Prosecutors end investigation of leading German bishop

July 22, 2010

German prosecutors have ended their investigation of Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, the head of the German bishops’ conference, who had been accused of transferring a Cistercian priest accused of abetting a Cistercian priest’s abuse through a parish appointment in 1987.

“Since no concrete abuse cases or victims' names have come to light from the priest's second period in Birnau from 1987 to 1992, there are no grounds for holding Dr. Zollitsch criminally responsible,” according to a statement from the prosecutors’ office.

 

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Further information:

• German court drops investigation into Catholic bishop (Reuters)
• Abbot comes to defense of leading German bishop, says abbey to blame for abusive priest’s transfer (CWN, 6/4/10)