The Daily Populous

Nachdem in den letzten Jahren die Zahl der Kirchenaustritte immer weiter angestiegen ist, sind im vergangenen Jahr erstmals weniger Menschen ausgetreten.

Ein Grund zur Freude sind die Zahlen aber nicht, müssen die Kirchen doch für 2021 mit einer bösen Überraschung rechnen.

Die Expertin aus dem Bistum Essen beobachtet, dass heute immer mehr Menschen aus der Mitte der Kirche austreten. »

Die Zahl der Austritte aus der katholischen Kirche in Deutschland ist 2020 um 18,8 Prozent gesunken.

Trotz des Rückgangs ist die Zahl der Kirchenaustritte die zweithöchste überhaupt.

Die Zahl der pastoralen Mitarbeiter blieb bei leicht sinkender Zahl etwa konstant. »

In a bid to tackle the rise in suicide rates for the first time in 11 years due to the coronavirus crisis, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has appointed Tetsushi Sakamoto as its first-ever Minister for Loneliness.

Following Britain's lead, Japanese government created an isolation/ loneliness countermeasures office in its cabinet on February 19 to counter issues like suicide and child poverty.

Sakamoto said in his inaugural press conference Prime Minister Suga has appointed him to address matters of national importance "including the issue of increasing women's suicide rate under the pandemic.". »

The Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been admitted to hospital complaining of abdominal pain after being struck down by an unremitting bout of the hiccups which has lasted for more than 10 days.

Bolsonaro, 66, was reportedly taken to military hospital in the capital Brasília at about 4am on Wednesday, with one prominent Brazilian journalist claiming the president was suffering from a bowel obstruction.

In a brief statement, the presidency said Bolsonaro was in good spirits and doing well but would remain under observation for up to 48 hours. »