As of: 01/20/2022 6:24 p.m
After the report on cases of sexualized violence in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, critics are calling for consistent action against abuse in the Catholic Church.
The Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse, Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig, accused the Catholic Church of “cold pragmatism” in the Funke media group’s newspapers. “The report has once again revealed the heartless, consistent protection of institutions that has been practiced by the Catholic Church for decades.” Even after ten years as an abuse officer, he was almost speechless.
I am continually amazed at the decades of cold pragmatism the church has tried to use to steer away abuse.
He rated it positively that the experts on the cases of abuse in the Catholic Church had emphasized the need for a “protected space” for those affected.
The President of the Central Committee of German Catholics, Irme Stetter-Karp, called for consistent action against abuse in the Catholic Church. “Those responsible have not taken their responsibility seriously,” said the president of the largest representation of Catholic lay people. The report would have to be followed by consequences that “do justice to the dramatic situation”.
“We are Church” calls for an admission of guilt
The movement “We are Church” called for the emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. to face up to his responsibility for cases of abuse. Benedict XVI According to the report, during his time as Archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982, he did not take sufficient action against abusers in four cases. “His personal admission of guilt for his actions or inaction at the time would be an urgently needed act and at the same time a great role model for other bishops and those in positions of responsibility worldwide,” the organization said. At the same time, “Wir sind Kirche” warned against looking at the investigation only with a view to the role of Joseph Ratzinger.