- Aid for victims of sexual violence: Church council takes stock
The Advisory Board for Victims of Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Freiburg, which assists victims of sexual violence within the diocese, has drawn a critical conclusion after three years in office. "Sometimes we expected more interest and support from Church authorities for our concerns," the independent body told the German Press Agency in Freiburg. However, there were also positive aspects. The board was able to shape its work freely.
The board is currently only acting in a temporary capacity, as its regular term ended on June 30. The diocese has already announced that new members are being sought. The call for applications is still open until September 15. The advisory board currently has four members, two men and two women.
A report published in April 2021 about sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of Freiburg caused a stir. The authors concluded that the tenure of former Archbishop Robert Zollitsch until 2013 was marked by concrete acts of cover-up. Zollitsch also headed the German Bishops' Conference from February 2008 to March 2014.
The Advisory Board demanded consequences
"We are disappointed that almost none of our demands raised after the publication of the report have been addressed so far," the Advisory Board concluded. The impact of the cover-up on the affected people has not been thoroughly investigated, according to the criticism. Victims of sexual abuse were not believed for decades in some cases - a point the board had already criticized last year.
With around 1.6 million Catholics, the Archdiocese in the southwest is one of the largest of the 27 dioceses in Germany. Its territory stretches from the Odenwald in the north, across the Rhine plain and the Black Forest, to Lake Constance.
The German Press Agency in Freiburg reported on the Advisory Board's criticism, stating, "The Advisory Board for Victims of Sexual Abuse expressed disappointment that their demands following the April 2021 report on clergy sexual abuse have not been fully addressed." Additionally, the board mentioned that they believe the impact of the cover-up on the victims has not been adequately investigated by the Church authorities.
