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Bishop Stephan Ackermann
Photo: Harald Tittel / dpa
The Bishop of Trier, Stephan Ackermann, has been sentenced to pay 20,000 euros in compensation for pain and suffering to an employee of the Diocese of Trier who was traumatized by abuse. It was undisputed that the bishop had given the real name of the woman known under the pseudonym Karin Weißenfels in a video conference in March 2022 with diocesan employees, said Judge Kathrin Thum on Wednesday at the Trier Labor Court. In doing so, Ackermann had caused "a considerable impact on the personal interests" of the woman. The verdict is not yet final.
An amicable settlement in advance to settle the dispute had failed. The court had ordered the personal appearance of the bishop for the appointment on Wednesday. However, he did not appear and instead sent the lawyer of the diocese with power of attorney. "This is a completely normal procedural process," said the bishop's lawyer, Christoph Legerlotz, in justification. The plaintiff's lawyer, Oliver Stegmann, described the bishop's non-appearance as "disappointing".
The woman had stated in her lawsuit that she had been retraumatized by the mention of her true name by Bishop Ackermann. Ackermann then apologized to the woman and signed a cease-and-desist letter. About 30 years ago, the woman had been sexually exploited by her pastor for years as a parish employee. When she became pregnant, she was pressured to have an abortion.
lmd/dpa