Norway: Bishop admits abusing boy

April 07, 2010

Bishop Georg Müller of Trondheim has admitted abusing a boy two decades ago, according to European press reports. The prelate resigned last year at the age of 58.

In a statement released on April 7 the Vatican acknowledged that when the offense came to the attention of Vatican officials, the bishop's resignation was promptly accepted. Civil prosecution is barred by the statute of limitations, the Vatican statement noted, but Bishop Müller is no longer serving in any pastoral capacity.

Born in Norway in 1951, Bishop Müller was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1978 and was appointed bishop in 1997.

The territorial prelature of Trondheim, which Bishop Müller governed, is one of three ecclesiastical jurisdictions in Norway, a nation that is only 1.1% Catholic. The prelature has only five parishes; the Catholic population of the territory grew from 230 in 1949 to 3,200 in 2004.

 

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Further information:

• Catholic bishop's 2009 resignation in Norway linked to child abuse (Deutsche Presse-Agentur)
• Norwegian Catholic Church shocked as bishop admits abusing boy (AFP)
• Declaration concerning the Former Bishop of Trondheim (VIS)