A canon of the diocese of Basel previously reacted incorrectly as an official to a report of abuse by a victim. Nevertheless, he is to be given the title of “Honorary Canon” by Bishop Felix Gmür. The Lucerne lawyer Loris Fabrizio Mainardi is demanding that he renounce this title.
Regula Pfeifer
On Tuesday evening, Loris Fabrizio Mainardi asked the canon in question to decline the appointment as honorary canon as a sign of respect for the abuse victim with the pseudonym Denise Nussbaumer.
Do not increase reputational damage
“In doing so, you would not allow the damage already done to the reputation of the diocese – and thus of the Church – to become even greater and, moreover, you would be setting a sign of true ‘honour’,” writes Mainardi in the relevant email.
The Lucerne lawyer Loris Fabrizio Mainardi
When asked why he is doing this, Mainardi explains to kath.ch: “Because Bishop Gmür is not fulfilling his task.” It is his task, in consultation with the cathedral chapter, to appoint honorary canons.
Bishop has discretion
Whether or not to do so is at his discretion. The chapter statute states: “As a rule, this honor is bestowed on resigned canons.” This is “legally a clear grant of discretion,” says the Lucerne lawyer.
He criticises: «Gmür arbitrarily makes this an automatism by only refraining from awarding the title of honorary canon ‘if the relevant canons expressly do not want this’.»
“The awarding of the honorary title further humiliates and mocks the abuse victim DN.”
According to Mainardi, such a title award is not only outdated. It “humiliates and mocks the abuse victim DN even further. This has nothing to do with a credible church.”
Criticism of Bishop Gmür
Mainardi wrote to kath.ch that the planned honorary appointment shocked him. He explained his activity by saying that he has been a member of the Catholic Church since childhood. He added in parentheses that he was fortunately not a victim of abuse himself.
He criticized Bishop Felix Gmür’s “cover-up behavior in several cases of abuse” and called on him to offer his resignation to the Pope.
Kath.ch asked the canon what he had to say about this. He did not comment himself, but informed the communications officer of the Diocese of Basel, Barbara Melzl. She announced that she might respond early next week.
© Catholic Media Center, 30.08.2024
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