BERLIN (AP) — Another 400,000 people formally left the Catholic Church in Germany last year, though the number was down from a record set in 2022 as church leaders struggle to put a long-running scandal over abuse by clergy behind them and tackle calls for reform, official figures showed Thursday.
The German Bishops' Conference said that 402,694 people left the church in 2023. That was down from 522,821 the previous year, but still the second-highest figure so far. At the same time, 1,559 people joined the church and another 4,127 rejoined — in both cases, broadly similar to the numbers from 2022.
In Germany, people who are formally members of a church pay a so-called church tax that helps finance it in addition to the regular taxes the rest of the population pays. If they register their departure with local authorities, they no longer have to pay that. There are some exemptions for low earners, jobless, retirees, students and others.
The country's Catholic Church had around 20.35 million members at the end of last year. In an annual summary of statistics, the bishops’ conference didn’t detail reasons for the departures.
But many people have turned their backs on the church in recent years amid fallout from the scandal over abuse by clergy and others. In response to that crisis, German bishops and an influential lay organization led a three-year reform process, the “Synodal Path,” which was marked by tensions between liberalizers and conservatives and drew open opposition from the Vatican. Its final assembly last year called for the church to approve blessings of same-sex unions.
A follow-up process also has been marked by tension with the Vatican, though it did get underway this year after Rome initially insisted that German bishops scrap a vote on the statutes of a committee that is supposed to pave the way for a future decision-making council bringing together bishops and laypeople.
Christians in Germany are roughly evenly split between Catholics and Protestants, and it's not just the Catholic Church that is losing members. The Protestant Church said in May that it saw about 380,000 formal departures last year, around the same level as 2022, leaving its membership at 18.56 million. It also has grappled with past abuse cases.
FILE - The Cologne Cathedral is seen at the end of an empty street in Cologne Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. Germany has entered a harder lockdown, closing shops and schools in an effort to bring down stubbornly high new cases of the coronavirus. Another 400,000 people formally left the Catholic Church in Germany last year, though the number was down from a record set in 2022 as church leaders struggle to put a long-running scandal over abuse by clergy behind them and tackle calls for reform, official figures showed Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
FILE - People wait for the beginning of an Easter Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Spirit 'Heilig Geist Kirche' in Munich, Germany, Sunday, April 4, 2021. Another 400,000 people formally left the Catholic Church in Germany last year, though the number was down from a record set in 2022 as church leaders struggle to put a long-running scandal over abuse by clergy behind them and tackle calls for reform, official figures showed Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - A man sits in the empty 'Church of our Lady' in Munich, Germany, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Another 400,000 people formally left the Catholic Church in Germany last year, though the number was down from a record set in 2022 as church leaders struggle to put a long-running scandal over abuse by clergy behind them and tackle calls for reform, official figures showed Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) — Virat Kohli's first half-century at this Twenty20 World Cup anchored India to 176-7 against South Africa in the final on Saturday.
Kohli, who tallied only 75 runs in seven games, made 76 off 59 balls with six fours and two sixes after India was in early trouble at 34-3 inside the first five overs.
Axar Patel absorbed the pressure well after getting promoted at No. 5, hitting four sixes in his brisk 47 off 31 balls, and put India back on track by sharing a 72-run stand with Kohli.
Kohli completed his half-century off 48 balls in the 17th over, but pushed the acceleration by smashing big sixes against Kagiso Rabada (1-36) and Marco Jansen (1-49). Kohli holed out in the deep in the penultimate over.
Shivam Dube made 27 off 16 balls and fell in Anrich Nortje's (2-26) last over as India scored 58 runs in the last five overs.
Kohli got India off to a flier when he hit left-arm fast bowler Jansen for three boundaries in the first over, and captain Rohit Sharma struck left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (2-23) for two fours off his first two balls.
But Maharaj struck twice in his first over when Sharma was brilliantly snapped up by Heinrich Klaasen low at square leg, and Rishabh Pant hit off the toe-end of the bat while attempting a reverse sweep and ballooned a simple catch behind the wickets.
Klaasen shone again in the outfield when he caught Suryakumar Yadav at deep fine leg off Rabada’s short-pitched ball before Patel and Kohli rebuilt the innings.
Patel was run out off a brilliant direct throw from wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock as he smartly intercepted Kohli’s flick and then hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
Both teams were unchanged from the semifinals.
South Africa is eyeing its maiden ICC title in its first final, while India, the inaugural T20 World Cup champion in 2007, hasn’t won a major trophy in 13 years.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
An Indian fan cheers for his team before the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
A fan takes a selfie with West Indies' cricket legend Chris Gayle before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
India's Virat Kohli bats during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
South Africa's Quinton de Kock, right, celebrates with teammates the wicket of India's Axar Patel during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
South Africa's Keshav Maharaj, second right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of India's captain Rohit Sharma, right, during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, center, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of India's Suryakumar Yadav during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
India's Virat Kohli, right, makes his crease as South Africa's Quinton de Kock fields the ball during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
India's Axar Patel bats during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
India's Virat Kohli bats during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
South Africa's Anrich Nortje warms up before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Indian fans cheer for their team before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Indian supporters cheer for their team before the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Indian supporters cheer for their team before the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
