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Church pews (symbol image): The pastor is accused of two cases of cross-border behavior
Photo: Angela A Stanton/EyeEm/Getty Images
After a leave of absence due to cross-border behavior, a Catholic pastor returns to his parish in the Cloppenburg district - against the will of the bishop.
A spokesman for the official office in Vechta announced that Bishop Felix Genn, who was responsible for Münster, had imposed conditions.
According to this, the pastor may not have any individual contact with women up to the age of 27 for four years, neither in the rectory nor in other pastoral situations in the community, such as on pilgrimages.
The community belongs to the Lower Saxon part of the diocese of Münster.
The clergyman is not accused of any criminal or canon law violations.
The behavior of the priest clearly contradicted the protective duties of a pastor in confidential pastoral relationships, it said.
The pastor is accused of two cases of cross-border behavior.
According to media reports, he is said to have approached a 19-year-old in 2010, among other things.
The diocese did not comment on the specific allegations out of consideration for the personal rights of the victims.
Strongly urged to refrain from returning
Bishop Genn had urged the pastor to refrain from returning to office, it said.
The advisory committees of the bishop had also advised this, and the committees of the affected parish had also declared with a clear majority that they could no longer work together with the pastor in a spirit of trust.
However, according to canon law, there was no way to prevent the clergyman from returning to office, said a spokesman for the official office in Vechta.
The pastor was on leave in August last year.
After reporting in the media, another affected person reported in September.
The pastor now has to pay half of a five-figure recognition payment that was awarded to a woman in the spring.
In addition, he is obliged to continue to seek advice on a regular basis.
This advice is accompanied by the intervention agency of the diocese.
The entire process should now be forwarded to the responsible commission in the Vatican.
ani/dpa