Priest from the Diocese of Trier: "The Catholic Church is well on its way to becoming a sect"

In the Diocese of Trier, more Catholics than ever before have left the church. Dominican monk Albert Seul from Klausen in the Eifel finds clear words for the situation

Carnival Monk

Albert Seul is a Dominican monk and pastor of the Catholic parish in the place of pilgrimage Klausen (Bernkastel-Wittlich district). The priest stands for a modern church and doesn't mince his words when it comes to openly addressing grievances in the Catholic Church.

To the SWR, the priest commented on the record number of resignations in the Diocese of Trier. Around 28,000 women and men turned their backs on the Catholic Church there in 2022. That is a good 50 percent more than in the previous record year 2021. For him, that was "foreseeable from the trend, but still surprising at this level," said the Father.

The Catholic Church is also getting smaller in the Diocese of Trier. In 2022, even more people left than in 2021. Also in the place of pilgrimage of Klausen the number of exits is increasing

Albert Seul also observes the development on a small scale in his own parish community. The number of exits has also been increasing there for years. What particularly hurts him: it is mainly people from the middle of society who no longer want to know anything about the church. "Young people, but also older people who used to be active in the church," said the pastor.

"I can't see in any way that the world church is willing to initiate changes."

Father Albert Seul from Klausen

In view of the Catholic Church's unwillingness to reform, the dedicated Dominican monk feels a certain despair and hopelessness. Albert Seul: "We are well on the way to becoming a sect. I can't see in any way that the world church is willing to initiate changes."

Father calls for relaxation of celibacy

Actually, reform processes such as easing celibacy and admitting women to the priesthood should have been initiated 30 years ago. Father Seul is demanding that the Catholic Church finally look at the situation realistically and not, as always, just sugarcoat everything. An unvarnished look at the problems of the church and the openness to critically question everything is the order of the day.

"I can understand people when they say it's not my club anymore."

In a way, the native of Cologne even understands the many people who have left the Catholic Church: "In view of the current general situation in the Catholic Church with the hesitant processing of the abuse scandal and the discussion about Cologne Cardinal Woelki, I can understand people when they say it's not my club anymore."

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