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  Head of German Catholic Church Accused of Cover-up

Expatica
March 18, 2010

http://www.expatica.com/de/news/german-rss-news/head-of-german-catholic-church-accused-of-cover-up_32220.html

The head of the German Catholic Church was on Friday accused by a victim of sexual abuse of having covered up for a predator priest by failing to notify prosecutors.

In a report to be broadcast Monday on SWR public television, a victim of sexual abuse accuses Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of having "concealed and covered up" for a priest who preyed upon at least 17 children.

According to information released by the station in advance the priest, named as Franz B. was suspected of sexually abusing children in the Bavarian parish of Oberhamersbach.

But he "was sent into retirement in 1991 with the support of Robert Zollitsch". At the time Zollitsch was in charge of personnel matters in the Bavarian diocese of Fribourg.

Prosecutors learned of the suspicions against the priest only in 1995 when a victim filed a complaint.

However, a spokesman for the Fribourg diocese, Robert Eberle, said church officials had "acted in a consistent manner and very rapidly", forcing the priest into retirement even before the accusations against him were proven.

Aware that prosecutors were closing in on him, Franz B. committed suicide in 1995.

The archbishop apologised to the 17 victims who had come forward by November 1995, said Eberle.

According to the television report, Zollitsch personally informed Franz B. of the rumours circulating about him and forced him to retire and stay away from youths.

The report said Franz B. sexually abused at least 17 children and adolescents between 1968 and 1991, mostly choir members.

 
 

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