable for us in Slovakia." For Demography, General Welfare and the Family", but on the other hand...

Bonn (kath.net) "In your ZdK, you don't know if anyone who goes to confession?" asked Slovakian Catholic internet site, " Postoj" of Prof. Thomas Sternberg, President of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). Sternberg replied: "No, I do not know anyone." Then he explained, "It is true that the connection between the Eucharist and confession is radically broken, it practically does not exist anymore." About the middle of Feburary "Postoj" published interviews on the "Institute of Demography, General Welfare and Family" (iDAF) in a detailed summary and translation of the interview.

Sternberg's observation led the internet news service to state that of the 24 million members of the Catholic Church in Germany, only a small minority practice. Sternberg responded and explained that more than half of the Catholics were "somehow connected with the Church." Catholics, "who attended Mass every Sunday." Sternberg replied that only 10 percent of the German Catholics, who are also Catholics who profess themselves to be pious," only visit Sunday Mass once a month. Whereupon the news site asked about Confessional practices.

Because of its importance, kath.net quotes the passage on the confessional practice of the understanding of the ZdK President from the presentation of the iDAF:

Postoj: "When I spoke to German priests in the past, whowere very surprised at what it means to be a practicing Catholic in Slovakia. That it doesn't just include ryegular attendance at Mass, but also sacramental confession. They then related to me that confession has disappeared in many regions of Germany. Is that so?"

Sternberg: "Germany is really quite different. The sacrament of penance has actually disappeared. And even the most pious Germans don't confess."

Postoj: "But how can the people who are no longer confessing receive the Eucharist?"

Sternberg: "We no longer see the connection between confession and the Eucharist."

Postoj: "But this connection is very close according to the Church's teaching. The question is the ol whether the Eucharistic celebration in Germany is still valid under these conditions."

Sternberg: "The Eucharist is not based on confession, because the Eucharist is the power to forgive sins. It is true that the connection between the Eucharist and confession is radically broken, It practically does not exist anymore. "

Postoj: "In your ZdK do you not know a person who would go to confession?"

Sternberg: "No, I do not know anyone."

Postjoj: "That sounds quite unbelievable for us in Slovakia."

Sternberg: "I can understand that this is very hard to believe, but other countries have this crisis also. Te only answer is to work to improve it."

Link to the original of the interview in the Slovakian Catholic "Postoj".

Pope Francis spoke to the Bishops at the Ad Limina. Pope: Erosion of the Catholic faith in Germany. He said: "In confession there is the transformation of the individual believer and the reform of the Church. I trust that in the coming Holy Year and going forward that this so very important sacrament will be more prominent in the pastoral plans of diocese and parishes."

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG