Pastor von Brigels wants to live a public relationship

Brigels GR, 16.7.18 (kath.ch) Brigels' pastor, Marcel Köhle, resigned due to a relationship with a woman. In the meantime, Bishop Vitus Huonder has already accepted his resignation. The pastor of the parish, Sep Cathomas, regrets the departure and Gabriella Loser Friedli, the founder of Zöfra, underlines the uncertain financial future in such cases.

Fabio Paulitti

The Catholic priest Marcel Köhle (born in 1983) July, announced his resignation, as stated in the statement of the parish of Brigels. As a reason Köhle said in his farewell speech to have met a woman with whom he wants to live the relationship in public. The constant confrontation with the promise of celibacy and the question of what he wanted in his life led to this decision. Köhle took office at Brigels last year.

The bishop of Chur Vitus Huonder accepted the pastor's resignation with immediate effect, as stated in a diocesan press release. Previously, the bishop had talks with Köhle and was responsible for the Vicar General of Graubünden Andreas Fuchs. In the message the bishop announced that he regrets the decision Köhles. The personal circumstances that led to the decision of the clergy are not commented on by the diocese.

An unexpected departure

For Sep Cathomas, president of the parish Brigels, the resignation came unexpectedly, as he explains in his message. But he brings a lot of understanding to Köhle and thanks for his service in the community.

Cathomas goes on to say that it will no longer be possible to maintain the existing pastoral disposition in the parish. But he announced accompanying measures. These were only temporary and made in collaboration with pastors and pastoral assistants of the parish

No more pastor for Brigels?

In the long run, Cathomas says on request. He is afraid of finding no priest for his parish. Other parishes in the vicinity of Brigels would find only priests in their old age or no pastor. It is now scheduled to meet with General Vicar Fuchs, in which a long-term solution for Brigels is sought.

Köhle is, according to Cathomas, for two weeks of vacation. Subsequently, his name will no longer appear on the parish's payroll. Financial security after his release had not been discussed yet. However, this happens in a conversation with Marcel Köhle.

Double criticism of celibacy

In the opinion of the parish of Brigels, President Cathomas also criticizes celibacy. This is a problem that should not be postponed by the Catholic Church. The constraint to celibacy prevents more and more young men from becoming priests.

Gabriella Loser Friedli, the founder of the association "Women Affected by Celibacy" (ZöFra), regrets the resignation of Köhler, as she said on request. It is unfortunate that the Catholic Church has again lost a person with a lot of skills. She explains that it is difficult for priests to secure themselves financially after an exemption because the church does not provide for such a case of celibacy failure.

Former priests also could not count on state unemployment benefits. Because if you caused the loss of the job itself, you may receive only limited unemployment benefits. However, according to Loser Friedli, it is up to the bishop responsible to bring the lay priest back to the service of the church.