Sexual violence against children and young people has occurred in the Protestant Church to a greater extent than previously assumed. A team of researchers commissioned by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) presented their study, which reported at least 2,225 people affected and 1,259 suspected perpetrators. However, that is only the “tip of the tip of the iceberg”.
This is the first comprehensive study on sexualized violence in the Protestant Church and in diakonia. The representative of those affected, Detlev Zander, expects an “earthquake,” as he says. The illusion that large-scale cases of sexual violence only occurred in the Catholic Church is “no longer tenable as of today.” Zander is a member of the Sexual Violence Participation Forum in the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). He also takes part in the press conference on the so-called “ForuM” study.
Figures on the frequency of abuse of children and young people with church employees as perpetrators were eagerly awaited. For this purpose, the regional churches and the Diakonie made files available to the research association. As was previously known, the scientists were not allowed to evaluate the personal files of all pastors and deacons, but primarily disciplinary files. They did not see cases that were covered up and not prosecuted for disciplinary action. This means that only the “tip of the iceberg” becomes visible, criticized Zander.
“We are talking about a bright field and we are also talking about a large dark field,” said an EKD spokesman before publication. The number of cases is likely to increase; He also expects that other affected people will come forward.
The “ForuM” study was initiated and financed by the EKD in 2020. It should analyze typically Protestant structures that promote violence and abuse of power. As an umbrella organization of 20 regional churches, the EKD represents around 19 million Christians nationwide.
A comprehensive study on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church was presented in 2018, the so-called MHG study. After evaluating almost 40,000 personnel files from the years 1945 to 2014, 1,670 Catholic priests and deacons were accused, to whom 3,677 children and young people could be assigned as those affected. The scientists called this “a lower estimate.” However, the two studies are hardly comparable – on the one hand because the Catholic Church submitted all the personnel files, so the data basis was different. On the other hand, the MHG study only examined the actions of priests, deacons and male religious. The “ForuM” study also looked at the employees of Diakonie, i.e. all church aid organizations in Germany, as well as volunteers in the Protestant regional churches.