Dutch cardinal testifies in Catholic abuse case
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dutch Cardinal Adrianus Simonis has testified he had no role in the appointment or dismissal of a Catholic priest accused of drugging and raping a young man.
The brief appearance by the 79-year-old retired archbishop of Utrecht's at Middelburg District Court marks the first time such a senior cleric has appeared in a Dutch courtroom to answer questions about abuse in the church.
The victim, Dave ten Hoor, says he was drugged and raped twice by the priest, identified only as Father Jan N., in 1989 and 1990, Ten Hoor's lawyer Martin de Witte told The Associated Press.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tuesday's hearing was not a trial.
De Witte says he is trying to find out how much church authorities knew about Father Jan's abuse to establish whether he can sue for compensation.