Shocking revelations: Misuse scandal in the diocese of Fulda!

Shocking revelations: Misuse scandal in the diocese of Fulda!

A dark chapter that now comes to light: The final report of an independent commission for the processing of sexual violence in the diocese of Fulda has made headlines in recent weeks. According to the report, at least 120 affected people and 37 suspected perpetrators, mostly priests or chaplain, have been documented since the end of the Second World War. The Commission, which worked on her investigation for almost four years, encountered massive grievances within the church structures.

Stephan Auth, a 56-year-old representative of the advisory board in the diocese of Fulda, is one of the voices that emerged from the dark. As a 14-year-old, he had to experience how a Catholic pastor became attacked during a church leisure. Auth reports that the perpetrator was only transferred after the incident and thus came to another environment where he was attacked again. Instead of finding help and faith, Auth was ignored by the diocese; His advertisement against the pastor was not taken seriously. Only years after the incident did he find courage to speak of his experiences. He wants the church an honest examination of the incidents.

a conscious abuse of trust

The report reveals frightening facts: the Commission documented 239 verifiable criminal sexual acts, but assumes that the actual numbers are much higher. In the 80 years, which comprises the filing of the files, only 23 criminal complaints and 37 performance payments were recorded. Auth criticizes the deeply rooted clericalism in the church as a decisive factor that made it possible to act in hidden. The reactions of the HR managers also shock: often accused priests were only transferred without the reasons for this.

Bishop Michael Gerber recently apologized for the diocese's failures and announced that the press should be informed about further steps. Auth, who appeared in 1996 in the ARD show "Panorama" and the failure of the church publicly discussed, demands sustainable education and protection of victims.

Future of the processing

The independent commission has made specific suggestions for dealing with and supporting those affected. Including the establishment of a permanent body for case processing and an ombudal center for victims. These measures aim to ensure better support for those affected in dealing with and therapy. In addition, prevention and enlightenment should continue to be a priority in order to avoid such incidents in the future.

On the Protestant side, the churches also take steps to deal with. The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has announced the creation of a procedure to recognize injustice. The forum study, which is in many conversations, is completed in January 2024 and aims to analyze the structures and conditions that favor sexual violence.

Sources: hessenschau.de evangelisch.de, ordered