Nuncio Sent to Defuse Limburg Row

The Tablet
September 12, 2013

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/5652

The Vatican has sent Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, a former nuncio to Germany, to investigate a "destructive crisis of trust" between the Bishop of Limburg and priests and parishioners in his diocese.

Clergy and laity have accused Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of lying, narcissism and squandering church money since he was appointed bishop six years ago. Tensions came to head last month when a large number of priests in his diocese used their Sunday homilies to criticise what they described as his authoritarian manner. Telbartz-van Elst was sent a petition with 4,500 signatures calling for more communication and transparency, especially regarding the renovation costs to the episcopal palace, which are said to be ˆ15 million.

The dean of Frankfurt, Fr Johannes zu Eltz, told the Cologne daily Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger on Monday that he would inform Cardinal Lajolo that the diocese was "in a far-reaching, destructive crisis of trust" and that he thought the bishop could no longer carry out his duties.

At the end of August, Bishop Tebartz-van Elst said he would answer all questions put to him.