A German Catholic priest has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing children as young as 9 years old. The 70-year-old cleric was charged with 118 abuse cases. He must also pay victims damages of up to 35,000 euros, the court in Cologne ruled. He was sentenced to thirteen years in prison.
During the case more and more victims came forward, so the case continued to grow. The man forced children to perform all kinds of sexual acts for years. The court is convinced that he can repeat himself.
The case is sensitive for the German Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Cologne. High-ranking clerics in the diocese would have known about accusations and rumors of abuse, yet the priest was allowed to be alone with children. The diocese also paid the man’s attorneys’ fees. The Cologne Archdiocese denies any responsibility.
Report
In March 2021, an 800-page investigative report was released on the systematic concealment of child abuse in the Archdiocese of Cologne between 1975 and 2018. The authors of this report said they found more than 200 abusers, as well as 300 victims, most of whom were under the age of 14. years were. The Vatican admits ‘shortcomings’ in the administration of the diocese.
The archdiocese was visited later that year by two bishops, including that of Rotterdam. This was a so-called apostolic visitation, the most grueling kind of examination of the Catholic Church. This visit was also in connection with the allegations of sexual abuse.
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