Catholics count cost of reform

Luxembourg Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich said Catholics must adjust to “a clearly poorer Church” after the centre-left Government and the grand duchy’s six recognised religions signed a pact that will slash public subsidies for religions. The reform reported last week shifts church-state relations from German-style support to French-style laïcité.

Two-thirds of Luxembourg’s 525,000 inhabitants is Catholic and the Church subsidy will be cut from €23.7m (£17.8m) to €6.8m (£5.1m) by 2035.