A 62-year-old is suing the Archdiocese of Cologne for more than 700,000 euros in damages - because he was the victim of sexual violence by a Catholic priest. In the case that could have a signal effect, there will now be an oral hearing in court.
Cologne (dpa / lnw) - According to his own statements, a former altar boy was the victim of sexualized violence by a priest in the 1970s - now he is demanding compensation from the Archdiocese of Cologne. In the lawsuit, there will be an oral hearing on Tuesday (11:00 a.m.) before the Cologne district court. The output is eagerly awaited as it could have signal character.
The lawyer of the now 62-year-old plaintiff sees the Archdiocese as officially liable for the suffering suffered by his client. Although there were rumors in the 1960s that the priest, who had died in the meantime, had been abused, the archdiocese continued to employ him in pastoral care. The plaintiff is now demanding more than 700,000 euros in damages.
The Archdiocese explained in advance that the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, had decided not to insist on the statute of limitations for the relevant acts in this case. A state court should decide on the amount of compensation for the actions of a priest who committed sexual abuse, it said in a statement. The fact that the acts are statute-barred had previously been considered the sticking point in the process.
