It is possibly the most meaningful press conference in this case because particularly little is said at it. Actually, it’s not even a press conference. The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising invites you to a “press statement” on Thursday afternoon – inquiries are expressly not intended. Only the weather sets the events inside the Munich Carmelite Church in the limelight, in a biblical way. It hailed and thundered, a winter storm descended before Cardinal Reinhard Marx stepped up to the microphone to comment on the results of the long-awaited report by the Westpfahl Spilker Wastl law firm.
The experts had already presented their results in the morning. 1000 pages that not only document the sexual abuse of minors in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. In view of the facts, one no longer wants to gain basic knowledge, said expert Marion Westpfahl. Rather, the study sheds light on the culture of cover-up and looking the other way. For decades, those responsible have put the protection of the church above the suffering of the victims. It is “also and especially about individual guilt,” says Westpfahl. A concept that Catholic clergy should be very familiar with. But there seems to be a world of difference between theology and practice. Cardinal Marx was specifically invited to the Chancellery’s press conference, a real press conference. He declined, however, in favor of a separate statement at the Carmelite Church.
One wants to first read and analyze the results thoroughly, with these words a spokesman for the diocese justifies the statement on a smaller scale before Marx takes the floor. In a week they want to face the questions of the public in another press conference. Introspection, advice, looking ahead – Cardinal Marx also sticks to this route in his short speech. His first thought is for the victims of sexual abuse by church officials. What happened to them “shook” him and changed his perception of the church. The expressions of sympathy and bewilderment are repeatedly interrupted by a soft sniffle, while Marx, who seems to be ailing, wipes his nose with a handkerchief. The archdiocese must now evaluate the results of the report in order to discuss and implement further changes in the church after 2010.
At that time, eleven years ago, a first report on cases of abuse had been completed. But unlike the new report, it was never made public, ostensibly for privacy reasons. To this day it lies in a safe in the Munich office. With the exception of the authors, only Cardinal Marx and his closest circle in the archdiocese know the content. Likewise, only this small group of people knows whether and to what extent the report has led to changes on which the second report can now be built. In any case, this draws a completely different picture of the supposed change of heart of the Catholic Church in Munich and the Archbishop who presides over it. Marx handed over responsibility for processing the cases of abuse to the Vicariate General. As archbishop he only felt responsible for spiritual matters. As under his predecessors, including Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now known as Benedict XVI. Emeritus Pope, under Marx the problem was not a top priority for a long time. Only in 2018, eight years after the completion of the first report, did his attitude change.
Another four years later, Cardinal Marx speaks of nothing less than a “renewal of the church” and thus concludes his statement in the Carmelite Church. Together you have to work out reforms and take on harmful power structures. He always refers to groups: the church, the diocese, the general vicariate must act. What about the “individual guilt” that the lawyers behind the new report are concerned with? Cardinal Marx speaks in the Carmelite Church of a “joint responsibility” that he bears. He asks for an apology, not for personal mistakes, but “on behalf of the diocese”. The press statement is over in less than five minutes. It is unlikely to have any effect on the proverbial storm surrounding the results of the abuse study. But at least the hailstorm outside the gates has subsided. Thick snowflakes trickle softly against the walls of the church.