The Catholic Church is planning to close five or six churches in Duisburg because of diminishing patronage. Local Muslims wish to buy the churches to use as Islamic worship locations. 19% of Duisburg-Marxloh residents are Catholic and the diocese closed several churches five years ago. Church officials have explored many options but see ‘no way around’ this second round of closings. Mohammed Al of Duisburg’s Merkez Mosque is striving to convince Catholic officials to allow Merkez (the largest mosque in Germany) to buy the churches, saying, ‘Regardless of whether it’s a church or mosque - it’s about a house of God.’ Germany’s Catholics have protested against the planned closings and possible Muslim ownership with vigils and letters, and plan to demonstrate if the sales go through. The late Muammar Qadhafi once said, ‘There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe without swords, without guns, without conquests. Europe will turn into a Muslim continent within a few decades.’
Pray: for a revived Catholic Church in Germany that will reverse current trends of decline with signs, wonders and powerful evangelism. (Ps.42:11)