The German Catholic Church expects that some 700 of its church buildings will have to find alternative uses over the next decade. In a long article in Die Welt, Britta Nagel discusses some examples of churches turned into (social) housing. Particularities of the German legal system, especially pertaining to fire safety and heritage protection, make such project a rarity.
But there is also criticism. “The problem for the Church is that [when she sells her buildings], she can no longer exercise any influence on their subsequent use, while being held responsable for it in the public’s mind.”
Read the whole article in German here.
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