Two Clergy Members Sentenced for Financial Misconduct in Separate Cases

A Catholic priest in Trier and a former Protestant pastor in Hildesheim were given suspended sentences for embezzlement and fraud involving church funds.

• A Catholic priest from the Diocese of Trier was sentenced to a suspended prison term of one year and nine months for embezzling approximately €130,000 from parish accounts between 2019 and 2023.
• The priest admitted to misusing church funds for personal purposes and has partially repaid the stolen amount; his conviction includes 107 counts of breach of trust.
• The Diocese of Trier removed the priest from his duties in late 2023; the diocese serves over 1.2 million Catholics across Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.
• Separately, a former Protestant pastor in Hildesheim received an 11-month suspended sentence for submitting 44 falsified invoices and receipts between 2012 and 2016, defrauding the church of over €44,000.
• The ex-pastor cited financial strain due to personal and family medical issues as a motive for the fraud; he has repaid the stolen funds and apologized for his actions.

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