Dispute in the diocese of Chur: young Catholic feels threatened

Maria has a temporary job in the communications department of the Zurich cantonal church. She spoke with Nicole Büchel (46), spokeswoman for Bishop Joseph Bonnemain (74).

There are two versions of the conversation. Maria says: “The spokeswoman said I had made myself unbearable with a comment.” Because Maria had criticized the cases of abuse in the Catholic Church in a church newsletter and had shown understanding for leaving the church.

Employee felt uncomfortable

In addition, the spokeswoman for the diocese would have given the German author instructions. She is “very well connected in the Swiss church and also in the Swiss media world. She made it very clear to me that she would personally make sure that I never found a job in either area.”

That is in a memo written by Maria. Maria says she felt threatened: «I have never experienced such an attempt at intimidation. The fact that something like this is happening in the church environment shocks and deeply hurts me.”

Petra Zermin (60) is responsible for human resources in the canton church of Zurich. She overheard the conversation. “I don’t know what was said. But I saw the bishop’s spokeswoman talking to our co-worker. Our co-worker was visibly uncomfortable. My approach interrupted the conversation.”

Another version tells the bishop’s spokeswoman, “Right at the beginning of our conversation, the communications officer asked me for my opinion on her comment.” She told her honestly what she thought of the reactions of conservative Catholics. “I can’t judge whether she was hoping for a different assessment from me.”

Allegations are absurd

According to Nicole Büchel it was “a constructive, factual and informal conversation between two colleagues at a city festival”. She “strongly denies threatening the communications officer in any way”. The allegations are “baseless and defamatory”.

It is not the first time that the Büchel government has been criticized. In 2022, she allegedly threatened another Zurich employee with dismissal. There is an internal complaint, Büchel contradicts: “Since I am not your manager, I have no authority or other powers. The allegations are absurd.” When she took office, she tried to clarify the powers between Chur and Zurich.

Zurich’s top Catholic, Raphael Meyer, 42, supports Zurich’s staff, saying: “I discuss such matters directly with the bishop and not in public. I do not accept any form of harassment, whether directed at our staff or at other people.”

What does Bishop Joseph Bonnemain say? When he took office, he promised a “church free from fear”. The bishop could not be reached by SonntagsBlick. He is on holiday in Calabria.

*Name changed