German website allows congregations to rate clergy

Berlin, August 17 (ENInews)--Does your pastor set a glowing example to his
or her flock? Or does the herd tend to drift? A new website launched in
Germany allows churchgoers to rate their "shepherd's" performance on worship,
youth work, work with seniors, credibility, and engagement with current
issues.

"The idea behind Hirtenbarometer [shepherd barometer] is that pastoral
work should be and often is qualitative," one of the website's founders,
Andreas Hahn, said in an email interview. "We wanted to create ... an open
platform for dialogue between priests and the members of congregations." 

A snow-white sheep represents top marks on the site. Pope Benedict XVI is
awarded sheep with greyer wool. His average score is 3.81 out of 6, with
youth work and engagement with current issues judged his weakest areas.