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Cologne Cathedral: The Archdiocese turned the Bonn public prosecutor on
Photo: imago images / Winfried Rothermel
A priest from the Archdiocese of Cologne committed suicide last weekend.
The clergyman is said to have molested a boy in the 1990s.
The archbishopric had released the former pastor, who last worked as a subsidiar, from his duties only four days ago, according to a communication.
The theologian was therefore suspected of having sexually abused a minor.
He was forbidden from exercising priestly ministry and contact with children.
According to the information, the alleged victim had turned to the Archdiocese of Cologne at the end of December, which had initiated a preliminary canonical investigation.
The person concerned was heard on the church side in January.
On February 3, the entire case was forwarded to the Bonn public prosecutor, "with a request for legal examination and initiation of the necessary steps."
Woelki under pressure
The Archdiocese of Cologne is currently under criticism for its handling of an abuse scandal, Archbishop Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki is under pressure.
The archbishopric assured that they would "continue to investigate" the case even after the pastor's death and would "fully explain" him.
For example, calls will be published next weekend at all past pastors' locations "to encourage other people who may be affected to report to the archbishopric".
The case could also overshadow the spring plenary meeting of the German Bishops' Conference, which begins on Tuesday.
It is expected that the bishops there will advise on how to deal with sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Woelki had commissioned an expert opinion for his archbishopric on how diocesan officials deal with allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests.
Since the report was completed about a year ago, however, he has kept it under lock and key with reference to alleged "methodological deficiencies".
Before the beginning of the conference, the abuse commissioner of the federal government, Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig, spoke of a "heavy burden" especially for those affected by abuse.
Woelki initially "aroused very, very high expectations" when investigating cases of abuse, and then disappointed him several times, Rörig told the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger".
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apr / AFP / dpa