Church temporarily suspends services led by Pastor Martin Weber
In recent developments, church official Pastor Martin Weber has found himself at the centre of a series of allegations, causing delays and disruptions in various church projects.
The first allegations, dating back 20 years, were resurfaced concerning Weber's ex-wife and their shared daughter. These accusations, however, were discontinued due to unknown reasons. A second set of allegations, concerning financial irregularities, surfaced in 2022, but a trial did not occur due to the lack of concrete evidence.
In response to these allegations, Pastor Sabine Arzberger, who has been a key figure in the church, can no longer perform her work, and the parish secretary has been ill for several months. The church has taken a precautionary measure in the form of a provisional suspension for Weber, which does not determine the evaluation or truth of the allegations but is a step taken in the field of service law regarding pending allegations.
The allegations have caused delays in several church projects, including the renovation of the Friedenskirche in Bad Wiessee, the church kindergarten in Kreuth, the future of the parish centers in Bad Wiessee and Tegernsee, and the move of the parish office and kindergarten in Tegernsee to new premises.
In an attempt to address these matters, Weber spoke about the allegations in a parish newsletter in February, portraying himself as a victim of a targeted campaign. However, the exact state authority or public prosecutor's office investigating Weber remains unspecified.
The answering machine at the Tegernsee parish office refers to the deanery in Bad Tölz, but there was only an answering machine there as well, indicating a lack of immediate communication channels.
The church has emphasised that the measures taken are aimed at protecting all parties involved and ensuring a legally ordered course of the proceedings. The further actions of the church will depend on the results of the proceedings and state reviews.
These developments have undoubtedly caused a ripple effect within the church community, and the church is working diligently to ensure a fair and transparent resolution to the allegations. The church community and the public await the outcomes of the investigations with great interest.
