Bern’s Catholic Church Increases Funding for the House of Religions
The Roman Catholic Church in the Canton of Bern has boosted its financial support for the House of Religions. An extra 20,000 Swiss francs will now be paid annually, bringing the total contribution to 50,000 francs. This increase comes as churches in the region face growing challenges, from falling attendance to a shortage of volunteers and pastoral staff.
A new performance agreement, covering 2026 to 2031, was recently signed between the Roman Catholic Church of Bern and the House of Religions. Under the deal, the church’s yearly operating grant rises from 30,000 to 50,000 francs. The canton had already allocated 100,000 francs to fund a transformation process across parishes, pastoral regions, and congregations due to a lack of pastoral workers.
The increased funding will help the House of Religions maintain its operations over the next five years. With fewer volunteers and lower attendance in some areas, the agreement provides financial stability. The canton continues to adjust its approach as churches navigate these ongoing challenges.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
