German High Court Backs Church Hiring Rules as EU Considers Baptismal Data Rights
Published on 07/08/2026 at 22:41 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The Catholic diocese of Eichstätt will welcome a new bishop after the summer break in Bavaria. Christian Würtz was introduced in early July 2026, stressing that the Church’s charitable work cannot be separated from its religious mission. His appointment comes as German courts and the European Union weigh several legal questions around church autonomy, data protection and liability.
Germany’s highest labour court, the Bundesarbeitsgericht (BAG), issued a landmark ruling on 8 June 2026 confirming that churches may still require job applicants to belong to their denomination. The judges anchored the decision in the constitutional right of religious organisations to self-governance — a right that has long shielded church employment practices from standard anti-discrimination rules.
At the European level, church record-keeping faces a new challenge. The European Court of Justice heard a case on 30 June 2026 that asks whether former members can demand the deletion of their data from baptismal registers. The appeal originates from the Belgian diocese of Ghent. Advocate General Medina argued that a balance must be struck between individual data protection rights and the collective freedom of religion. Both the European Commission and several member states have indicated they see no general right to deletion. A final verdict is still pending.
Despite demographic headwinds and rising exit rates, the major Christian denominations reported a modest increase in church tax revenue for 2025. The Catholic Church collected €6.75?billion, up 1.9?percent. The Protestant Church took in €6.09?billion. Combined, the two taxes brought in €12.84?billion. Industry observers note that with inflation running at 2.2?percent, the nominal gain translates into a real purchasing-power loss. Falling membership and an ageing population are expected to push revenues downward over the longer term.
A separate court ruling from the summer of 2025 has clarified the limits of official liability for church employees. The Landgericht Köln (Cologne Regional Court) dismissed an abuse claim against the Archdiocese of Cologne, reasoning that the priest in question was acting as a private foster carer, not in his official church capacity. The court therefore rejected institutional responsibility for actions that occur in a private setting. It also made clear that voluntary compensation payments do not constitute a legal admission of guilt.
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