BishopAccountability.org
	Austrian Church Probes Priest Abuse Allegations The Metro March 11, 2011 http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/world/article/799957--austrian-church-probes-priest-abuse-allegations Austria's Catholic church says it is investigating abuse allegations against a priest. The Salzburg Archdiocese says Peter Hofer has temporarily relinquished his duties over claims by a 47-year-old woman that he repeatedly raped her in the 1980s when she was an altar girl. It says in a statement Friday that he will be suspended if proven guilty. The Austria Press Agency reports that Hofer denies the accusations but acknowledged he had a consensual sexual relationship with the woman when she was no longer a minor. Last year, Austria was hit by a series of abuse claims against clergy and employees of church-affiliated institutions such as schools.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.