Religious institution - More victims claim serious mistreatment by former bishop
More individuals have come forward with allegations of severe sexual abuse against the late former Bishop of Hildesheim, Heinrich Maria Janssen. These victims were aged eight to twelve during the time of the alleged incidents, as stated by the diocese. The deceased bishop is now the first in Germany to face such accusations.
New reports suggest that the incidents occurred throughout various years, both within and beyond Hildesheim diocese. However, the diocese opted to remain vague on specific details, citing the need to safeguard the victims. These individuals had turned to independent experts familiar with suspicions of sexual misconduct within the diocese. The predominantly independent advisory board on sexual abuse in the diocese of Hildesheimer, deemed the allegations reliable.
The current Bishop of Hildesheim, Heiner Wilmer, expressed shock and disbelief. "I'm sending my thoughts to those enduring the atrocities committed against them," he stated, along with adding that he'd sought out advice from his advisors. Auxiliary Bishop Heinz-Günter Bongartz further commented on the potential reburial of Janssen from his resting place in Hildesheim Cathedral, "We're now investigating whether such a relocation is possible." A notice containing the accusations against Janssen has been fastened in front of his recently closed tomb.
In light of the first claims of sexual abuse against Janssen that surfaced in 2015 and 2018, a previous inquiry couldn't uncover any further wrongdoings. The diocese had commissioned another analysis in March to unearth cases of sexual violence between 1945 and 2024. The three recent cases are to be considered if the victims authorize their inclusion in this ongoing study.
The current investigation is the third one the diocese has conducted on sexual violence. Hildesheim's Bishop, Wilmer, shared during the announcement, "There have been instances of sexualized crimes in the Hildesheim diocese for decades." The diocese spans across large areas of Lower Saxony and Bremen. It is home to roughly 538,000 Catholics and Catholic women.
