GERMANY
Deutsche Welle
The Bishop of Limburg is embroiled in controversy and now has to stand trial for giving false testimony in court. For many in the diocese of Limburg, he represents a problem.
German Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst has been under criticism for his sinfully expensive bishop’s seat for a long time. With parishioners he is infamous for his authoritarian leadership. Now, the Bishop of Limburg also has problems with the law.
Tebartz-van Elst allegedly provided false testimony, to the regional court of Hamburg, relating to a lawsuit over his higher than usual expenses. The suit stems from an interview with the German news magazine “Der Spiegel”, in which the bishop claimed to have flown business class on his way to an aid project – a statement he also wanted to defend in court. However, in reality Tebertz-van Elst and his vicar general flew first class.
Collaboration with the bishop has become impossible
For the Association of the German Catholic Youth (BDKJ), Tebartz-van Elst crossed a line. The head of the BDKJ, Dirk Tänzler, is in constant contact with his colleagues from the diocese of Limburg.
“They clearly say that they currently can’t imagine working together with the bishop and that they cannot go along with this any more,” he told DW in an interview. “That charge is one issue, but definitely not the only one.”
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