Monday, February 17, 2014

Limburg Report Provides for New Speculations

According to a preliminary report of the "Spiegel" the investigation report is be delivered on Wednesday  at the same time it will go to Pope Francis and to the chairman of the German Bishops Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch,

Hamburg / Limburg (kath.net / KNA) New speculations on the investigation report on the construction of the Bishops residence on the Limburg Cathedral Hill. According to a previous report by  "Spiegel" published  Sunday, it will be given to Pope Francis and to the chairman of the German Bishops Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch   at the same time on Wednesday. The Pope will not let the matter lie long, said the boulevard magazine, citing unnamed sources in the Vatican Secretariat of State.

The report, prepared under the chairmanship of Paderborn Auxiliary Bishop Manfred Grothe, is an important step in view of the further employment of the Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst.  This criticism was partly because of the cost of the Episcopal House of at least 31 million Euros. Tebartz van Elst is believed to be  currently, indefinitely outside of his diocese pending the Pope's decision.

 As "Spiegel" reported further, Tebartz van Elst has made a statement through his lawyer already that "extensive comments" elaborate on the allegations. The report itself will, however, will not contain comments on the evaluation,  it said.

The spokesman of the German Bishops Conference, Matthias Kopp, interviewed by  the magazine  the Catholic News Agency (KNA) with the words, "for the next few weeks"  there will be an "aggreement to the procedure for inspection and discussion of the report , which should take account of all interests fair statement," by the German Council of Bishops.  For this reason, they will not engage in speculation about timelines or content.

When and how the diocese of Limburg should be informed about the discussions at the Vatican on the report, according to diocese spokesman Stefan Schnelle is still open. "I hope we get the report available for inspection prior to publication, so that we can make an interpretation," said Schnelle to KNA.  First, however, it's Rome's turn. 



At the current whereabouts of Tebartz van Elst he could not say anything, the spokesman said. The bishop had retired to await the decision of the Pope in the Lower Bavarian Benedictine Monastery of Metten, but he has returned often in the past back to his Diocese.  In the middle of Janaury, he made a "purely private visit" to Rome.


You can get a look at the Bishop's residence. The bone of contention as it were. Tour of the diocesan center of St. Nicholas in Limburg - Amateur video from 05.09.2013 locally






 (C) 2013 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH.All rights reserved. Limburg Cathedral Hill Photo (c) Diocese of Limburg

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