Abuse Officers
Kerstin Claus: Church must end backroom politics
Abuse commissioner Kerstin Claus criticizes the way the Protestant Church deals with those affected by sexual violence. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
A study on sexual violence in the Protestant church documents at least 2,225 people affected. Abuse commissioner Kerstin Claus calls for binding rules for recognition payments.
The federal government’s abuse commissioner, After thousands of cases of sexual violence in the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD) became known, Kerstin Claus spoke out in favor of binding rules for recognition payments. “Whether the abuse they experienced can ever be remedied – and if so, how, only those affected can decide for themselves,” Claus told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
“I think it’s very good that the Hessian regional church has set a basic amount of 20,000 euros for those affected by abuse, in many places it is only 5,000 euros. What is important is that transparency and liability must now be created in the recognition payments, which is mandatory for all regional churches. “
Study just “tip of the tip of the iceberg”?
A study presented last week on sexual violence in the Protestant church documents at least 2,225 victims and 1,259 suspected perpetrators over the past few decades. The head of the study spoke of the “tip of the tip of the iceberg”.
Claus criticized the way the EKD dealt with those affected. “The study makes it clear that the cases of abuse in the Protestant Church are not isolated cases. But that is exactly what those affected were always told by the church.” It is frightening that the church is still resisting reporting points, external offers of help and education, “because those responsible allegedly feel that they are under general suspicion.”
The church needs the independent reporting offices and ombudsman offices that are clearly recommended by the researchers and have long been requested by those affected. “The Evangelical Church is withdrawing when it comes to dealing with sexual violence in church committees, a lot remains in the dark for the public. This is backroom politics and the church has to say goodbye to it,” said Claus.