The diocese of Aachen had already been the source of clues that the priest was too close to adolescents for several years: A 55-year-old Catholic priest has been charged with sexual abuse by the public prosecutor.
The church man is said to have abused a then twelve-year-old Messdiener in 2003, as a spokeswoman for the prosecutor announced. The alleged victim filed a complaint last year. The district court Jülich decides on the admissibility of the indictment.
The diocese Aachen released the priest according to own data "until further notice" from his offices. The indications of lack of distance to adolescents in recent years have so far not been able to conclude sexual assaults, it says in a statement.
The diocese, however, had imposed behavioral requirements according to the prevention code of the diocese against sexual abuse against the clergy.
