Münster-based canon law expert Thomas Schüller has sharply criticized a civil court ruling by the Cologne Regional Court in a damages lawsuit filed by a victim of abuse against the Archdiocese of Cologne.
Speaking to the “Kölnische Rundschau” Schüller described the ruling as “presumptuous and scandalous” arguing that the court applied secular parameters to the religiously-connotated official duties of a Catholic priest, disregarding established canon law. He asserted that the court failed to consider relevant ecclesiastical assessments and instead followed the arguments presented by the Archdiocese’s legal representatives, which Schüller deemed to reflect a non-Catholic understanding of the priesthood.
Schüller, who has spent 40 years training priests, expressed his dismay at the court’s implication that priests possess a private sphere where they are not subject to oversight by the archdiocese. He emphasized the expectation within the Catholic Church for a complete dedication to serving Christ, 24 hours a day.
While acknowledging that the extent of the Archdiocese of Cologne’s duty of care in this specific case may be debatable, Schüller maintained that the court’s decision to disregard the unique aspects of the priesthood was problematic. He argued that religious norms must be respected and aligned with state regulations.
