Berne
The officiant of a small town slammed the door of his parish. He had defied the ban on accepting a legacy from one of his former followers.
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Only one year from his retirement and after six years in office in the parish of Walkringen, near Bern, Pastor Peter Raich resigned to everyone’s surprise. He had little other choice, having accepted the inheritance of a person whom he had accompanied, within the framework of his former assignment, in a home for the elderly in Berlingen (TG).
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The rules are the rules
However, this situation puts him in contravention of the rules of the Church, which prohibits “the acceptance of gifts, including an inheritance, if this is or could be related to his position”.
In a letter quoted by the daily “Berner Zeitung”, the president of the parish council, Lisbeth Zogg, explains that the departure of the pastor was inevitable: “A priest should not give the impression that he prefers someone in his life. pastoral work for personal gain. His duty is to treat everyone the same. ” Lisbeth Zogg recognizes that this abrupt departure caused a shock among the parishioners, who are struggling to understand how this affair concerning another municipality prevents her from carrying out her current ministry.
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The pastor explains himself
For his part, Peter Raich gives no information on the amount of the inheritance. However, he asserts that he is in no way linked to his involvement in the Thurgovian EMS. If he wants to accept it, it is above all “for moral reasons”. Moreover, the pastor does not exclude continuing his pastoral activity outside the Bernese National Church. “I must first conduct my self-examination before knowing if I want or if I can do this,” he adds.
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No donations or gifts
Pastors are not the only ones who cannot accept donations from their parishioners. Such a ban is frequent in labor relations under public law, explains Adrian Hauser, spokesperson for the Bernese National Church. These restrictions expressly apply to cantonal officials, for example. They are also obliged to refuse gifts if their value exceeds 200 francs.
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