Catholic Church - Study on abuse in the Archdiocese of Bamberg launched
The University of Greifswald has initiated a study on cases of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Bamberg. This research project is being led by Stefan Harrendorf, a criminologist and criminal lawyer from the University of Greifswald, criminal psychologists from the Psychological University of Berlin, and an independent commission for the handling of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Bamberg, according to the University of Greifswald.
The study, which is scheduled to last for two and a half years, aims to clarify the extent of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese between 1946 and 2022 with valid data. It also focuses on the consequences of abuse for the victims. "So far, there have only been a few systematic investigations on this topic," it was stated from Greifswald.
"This includes the analysis of individual cases, determination of responsibilities and any potential misconduct of leading personnel in the Archdiocese, identification of structural influencing factors for sexual abuse, and evaluation of prevention and intervention possibilities in the Archdiocese of Bamberg," the commission in Bamberg stated. Bishop Herwig Goßmann of Bamberg had announced such a study shortly after his appointment at the end of the previous year.
The research team will now begin evaluating the documents and files of the data collection of the Archdiocese of Bamberg. This primarily requires criminal law and criminal procedural expertise. Interviews with victims, witnesses, and church functionaries are reportedly being conducted in Berlin. For victims, a written questionnaire is also being offered. Thomas Weißer, chairman of the independent commission, stated that preparations for the questioning of victims are currently underway. Then come the interviews themselves.
In the context of church studies on the topic of abuse, it is a peculiarity that the current investigation is being financed by the Archdiocese but the contract award is being carried out independently by the commission.
The University of Greifswald, located in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, is leading this comprehensive study. The Catholic Church, specifically the Archdiocese of Bamberg, is the focus of this research. The Archdiocese has been dealing with allegations of sexual abuse, a crime that has affected numerous individuals throughout its history.
Stefan Harrendorf, a criminologist and criminal lawyer from the University of Greifswald, is spearheading this project in collaboration with criminal psychologists from the University of Berlin and an independent commission. The aim is to provide concrete data about the extent and consequences of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese between 1946 and 2022.
The research team will be reviewing documents and files related to the case, requiring expertise in both criminal law and criminal procedure. Interviews are being conducted in Berlin with victims, witnesses, and church functionaries. For those who prefer not to speak in person, a written questionnaire is also available.
This initiative comes after Bishop Herwig Goßmann announced such a study shortly after his appointment last year. The funding for the research is being provided by the Archdiocese, but the contract award is being handled independently by the commission.
The scope of this investigation includes analyzing individual cases, determining responsibilities, identifying structural factors influencing sexual abuse, and evaluating potential prevention and intervention strategies in the Archdiocese of Bamberg.
