Scandal in the diocese of Osnabrück: 122 clerics and 400 victims of abuse!

Von WOM

In the diocese of Osnabrück, a comprehensive study on sexual violence within the Catholic Church was presented. The investigation, which has been carried out over three years, suspected 122 clerics from 1945 to over 400 people to have exercised sexual violence. This emerges from the recent announcements by the University of Osnabrück, which has published the data of the study. Of the total of 349 identified people, there are even indications of more than 60 other cases, which indicates the complexity and the extent of the problem.

Research shows that many cases of abuse may not have been reported, which indicates a high dark field. The proportion of accused clerics amounts to around four percent-a value that corresponds to the knowledge from other dioceses, explained the legal scientist Hans Schulte-Nölke. The deeds range from minor services to severe sexual offenses, which illustrates the range of the problem.

important participation of those affected

The participation of three external abuse who supported experts and historians in creating the study is particularly noteworthy. Her insights were crucial to understand how possible abuse cases were communicated. According to Jürgen Schmiesing, project coordinator of the study, it became clear in the conducted discussions that there are often linguistic patterns that reflect an unconscious or conscious trivialization of the deeds. There is always a perpetrator-victim reversal, in which those affected are attributed to a complicity or speaks of "love relationships", which also reinforces the problem.

This type of discussion often leads to a trivialization of the deeds and reveals a deep distrust of dealing with those affected. The historian Siegrid Westphal said that the study made it possible to shed light on different facets of this problem, and it also became clear that an honest argument was necessary.

violation of the duty by the diocese

One of the most important results of the study is to confirm breaches of duty on the part of the diocese lines. For years, the church has not responded appropriately to references to sexual violence, which resulted in a culture of silence and fear. This deficit led to defense and predominantly bureaucratic communication with those affected, which also tightened the situation. These findings contributed significantly to the resignation of Bishop Franz-Josef Bode in March 2023, since those responsible in the church were unable to maintain the trust of the believers.

In the meantime, however, there are signs of change, says Schulte-Dnölke. The new bishop Dominicus Meier wants to discuss the results of the study in detail in a press conference on October 9. This could be a first step in a new direction to regain the trust of the members of the diocese and to promote more transparent and responsible culture.

The detailed study commissioned by the diocese offers a deep insight into the mechanisms and structures that have led to the creation and continued existence of this violence. It is another step towards dealing and responsibility within the Catholic Church in Germany, which is still strongly under the shadow of such scandalous incidents. The diocese of Osnabrück, which includes a good 500,000 Catholics, now has to prove that it is willing to actually change something.

For more information about the details of the study and also about the planned statement of the diocese, there is a look at the reporting, such as www.kath.ch provides you.