Germany 'Needs Reduction of Refugees,' Says Country's Catholic Leader

Germany has to reduce the influx of refugees, a previous supporter of the open door policy, chief German Catholic and chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx said.

The chief German Catholic and chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, said on Monday that Germany needs to reduce its influx of refugees, Germany's Passauer Neue Presse reported.

Cardinal Marx previously supported the refugees coming to Germany, urging leaders to "stand together" in the face of protests against the government's refugee policy. Now, while commending the church's charity efforts, he said that a reduction in refugees is needed.

"Even as a Church we say, we need a reduction in the number of refugees. Germany can not accommodate all of the world's needy," Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich said.

Around 1.1 million refugees are said to live in Germany as of 2015, and the number is expected to increase. 

In January, 44 parliament members of Angela Merkel's own CDU/CSU party demanded a change in the migration policy amid growing protest and sexual assaults.