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German female bishop drove drunk | German female bishop drove drunk |
(30 minutes later) | |
The head of Germany's Protestant church has admitted drink-driving, after she was charged with passing a red light while three times over the legal limit. | The head of Germany's Protestant church has admitted drink-driving, after she was charged with passing a red light while three times over the legal limit. |
Bishop Margot Kaessmann, appointed the church's first female leader last year, was arrested in Hanover at the weekend. | Bishop Margot Kaessmann, appointed the church's first female leader last year, was arrested in Hanover at the weekend. |
She told Germany's Bild newspaper: "I am shocked at myself that I could have made such a grave error." | She told Germany's Bild newspaper: "I am shocked at myself that I could have made such a grave error." |
Leaders of the 25 million-strong church are discussing how the incident affects the 51-year-old's official position. | Leaders of the 25 million-strong church are discussing how the incident affects the 51-year-old's official position. |
Ms Kaessmann, who became the first bishop in Germany to divorce in 2007, allegedly drove her VW Phaeton through a red light in central Hanover on Saturday night while "completely unfit to drive". | Ms Kaessmann, who became the first bishop in Germany to divorce in 2007, allegedly drove her VW Phaeton through a red light in central Hanover on Saturday night while "completely unfit to drive". |
The mother of four daughters told Bild: "I know how dangerous and irresponsible drink-driving is. I will of course assume the legal consequences." | The mother of four daughters told Bild: "I know how dangerous and irresponsible drink-driving is. I will of course assume the legal consequences." |
Courted controversy | Courted controversy |
Ms Kaessmann faces a fine of a month's salary and a one-year driving ban. | Ms Kaessmann faces a fine of a month's salary and a one-year driving ban. |
The breast cancer survivor, who leads the Protestant Lutheran Church in Germany, became her country's youngest bishop in 1999. | |
This is not the first time Ms Kaessmann has made the headlines. | This is not the first time Ms Kaessmann has made the headlines. |
She irritated senior politicians by calling for the withdrawal of German troops from Afghanistan, in a sermon on New Year's Day. | She irritated senior politicians by calling for the withdrawal of German troops from Afghanistan, in a sermon on New Year's Day. |
She has also criticised Catholic teachings on homosexuality, the ordination of women and celibacy. | |
The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Berlin says it is not just the Protestant church in Germany that faces controversy. | The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Berlin says it is not just the Protestant church in Germany that faces controversy. |
On Monday, the head of Germany's Catholic Church apologised for the growing number of sexual abuse cases that are coming to light at Jesuit high schools across the country. | On Monday, the head of Germany's Catholic Church apologised for the growing number of sexual abuse cases that are coming to light at Jesuit high schools across the country. |