Saturday, August 28, 2010

Polish Priest in Germany, Suicide, Left for Months in Apartment

Editor: from a previous week's posting at Kreuz.net. There is still no word on the background of this strange case, why the priest killed himself, or why he was released from his position from the parish or why he didn't find other employment.

At the beginning of January a Polish clergyman living in Germany killed himself. No one noticed that he went missing.

(kreuz.net, Duisberg) For a month long the body of the priest lay in his home in the neighborhood of Walsum and rotted. This was according to the site 'The Westen'.

On the 13th of August ordered the eviction of the residence.

The clergyman, Father David Zerlass (53), had not paid any rent for months and had not responded to any bills.

The already mumified remains of the priest were discovered during eviction.


For years without an engagement or work


From 2001 to 2005 the Polish native worked in the parish of St. Joseph in Walsum in the Diocese of Munster.

Prior to that he worked five years in the city of "Werne an der Lippe".

After ten years in Germany the priest received no more assignments. Otherwise he could have received a position in Warsaw.

He rather chose to live in his home in the parish of St. Joseph.

The priest ceased contact with the Church: "He had always said, he had nothing to discuss" -- explained his predecessor, Pastor Walter Gross of St. Josef.

It remains unclear, how the dead priest earned his living.

A secluded and tight-lipped neighbor

This afternoon the police explained to 'The Westen', that the Priest had killed himself.

From the expiration dates on the food the police discerned that the priest had taken his life already in January.

He is said to be "a nice, but anything but a talkative person." -- explained 'Der Westen'.

Link to original...


Related post, here.

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