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No compensation for victims of abuse: verdict causes outrage
In the abuse case involving a Cologne priest, the lawsuit for pain and suffering was dismissed. Criticism of court decision sparked.
No compensation for victims of abuse: verdict causes outrage
The legal disputes surrounding the abuse case of a priest from the Archdiocese of Cologne send an oppressive signal to society. A current ruling by the Cologne Regional Court, which was announced on July 1, 2025, dismissed a victim's claim for damages against the archdiocese. The plaintiff, who was abused as a girl for years by her foster father, a priest, demanded over 800,000 euros for the abuse she suffered.
The court found that the acts took place in private and therefore could not be directly related to the priest's ecclesiastical office. This argument is sharply criticized by the Eckiger Tisch sufferers' initiative. She described the decision as a serious blow for everyone affected and spoke of a “disgrace for the rule of law” ( Deutschlandfunk ).
A look at the legal basis shows that the regional court ruled out the possibility of the archdiocese being held liable because the priest's actions did not take place within the scope of his function as a clergyman. This was supported by canon lawyer Stefan Mückl, who explained that the employer's liability only applies in cases that are spatially, temporally and factually related to the assigned tasks ( Cathedral radio ).
The figures on sexual assaults in the Catholic Church make the scope and urgency of the issue clear: According to a comprehensive study, over 38,000 personal files of clergy from 27 dioceses in Germany were examined between 1946 and 2014. 1,670 clergy were accused of sexual abuse of minors, and it is estimated that more than 3,600 children and young people were victims. The number of unreported cases could be even higher ( Statista ).
The discussions about the Church's responsibility in relation to these serious incidents are only just beginning, especially since the current summit of the Catholic Church in the Vatican with around 190 church representatives is discussing precisely these topics: responsibility, accountability and transparency. At a time when society is demanding more accountability from institutions, it remains to be seen how the legal framework and social perception will develop in this sensitive matter.
The verdict would not yet be final; The plaintiff has the opportunity to appeal to the Cologne Higher Regional Court. It remains to be hoped that the voices of those affected will be heard in this process and that future decisions will place greater emphasis on the need for protection and justice for victims of abuse.