The situation of religious orders in Germany and World Youth Day will be on the agenda to be discussed during the spring plenary assembly of the German Bishops’ conference, to be held at Cloppenburg (Lower Saxony) from 14 to 17 February. At the centre of the meeting will be a study day on the theme “Development and mission of communities of consecrated life”, during which the bishops intend to evaluate the prospects of consecrated life in Germany today, analysing both the current developments of the various religious orders and their structures, and the various aspects of cooperation between orders and dioceses. The 69 members of the Bishops’ Conference will also examine the situation of the ratification of the European Constitution and various liturgical questions. The results of the assembly will be described to public opinion in the course of a press conference given by Cardinal Karl Lehmann on 17 February.
