In view of increasingly scarce financial resources, the Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück is preparing its parishes for an austerity course.
The savings would affect the staff and the building stock, said the vicar general of the diocese, Ulrich Beckwermert, on Wednesday.
Operational layoffs are not planned, but there should be fewer new appointments after retirement.
Osnabrück - grants as well as investments in the maintenance of buildings would be put to the test.
The financial situation is very challenging.
"In the future, we don't want to be dictated by a lack of funds about what needs to be done, but rather to remain capable of acting," said Beckwermert.
The diocese wants to remain present in pastoral care, education and in society.
The Vicar General also did not rule out cooperation between Catholic and Protestant parishes.
“In some cases we also need allies, and if we come up with such synergies, why not?” According to the diocese, a Catholic parish in Lingen-Baccum has already agreed with the Protestant-Reformed parish there to share the evangelical parish to use.
The Catholic and Protestant churches have a high level of solidarity, said Beckwermert.
"The resignations from the church press us both very strongly."
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The Diocese of Osnabrück will have to save 89 million euros over the next ten years.
According to the diocese's chief financial officer, Astrid Kreil-Sauer, gaps in coverage in pension provisions are one of the main reasons for the deficit.
In addition, according to her, there is a loss of income due to the corona pandemic, the difficult development on the capital market and the further expected decline in the number of members.
At the same time, personnel costs and expenses for the maintenance of buildings continued to rise.
The Diocese of Osnabrück with around 547,000 believers stretches from East Frisia via Emsland and the County of Bentheim to the district of Osnabrück in the south and to Bremen in the north.
dpa
