Process - Court decides on compensation for pain and suffering from Aachen diocese
In several civil lawsuits regarding sexual misconduct by Catholic clergy, the District Court of Aachen will announce judgments today (starting at 10 am). The three plaintiffs have sued the Diocese of Aachen for compensation. The 12th Civil Chamber of the Court had suggested a friendly settlement through a compromise payment by the Diocese in each case during an oral hearing in mid-May. At least in one case, the parties had informed the court that they wished for a settlement.
The court had proposed ending each procedure through a compromise payment. According to the proposal of the 12th Civil Chamber, the Diocese should pay 110,000 Euro, 100,000 Euro, and in a third case between 20,000 and 25,000 Euro. All cases date back several decades.
The plaintiffs have sued the Diocese for payments in the hundreds of thousands of Euros. All of them have already received compensation from the Independent Commission for Compensation of the German Bishops' Conference in different amounts. An agreement would have several advantages: Lengthy court proceedings through the instances would be avoided. Additionally, there would be no need to decide on expiration.
The plaintiffs allege that they have suffered abuse at the hands of men within the Church, prompting the lawsuits against the Diocese of Aachen. The proposed compromise payments by the Diocese for pain and suffering range from 110,000 to 25,000 Euros. The processes in North Rhine-Westphalia's District Court of Aachen, specifically in the 12th Civil Chamber, are set to conclude today, potentially resulting in settlements. The Church has previously offered compensation through the Independent Commission for Compensation of the German Bishops' Conference, despite ongoing civil proceedings.
