GERMANY
Los Angeles Times
By Amy Hubbard
March 26, 2014
The cleric who became known as the “bishop of bling” has been removed from his ministry in Limburg, Germany, thanks to the conspicuously frugal Pope Francis.
The Vatican has accepted Monsignor Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst’s resignation, according to news reports. The announcement caps off the controversy swirling around the bishop over the $43 million spent on his residence complex in Limburg.
As the Los Angeles Times’ Carol Williams reported in November, Tebartz-van Elst broke the budget for renovations, overspending by 800% on items including a $20,000 bathtub, $620,000 in artwork and $1.1 million for landscaping.
He was placed on indefinite leave in October as a church inquiry was launched. Tebartz-van Elst said the hefty expenditures were actually for 10 projects and there were additional costs because the buildings were under historical protection.
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