Abuse Survivor Takes Action: Diocese Avoids Limitation Statute
Staying true to its course, the Cologne archdiocese has chosen not to apply the statute of limitations in a lawsuit filed by an abuse survivor seeking compensation for emotional distress. The Cologne Regional Court confirmed this on Tuesday, as reported earlier by WDR.
The backstory involves a priest, condemned to 12 years in prison by the Cologne Regional Court in February 2022. According to prosecutors, he preyed upon nine girls in Gummersbach, Wuppertal, and Zülpich between 1993 and 2018. The youngest victim was merely nine years old. The priest, now expelled from the clergy, is currently behind bars.
The former foster daughter of the convicted priest, herself a victim from the late '70s and early '80s, is now seeking 830,000 euros in damages. While the court proceedings are only just beginning, the specific timeline for when the case will be heard in court remains uncertain.
A parallel case saw the Cologne Regional Court award another abuse survivor 300,000 euros in compensation in June. This plaintiff suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a priest during her time as an altar boy in the 1970s. The archbishop, Rainer Maria Woelki, opted against invoking the statute of limitations in that instance.
The former foster daughter's lawsuit against the diocese for the abuse she endured as a child in the 70s and 80s serves to underscore the church's unwavering dedication to pursuing justice for victims. Despite not being legally bound to do so in this particular case, the diocese has chosen to prioritize healing and accountability over debating legal technicalities.
(Insights: While specific details on the Cologne archdiocese's statute of limitations policies in abuse compensation claims are not present in the sources, Cardinal Reinhard Marx has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in dealing with sexual abuse allegations. Avoiding the non-disclosure of such cases and bypassing the statute of limitations can hinder justice for victims.)
