• Germany edition
Society
Photo: DPA

Catholic churches up for sale on eBay

Published: 19 Mar 13 15:38 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20130319-48629.html

A dramatic slump in the number of regular churchgoers is forcing the German Catholic Church to go to desperate lengths to save money. Now dioceses are resorting to flogging barely-used churches on eBay.

St Bernhard in Brandenburg, listed as a "church in popular residential area", is the twenty-fifth church put up for sale by the Berlin diocese in the past twelve years. The church, which is now like many suffering from dwindling attendance, is starting at just €120,000 on eBay classifieds.

But although the ad says the building is open for any type of use, "be it event space, a doctor's surgery, office space or meeting place", church representatives said it would not go to just any buyer.

"You can't just order a church like a pair of shoes off Zalando," said Berlin diocese spokesman Stefan Förner. All interested buyers will have to meet with the diocese to discuss their plans for the old churches.

But far from selling like hotcakes at a fundraising cake sale, buyers are few and far between. "They aren't exactly queuing up," said Förner.

The main problem for buyers is habitability - the high-ceilinged rooms are a nightmare to heat, the windows are thin and the structures themselves are protected buildings.

But the German Catholic Church has no choice as congregations continue to age and fail to attract young blood. Flocks of faithful are thinning, there are fewer priests and the coffers are running dry. For many, the upkeep of a church that is barely used is proving just too expensive.

Even among self-declared Catholics, church attendance is down.

Back in the 1950s one in two German Catholics regularly attended church services. But that number has now slumped to just 12.3 percent of those who claim to be Catholic, according to recent figures by the German conference of bishops.

DPA/The Local/jlb

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

18:49 March 19, 2013 by Istabraq
Where is all the church tax going then?
19:52 March 19, 2013 by The-ex-pat
18:49 March 19, 2013 by Istabraq

Don't ask complicated questions...........
21:41 March 19, 2013 by DerHirsch
Interesting. So, only the one church on Ebay Kleinanzeigen warrants this type of news article? I did a search on normal ebay and found nothing. This is quite interesting. Trying to slant the news Local?
11:23 March 20, 2013 by blackboot11
@ Istabraq: Yes, where is all the church tax going then? a very good question indeed. As for myself, I do not take part in this church tax/donation scheme.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
The Local Media Round-Up
Photo: DPA

'Does Germany trust Obama to lead the way?'

While the crowds roared with excitement, the German press took a more critical view of Wednesday's iconic speech by US President Barack Obama at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The Local Media Round-Up takes a look. READ () »

Photo: Reptile Show

'Snake charmer' fatally bitten during viper demo

A German reptile enthusiast died after being bitten by a viper during an event in southern France aimed at helping audiences overcome their fear of snakes. The man died from a heart attack due to a rare allergy, his colleague told The Local. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Farmers on watch as pony killer runs free

As German police released two men suspected of stabbing a sheep and several ponies, animal owners in two towns are on high alert – even sleeping alongside their stock to make sure no more are killed. READ () »

Photo: DPA

One killed as roads burst in heatwave

Motorway experts on Thursday warned Germans to drive safely, as sweltering heat has caused roads to buckle up to half a metre into the air - and already resulted in one fatality. READ () »

German of the Week
Photo: DPA

Ballooned to fame: Nena rides high 30 years on

Thirty years ago, a young woman sporting a perm and a wistful expression burst onto the music scene. Gabriele Susanne Kerner, or Nena, is still singing about life, love and red balloons, making her our German of the Week. READ () »

Photo: DPA

CDU reveal family-friendly manifesto

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives plan to woo voters with family-friendly promises and infrastructure spending worth tens of billions of euros in elections three months from now, said a new draft policy manifesto. READ () »

German World Heritage Sites
Photo: DPA

Luther Memorials of Wittenberg and Eisleben

As the summer holidays approach, The Local is touring Germany's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Today we visit the Martin Luther memorials in Wittenberg and Eisleben. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Dentist cut off own finger for insurance cash

A German dentist who was so desperate for cash that he cut off his own finger for the insurance money has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to a year in prison to be served on parole. The man said he was the victim of an attack. READ () »

More Society
RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
Highlights
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Michelle Obama and the girls visted the Berlin Wall memorial. The Local went down to see what the public had to say.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Karamba Diaby hopes to become the first black member of the Bundestag this September, making him our German of Week.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
'I come to Germany for prostitutes - it's like Aldi.' An American tells The Local about coming to Germany three times a year to visit brothels.
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
The Local List: Nine weird German weather phenomena
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
As Germany contends with historic flooding, Tagesspiegel's Robert Ide argues that money has been wasted on trying to contain rivers with concrete, rather than giving them vital space.
Photo: Private
SOCIETY »
Germans might not know it, but they desperately need the moral guidance of a re-instated royal family, says the great-great grandson of the last Kaiser, Prince Philip Kiril of Prussia.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Americans have had a love affair with Heidelberg since Mark Twain visited the city. Matthew Luxmoore reports on the impact of the US Army's imminent withdrawal after 68 years.
Photo: DPA
SCIENCE & TECH »
Germany's longest word Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragung sgesetz is no longer.
Photo: wikipedia
LIFESTYLE »
German cuisine is far more inventive than most people realize. Ever had "Fake Rabbit" or "Lost Eggs" for dinner? The Local List serves up some of the more colourfully named dishes.
Photo: Private
LIFESTYLE »
'Young cancer sufferers have specific problems'. Survivor Friederike Kaup tells The Local about why she wants to set up a shared flat for chemotherapy patients.
Photo: Private
OPINION »
Are Germans ready to elect a Jewish chancellor? UK journalist David Crossland has written a novel exploring racism and neo-Nazi violence in Germany. The Local has excerpts.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
The German language has some rather colourful terms for describing parts of the human body. Turn to The Local List this week for a few anatomical alternatives.
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
Germany is the most popular country in the world!
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Harmless pink fun or a bad influence on young girls? A life-size Barbie dream house attraction opened in Berlin to protests including a topless woman burning a doll in effigy.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
It might be politically toxic, but it's time to hit the brakes on Germany's reckless driving culture, argues The Local's Ben Knight.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Confused about the hundreds of euros missing from your pay packet? Don't panic - the latest in The Local's JobTalk series looks at German social security payments.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Is that your Handy ringing? This week's Local List takes a look at 12 misused English words in German.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
What are the hidden rules of etiquette foreigners need to watch out for while doing business in Germany? The Local's JobTalk series has tips for keeping on the right side of your colleagues.
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
All of The Local's 'Germans of the Week' so far
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
Every town and city from The Local's My Germany series
Monster/jobpilot.de
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Eighty per cent of Germans apply for jobs online
Furniture Leasing Corporation
SPONSORED ARTICLE
The furniture-free way to relocate to Germany
Photo: Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Top five reasons to enrol on an Executive MBA
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Germans of the Week are the thousands of volunteers helping to sandbag against rising floodwaters.



Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

919 jobs available
670 new jobs this week
103 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
  • Germany's Guerilla Knitters
    A tree in a sweater? A statue wearing mittens? A sign post with a scarf? Guerilla knitters are brightening urban spaces in Germany with a new kind of graffiti.
  • The Best of Germany: Städelschule
    At the heart of Frankfurt’s art scene is a school that has attracted many international art students to Germany. The Städelschule has a reputation for a high level of instruction and for nurturing students working at the forefront of conceptual and experimental contemporary art.
  • US President Obama in Germany
    The American President Barack Obama visits Berlin.
  • Hollywood Stars Filming in Germany
    Hollywood stars such as George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Oscar award-winner Geoffrey Rush are making films in and around Potsdam.
  • Design Festival in Berlin
    Creative young designers from around the world showcase their work at the DMY International Design Festival at Berlin’s former Tempelhof airport.
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Little house in Spain
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Albatross Insurance
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.