The figure refers to the years 2022 to 2024, as the archdiocese announced.
In addition, according to the financial report 2024, a total of 8.2 million euros were placed in the reserves for the compensation of those affected by abuse and for possible recourse claims of the statutory accident insurance.
According to Chief Financial Officer Gordon Sobbeck, the payments for those affected by abuse continue to come from church tax funds.
To raise the funds, properties of the archdiocese were sold, which had not been paid for from church tax funds.
Meanwhile, according to the information, a previously used fund is used, which fed from contributions from priests and which was personally available to the Cologne Archbishop Rainer Maria Woelki.
Plausibility check or evidence
The Episcopal Conference had at 1. January 2021 a system for the voluntary payments of the Church set up in recognition of the suffering.
The Independent Commission for Reprocessing (UKA) is above the level.
Unlike in court, the panel does not require evidence, but only examines the plausibility of the descriptions.
The Commission has instructed nearly 77 million euros for those affected nationwide by the end of 2024.
In addition, some people affected by abuse have successfully won pain money in court.
In 2023, the Cologne Regional Court had awarded a man a pain allowance of 300,000 euros in a landmark judgment.
Primary or voluntary employees of churches who have experienced sexualized violence in their activities can also claim benefits from the statutory accident insurance – including pensions.
The Administrative Association (VBG) announced in the summer that it is trying to recover paid money from the churches.