GERMANY – Church demands more government funds for heritage preservation

GERMANY – Church demands more government funds for heritage preservation

Top representatives of Churches and politicians debated the relationship between church and state in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Finance Minister Walter Borjans (SPD) turned down an initative from the Grünen to abolish the church exit fee. Church representatives called for more money for heritage buildings and day care centers. Both Protestant and Catholic churches, faced with rising cost in these areas, want the country to take a greater part in financing these. Prime Minister hannelore Kraft (SPD) called for greater public awareness of the services of churches to society.

Church President Annette Kurschus warned that both Churches are increasingly overwhelmed with the maintenance of their monuments – some 6.000 in Nordrhein-Westfalen – because of the rise in heritage listed churches and, conversely, the complete cancellation of funding for listed monuments.

Read the full article in German here.

 

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