D
Diao Chan
Guest
German prosecutors investigate sex abuse in church
BERLIN | Fri Jan 7, 2011 3:50pm IST
BERLIN (Reuters) - German prosecutors are investigating a complaint against a Hamburg pastor for sexually abusing a woman in the pews of his church after an evening of drinking, the Hamburg state prosecutor said on Friday.
State prosecutor Wilhelm Moellers said his office had launched an investigation into the pastor after receiving a complaint from the church.
"A female adult member of the church fell asleep on a church pew after drinking alcohol and there was allegedly sexual abuse committed," Moellers said. "We're investigating the complaint of sexual abuse against a person unable to defend herself."
Bild newspaper on Friday quoted the woman, a 32-year-old member of the church executive board, as saying there had been a small party in the church after a Penance Day service in November. She said the pastor kept pouring wine in her glass.
"I wanted to go home but I wasn't feeling well," she was quoted telling Bild. "I couldn't even stand anymore. I sat down on a pew. His nose was suddenly in my face. Then he started fumbling with my pants. Later I heard him groaning."
The woman told Bild she could not remember anything else before waking up the next morning between pews on the church floor with her pants off and covered by the pastor's robe. The pastor was lying next to her, she said.
The paper said the pastor had declined to comment on the allegations.
