Georg Müller (Catholic bishop)
Georg Müller, SS.CC. (7 June 1951 – 25 October 2015) was the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of Trondheim, which encompasses central sections of Norway, from 1988 to 1997.
Biography
Müller was born in Volkesfeld, Germany. He completed his early education in Lahnstein am Rhein in 1971.[1] He made his simple vows with the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, known as the Arnsteiner Fathers, on 28 July 1972, and completed his training at the order's theological seminary in 1977. He was ordained to the priesthood on 18 March 1978 in Simpelveld in the Netherlands by his predecessor in Trondheim Bishop Gerhard Schwenzer . He completed his university education at the University of Münster in 1981.[2]
He began his pastoral work in Trondheim in 1981 as a parish priest, became vicar general in 1984, and a parish pastor in 1997.[1] Pope John Paul II named him Apostolic Administrator of Trondheim on 9 February 1988 and then Prelate of Trondheim on 20 June 1997.[2] He received his episcopal consecration there on 28 July 1997 from Cardinal Edward Cassidy.[2] As leader of the church in Trondheim he was successful in recruiting sisters from several orders to work in Norway.[1]
Sexual abuse
On 7 April 2010 the Norwegian daily newspaper
In an interview with Byavisa, a local Trondheim newspaper, in August 2013, Müller denied there had been any abuse. He said that his departure from Trondheim was misinterpreted as an admission of guilt when he had only left to avoid the media. He said a German clinic in Osnabrück had confirmed that he was never a pedophile. Müller had sought without success to retract his statements before publication. The newspaper also reported that he appeared not to be supervised in any way, despite the Vatican's commitment that he would be.[10] Bishop Eidsvig said Müller's statement showed bad judgment and that Müller had confessed in 2009. He doubted Müller would attempt to have the Vatican rehabilitate him.[11]
In retirement he lived at his order's residences, first in Rome and then in Münster. He died in Münster on 25 October 2015. The obituary published online by his order did not mention the reasons for his resignation. It said that "he bore his suffering with composure and patience".[1][12]
Muller was not replaced in Trondheim until 2019. Bishop Eidsvig was named Apostolic Administrator when Muller's resignation was accepted in 2009 and he served until 2019 when Erik Varden was nominated as his successor.
See also
- Catholic Church sex abuse cases
References
- ^ a b c d "Nachruf Georg Müller SSCC". Arnsteiner Patres (in German). October 2015.
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(help) - ^ a b c "Georg Müller". Den katolske kirke (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Corrected: Norwegian bishop who resigned in 2009 was abuser". Reuters. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ a b Wiegand, Ralf (9 April 2010). "Ex-Bischof fliegt nach Missbrauch auf". Süddeutshce Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ a b c "Biskop tilsto sexovergrep mot altergutt". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 7 April 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (7 April 2010). "Abuse Case Forced Bishop in Norway to Quit in '09". New York Times. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ "Church: Norway Bishop Resigned over Sex Abuse". CBS News. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ Bajoghli, Sæba (3 May 2010). "Overgrepsoffer takker kirken". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ "Disgraced bishop still holding mass". New in English from Norway. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Müller hevder han aldri tilsto overgrep". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 20 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ Baumberger, Berit (20 August 2013). "Viser Müllers dårlige dømmekraft". Adresseavisen (Interview) (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ "Georg Müller er død". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 26 October 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2018.