Münster-based canon law expert Thomas Schüller has strongly 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 opinions. He asserted that the court failed to acknowledge Catholic doctrine and instead aligned with the Archdiocese’s legal representatives, who he claims presented a non-Catholic understanding of the priesthood.
Schüller, who has spent 40 years training priests, expressed his dismay at the court’s perspective. He stated that his teachings emphasize a complete dedication to Christ, around the clock. He found it particularly troubling that the Archdiocese’s lawyers argued for a private sphere for priests, where their actions would be beyond the scope of archdiocesan oversight.
While acknowledging that the extent of the Archdiocese of Cologne’s duty of care could be debated in the specific case, Schüller emphasized that the unique aspects of the priesthood cannot be ignored. He maintained that religious norms must be respected and integrated with state regulations.