Kerpen (dpa / lnw) – The Catholic auxiliary bishop in the diocese of Aachen Johannes Bündgens has withdrawn an objection to a penalty order from the Kerpen district court for breach of trust in three cases. The district court announced on Wednesday that the decision was final. In July 2021, the cleric was sentenced in absentia to nine months’ imprisonment on probation and a fine of 5,000 euros. Bündgens had a criminal record, according to the court. Aachen’s Bishop Helmut This demanded personal consequences. “I call on the auxiliary bishop to now offer the Holy Father his resignation,” explained the latter.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, the 66-year-old auxiliary bishop abused the power of attorney of a wealthy widow and transferred almost 128,000 euros to his private account in December 2017 and January 2018. Bündgens bought an apartment building in Aachen with this money. He repaid the sum, the widow has since died. According to the diocese, Bündgens has had his offices suspended since the allegations became known in 2019. Several media reported.
After the trial in the summer of 2021, his lawyer had stated that one should assume that his client was innocent. A new hearing at the district court was scheduled for Friday. After the objection has been withdrawn, the appointment is cancelled.
The diocese of Aachen stated that, in order to rule out any further burden caused by the resulting loss of trust, Bündgens would not perform any episcopal duties in the diocese until further notice. Since December 2019, the auxiliary bishop has not celebrated any public services there.
