United States Department of State

“ The right to provide religious instruction at public schools also is no longer confined to religious communities with public corporation status. In November 1998, the Berlin Higher Regional Court ruled that the Islamic Federation had to be given the opportunity to provide religious instruction in the Berlin public schools even though it was not a corporation under public law. ”

“ The status of Scientology was the subject of many discussions. The U.S. Government has maintained consistently that the determination that any organization is religious is for the organization itself. The U.S. Government has expressed concerns over infringement of individual rights because of religious affiliation and over the potential for discrimination in international trade posed by the screening of foreign firms for possible affiliation with Scientology.
Many religions and denominations have been granted public corporation status. ”

“ Government authorities contend that Scientology is not a religion but an economic enterprise and, therefore, sometimes have sought to deregister Scientology organizations previously registered as nonprofit associations and require them to register as commercial enterprises. ”

“ In observing an organization, OPC officials seek to collect information, mostly from written materials and firsthand accounts, to assess whether a "threat" exists. More intrusive methods would be subject to legal checks and would require evidence of involvement in treasonous or terrorist activity. Federal OPC authorities stated that no requests had been made to employ more intrustive methods, nor were any such requests envisioned. Observation is not an investigation into criminal wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been brought against Scientology by the Government. ”

“ U.S. Government officials have discussed with state and federal authorities U.S. concerns about the violation of individual rights posed by the use of declarations of Scientology affiliation. U.S. officials frequently have made the point that the use of such "filters" to prevent persons from practicing their professions, solely based on their beliefs, is an abuse of their rights, as well as a discriminatory business practice. ”

“ The private sector has followed the example set by the federal government and on occasion has required foreign firms that wish to do business in the country to declare any affiliation that they or their employees may have with Scientology. The Federal Property Office has barred the sale of some real estate to Scientologists, noting that the federal Finance Ministry has urged that such sales be avoided, if possible. ”

“ In June 1999, the Munich administrative court rejected an appeal by Scientology and upheld the November 1995 decision by the city of Munich to deprive the Scientology-affiliated Celebrity Center Munich of its status as a nonprofit organization. With the exception of the Church of Scientology in Baden-Wuerttemberg, no Scientology organization in Germany has tax-exempt status.
Scientologists continued to report discrimination because of their beliefs. A number of state and local offices share information on individuals known to be Scientologists. ”

“ Section II. Societal Attitudes Germany is becoming an increasingly secular state. Regular attendance at religious services is decreasing. After over four decades of Communist rule, Eastern Germans had become far more secular than their Western cousins. Church representatives note that only 5 to 10 percent of Eastern Germans belong to a religious organization. ”

“ Scientologists have taken grievances to the courts. Legal rulings have been mixed. Some individuals who had been fired because they are Scientologists sued their employers for "unfair dismissal." Several have reached out of court settlements with employers.
In 1998 the Church of Scientology filed a suit in Berlin to enjoin the Berlin interior ministry from the alleged practice of bribing members of Scientology to "spy" on other members. ”

“ Organizations must register at a local or municipal court and provide evidence (through their own statutes) that they are a religion and thus contribute socially, spiritually, or materially to society. Local tax offices occasionally conduct reviews of tax-exempt status. ”

“ Religious organizations and political and educational foundations hold seminars and discussion panels to promote interreligious understanding.
Religious broadcasters have access to the media. For example, television carries many programs produced by mainstream and minority religious groups. ”

“ States defend the practice by noting their responsibility to respond to citizens' requests for information about these groups. While many of the pamphlets are factual and relatively unbiased, others may harm the reputations of some groups through innuendo and inclusion in a report covering known dangerous cults or movements. ”

“ Subsidies are paid only to those buildings affected by the 1803 reforms. Newer buildings do not receive subsidies for upkeep.
Religious Demography No census that could provide official statistics on religions and creeds has been conducted since 1987. However, unofficial estimates and figures provided by the organizations give an approximate breakdown of the current membership of the country's denominations. The Evangelical Church, which includes Lutheran, Uniate, and Reformed Protestant Churches, has 27.4 million members, who constitute 33.4 percent of the population. ”

“ Muslims make up approximately 3.7 percent of the population, or about 3 million persons.
Orthodox churches have approximately 1.1 million members, or 1.3 percent of the population. The Greek Orthodox Church is the largest, with approximately 450,000 members. The Romanian Orthodox Church has 300,000 members. The Serbian Orthodox Church has 200,000 members. The Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate has 50,000 members, while the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad has approximately 28,000 members. ”