The number of Catholic priests in Luxembourg is steadily declining, with projections indicating a further drop in the coming years. Currently, there are 150 priests in the country – 77 fewer than in 2015. By 2035, only 104 are expected to remain.
The reduction in clergy follows the separation of church and state a decade ago, which has also led to a decrease in state funding for church salaries. In 2015, the state spent €22 million on salaries for Catholic Church employees. This figure had fallen to around €20 million by last year and will be capped at €7 million by 2035.
At present, the state continues to fund the pensions of 110 clergymen.
These figures were disclosed by Prime Minister Luc Frieden in response to a recent parliamentary enquiry from Democratic Party (DP) MP André Bauler.
