Archdiocese Reports Four Priests to Secular Authorities

The accused are in these cases priests from the Archdiocese of Cologne, where sanctions have already been pronounced and canon law proceedings were initiated.

Cologne (kath.net/pek) On 29 October, the Archdiocese of Cologne sent information to the public prosecutors in Bonn, Düsseldorf and Koblenz in four cases on suspicion of sexual abuse. The information provided is about alleged acts from the 1970s and 1980s. The reports that have now been issued are based on new information from those affected or on the findings of internal file processing.

The accused are in these cases, priests from the Archdiocese of Cologne, where sanctions have already been pronounced and canon law proceedings initiated. All the accused are currently not on duty and they are not allowed to perform priestly ministry in public.

Vicar General Dr. Markus Hofmann said: "All findings, including these new findings, will be passed on to the prosecutor. This is how we consistently and transparently continue along the path our archbishop has set. "At present, additional files are being systematically recorded and reviewed,” Hofmann says. Regardless, these cases will all be reviewed and evaluated once again in the announced independent investigation.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
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