The Advisory Council for Affected Persons of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) sharply criticizes the abuse officer, Bishop Stephan Ackermann: Breaking the pseudonym of a person affected “results in a blatant loss of trust in the Advisory Board for Affected Persons at the DBK,” write the members in a statement. “Whatever may have motivated the Bishop of Trier to act: This behavior disqualifies the Abuse Commissioner of the German Bishops’ Conference because it violates the minimum standards for trusting cooperation.”
In March, at an event among around 40 employees in his diocese, Ackermann gave the real name of a person affected, who appears under the pseudonym “Karin Weißenfels”. Weissenfels is himself an employee of the Diocese of Trier. She accuses a deceased priest of the diocese of sexual assault and claims to have become pregnant by him. The priest and her confessor are said to have urged her to have an abortion. Weißenfels accuses the diocese of being too lenient towards the priests.
The bishop violated a shelter
Attendees at the March event were shocked that he revealed their identity, he said Trier folk friend. Ackermann is said to have said that if names are already being discussed openly, then he should also name the person involved. In addition, Weißenfels’ civil name is known to many people in the diocese. Ackermann has meanwhile issued a cease-and-desist declaration. According to the Diocese of Trier, he also personally apologized to Karin Weißenfels.
However, the twelve members of the DBK Advisory Board for those affected do not consider his behavior to be excusable: “People who are affected by sexualized violence in the area of the church must be able to rely on the fact that their personal rights are protected at all times when they turn to the institution reveal to the Church,” they write in their statement. The violation of her protective space, which the woman created through her pseudonym, represents a blatant abuse of power and renewed re-traumatization.
The fact that Ackermann is not only the local bishop of Trier and Karin Weißenfels’ superior, but also the abuse officer of the bishops’ conference, gives this approach a particular explosiveness. The Advisory Council for Affected Persons is therefore indirectly demanding Ackermann’s resignation: “At the latest in view of the situation that has now occurred, it is clear that there is an urgent need for structural and personnel reorganization in the field of abuse, processing and prevention in the German Bishops’ Conference,” they write.