Nearly 200 members of the priesthood have committed nearly 6,000 abuses, according to a new report from the University of Münster.
Researchers believe that the true number of victims could be much higher due to unreported incidents, the reporter’s author said at a press conference outlining their findings on Monday. Said.
Felix Genn, Bishop of Münster, who was appointed to his position in 2008, said he would receive college findings on Monday and issue an official statement on Friday.
CNN individually asked the Vatican for comment.
Historian Natalie Pobroznik, who was involved in the investigation, accused the priest of abusing victims on average twice a week, but said the number could be higher.
“Three-quarters of the victims were boys between the ages of 10 and 14,” Powroznik said. Victims were associated with the church through altar server services, church youth camps, or during the receipt of the Holy Sacraments.
Researchers have also been aware of widespread abuse by parish bishops for decades, but failed to act, repeatedly using abusive clergy in pastors, and further action taking place. Claims to have made it possible.
According to the survey, only 12% of the suspects were removed. A common practice dealing with clerics involved in abuse was to advise them or have them stay in a monastery for a short period of time, but most of the accused abusers were sent to another parish where they continued their crimes. rice field.
Today, they added that about 50 of the accused priests are still alive.
The study also found that 43% of the victims interviewed reported strong physical violence and had to have psychological “substantial consequences” such as anxiety disorders and depression. Historians also pointed out several suicide attempts among victims allegedly caused by abuse.
The new report is the latest in the allegations of the legacy of child sexual abuse that has spread in the German Catholic Church in recent years.
Source: www.cnn.com
