Diocese of Erfurt is planning drastic savings: where does the money go?

Diocese of Erfurt is planning drastic savings: where does the money go?

In the heart of Thuringia, a significant change is emerging for the diocese of Erfurt. Extensive savings are to be implemented from January 2026, which will be launched as part of a budget consolidation process. The Catholic diocese plans to avoid an imputed deficit of around 15 million euros by 2030, a plan that was developed in a working group by Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr and Vicar General Dominik Trost. The concept was published on Saturday and the need for changes and renunciation was clearly emphasized, as domradio reports.

As part of these measures, unrefined expenditure is expected to be reduced by almost 20 percent. This also includes drastic decisions such as the planned closure of the Sankt Sebastian youth center in Erfurt by the end of 2026. In addition, staff in the remaining youth centers will be gradually reduced. A reduction in the number of buildings in parishes is also being planned, which will certainly cause concern among those affected.

Financial challenges

The background to these far-reaching measures is the elimination of the church's annual structural contribution of ten million euros, which will no longer be paid from next year. This hits the diocese in a phase of rising expenses and falling income, particularly due to reduced church tax revenue. The budget for 2025 will have to make do with a deficit of around two million euros for the first time, which underlines the urgency of the savings.

The situation continues to be monitored throughout the diocese, which includes around 130,000 Catholics in 33 parishes. The structural reforms aim to maintain an efficient administration that can optimally support the parishes and institutions. Through a series of measures, such as reviewing the need for participation in supra-diocesan committees, the long-term financial target budget of 10.9 million euros should be achieved by 2030, as can be found on the website of the Diocese of Erfurt.

School system and support services

Despite the desired savings, the diocese remains cold-blooded when it comes to Catholic schools. These should remain in place with a target budget of 5.1 million euros until 2030. School foundations are intended to bring in additional funding, while school fees could be adjusted if necessary. The state of Thuringia is also available to provide this support.

The planned changes not only affect young people who rely on leisure activities, but also the education system. Bishop Neymeyr and his colleagues are aware that these savings also represent a deep cut in the ecclesiastical landscape. It remains to be hoped that the reforms can put the diocese on a more stable course without completely endangering the established structures.

The developments surrounding the Diocese of Erfurt are exemplary of the challenges that many church institutions face today. Adjustments are necessary to ensure a good and safe environment for community members in the future.