In
a recent PEW survey conducted in Germany, Catholics now outnumber Protestants.
At first this sounds like great news to Catholics – in the nation which was,
for all intents and purposes, the birthplace of Protestantism, Catholicism is
bigger than all forms of Protestantism (Lutherans, Baptists, etc.). Upon closer
reflection both Protestants and Catholics have really gone down in the percentage they
hold in Germany and those who claim to be not religious has grown, taking some
from the other two groups (Evans, 2019). Protestants have lost more ground than Catholics - but both have lost ground to those who claim to have no religious affiliation - and also according to church attendance roles.
Catholics only hold a slight edge on Protestants, but the bigger story here is how many both have lost. Religion is losing out to non-religion, not to mention the growth of Islam in Europe too, which is also taking its toll on Christian church attendance.
No doubt, the sex scandals of recent years/decades has coloured the eyes of many who have left the Church over these. Part of our mission is to educate them and bring them home. Just because there were some bad men IN the Church does not make the Church herself to be bad.
Outside the Catholic Church there is no valid Eucharist. Outside the a valid apostolic succession of bishops - there is no forgiveness of sins (John 20:21-23). Jesus sent out His apostles to do what He did, celebrate Eucharist being right at the top of the list. Then breathing on them, He tells them whose sins YOU forgive, are forgiven and whose sins you do not forgive (retain) are not forgiven.
This is a call, not just for Germany's former Catholics and Protestants, but to the same throughout the world!
References
Evans, J. (2019).
Once a majority, Protestants now account for fewer than a third of Germans. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/02/12/once-a-majority-protestants-now-account-for-fewer-than-a-third-of-germans/
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