Church exits increase: demands for the separation of church and state!

Church exits increase: demands for the separation of church and state!

On April 21, 2025, a former member of the Catholic Church announced his resignation from the faith community. The exit was not primarily carried out for reasons of belief, but primary considerations. The author criticizes the church tax and the financial support of the Church, since he refuses to assist priests that are suspected of sexual abuse. This decision reflects a broader trend that is increasing in Germany, especially in the face of scandalous incidents within the church.

This exit takes place at a time when the Catholic Church in Germany reports according to the Saarbrücker Zeitung Refurbishing abuse cases, but still have significant gaps in the moral attitude and transparency. The criticism of the inadequate reaction of the church to abuse is underpinned by current developments such as the demands of Franziska Brandmann, the head of the young liberals. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive education and transparency within the institution.

Financial aspects of church tax

A central point of criticism of the former church member is church tax, which is collected by state bodies. The author argues that only a small part of these funds gets into charitable institutions, while the financing of hospitals and social services is mainly through health insurance companies, municipalities and the state. In addition, the author urges a clear separation of the church and the state. Similar views are shared by Zeit that support the idea that churches should act more independently and manage their income themselves.

numbers from the financial statistics of the churches in Germany show the dependence of the church on church tax. This makes up almost half of the income, and the current tendency of a membership will be considered threatening for the future financial situation of the churches. In 2014, the income of the Evangelical Church was almost 12.3 billion euros, with 43.1 % of them from church taxes. While the expenditure flowed into church fields, the income from donations and state benefits are negligible and declining, which illustrates the need to redesign the financing. Because of this financial dependence on the fact that members pay church tax, the institution is challenged to rethink their anchorage in society.

changes and challenges within the church

The Catholic Church has taken some reform resolutions in recent years, as the regulation decided in November 2022 that intimate private affairs no longer have to be a reason for termination. Nevertheless, the perception remains that the status quo is not sufficient. Brandmann has asked the traffic light government to advance the necessary separation of the church and the state and to end the dependence of the churches on state achievements that come from the Napoleonic era. An expert opinion on sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising focuses on 235 alleged perpetrators and at least 497 affected people and proves considerable need for action.

The situation illustrates that many Germans are increasingly dealing with the idea of ​​exit from the church. The pressure on the churches is growing, both in terms of financial terms and in terms of their social acceptance. The author hopes that the increasing number of exit leadership will lead to a rethink within the church and that a fairer separation of the church and state will be made possible to meet the growing social demands.