In 2019, over 10,000 Catholics left the Church in the diocese of Munich and Freising. In 2018, another 9,000 left. Why is the German Church hemorrhaging Catholics? We explore the question.
Also: amidst rumors that priest are baptizing babies using squirt guns to maintain social distancing, we take a look at some of the issues the Church is facing during the pandemic.
And finally: a new initiative seeks to prompt a Congressional investigation of Catholic Relief Services for a possible violation of Mexico City policy due to their alleged promotion of health care providers associated with abortion services. The 1P5 Minute is back! Enjoy the show.
RELATED LINKS:
- New stats show record numbers leaving the Catholic Church in German archdiocese
- Record Numbers Leave Church in Munich Archdiocese
- Cardinal Marx’ Seminary Received Only One New Seminarian in 2016
- Papal Interviewer Rebukes Cardinal Marx for Resisting Public Display of Crosses in Bavaria
- Germany’s Cdl. Marx Making Himself the Enemy of Monasteries, Nuns
- German Dioceses Respond to ‘Give Protestants Communion’ Guidelines. It’s Not Good.
- The Self-Disempowerment of Cardinal Marx
- Two German Dioceses Did Not Ordain Any New Priest This Year
- Approval of Blessings for Homosexual Couples Equivalent to Founding a New Church
- Oldest German Diocese to Close 96% of Parishes
- Cardinal Marx Encourages Viri Probati Debate; Priest Predicts Pope Will Permit Married Priests
- Acies Ordinata: Munich Edition – An Interview with Roberto De Mattei
- Pontifical Council For Legislative Texts: Actus Formalis Defectionis Ab Ecclesia Catholica (On the Formal act of separation from the Catholic Church)
- Priest says water gun ‘baptism’ photo meant to be ‘funny’
- Holy water and Super Soakers don’t mix, priests say
- Maryland county bans Eucharist in church reopening order
- Cardinal Gerhard Muller with Raymond Arroyo on The World Over
- New Initiative Urges Congress to Investigate Catholic Relief Services on Aid to Abortion-Related Orgs
- Ask Congress to Investigate Catholic Relief Services

Steve Skojec is the Founding Publisher of OnePeterFive.com. He received his BA in Communications and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2001. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Crisis Magazine, EWTN, Huffington Post Live, The Fox News Channel, Foreign Policy, and the BBC. Steve and his wife Jamie have eight children. You can find more of his writing at his Substack, The Skojec File.