Eichstätt/Munich (dpa/lby) - A priest from the Eichstätt diocese who was once suspected of sexual abuse was also employed in the Garching an der Alz community (Altötting district) in the 1980s. This was announced on Monday by the archdiocese of Munich and Freising and the diocese of Eichstätt. Priest H., who had been repeatedly transferred and sentenced for abuse, was later also active in Garching an der Alz. The case H. - probably the most well-known case of abuse from the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising - was even dedicated a special volume in the Munich abuse report.
As the Archdiocese announced, an independent study commissioned by the German Bishops' Conference and the Bishops' Action Adveniat indicated that the clergyman was said to have behaved in a sexually abusive manner at his places of work in the Eichstätt diocese in the 1960s. So far there is no evidence of abuse by the priest during his time in Garching an der Alz between October 1984 and September 1986. "But it cannot be ruled out," it said.
In addition, there is currently no evidence of a case of sexual abuse of minors or adults in need of protection or help by the priest concerned within the archdiocese. However, the review of the files is still ongoing. The parish of Garching an der Alz was informed at the weekend.
At the weekend it became known that the then Bishop of Eichstätt, Alois Brems, is said to have covered for the priest in question. After a person concerned had filed a complaint, the priest was sent as a missionary to Africa and South America under a false name and after his return - when the alleged acts had become statute-barred - came to Garching an der Alz. Both the priest and Brems have since died.
