For decades, sexual abuse by priests was covered up and covered up in one of the largest German dioceses. Bishop Genn is now announcing the consequences. He himself wants to remain in office.
The bishop of Münster, Felix Genn, refuses to resign despite personal criticism in a study on sexual abuse in his diocese.
In the study published on Monday, the bishop is accused of being too lax in dealing with priests who had shown remorse after their actions. Genn admitted mistakes on Friday. But he didn’t hide anything. “I would therefore like to use the remaining term of office as Bishop of Münster with the highest level of commitment, to continue to listen more closely to what those affected and independent bodies recommend to me for dealing with sexual abuse in the Diocese of Münster and try to implement it.” Münster is one of the largest German dioceses.
In a first lengthy statement, Genn announced that his diocese would draw conclusions from the study, in which almost 200 Catholic clergymen were identified as criminals. This includes the bishop’s crypt in the cathedral remaining closed for the time being. There are buried three predecessors who, according to the study, were guilty of serious negligence in dealing with cases of abuse. “I will let the dead rest, but the truth must come out,” said Genn. The form in which this is to take place is still open. Those affected should also have a say.
Bishop: “Always abuse of power”
The bishop spoke of misunderstood brotherhood in dealing with perpetrators. Sexual abuse is “always an abuse of power”. Therefore he will have it checked whether a church administrative jurisdiction could be a solution. The bishop would have to submit to their decisions. The Bishops’ Conference is already examining such an introduction. Genn also wants to make personnel decisions more transparent. To this day, the staff conference consists only of men and priests. According to the study, there are “male union structures”.
Genn also suggested that a review commission be set up in the diocese. There is a corresponding agreement in a joint statement by the former independent commissioner for questions of child sexual abuse, Johannes-Wilhelm Rörig, and the abuse commissioner of the German Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Stephan Ackermann. The author of the study, the historian Thomas Großbölting, and the Münster canon lawyer Thomas Schüller should also have a seat on the commission.
According to the bishop, the study also has personnel consequences. The previous cathedral canon Theodor Buckstegen asked for his release. From 1986 to 2009, when he was head of the Pastoral Care/Personnel Department, he was found to have acted in a massively misconduct manner in dealing with sexual abuse. The former bishop of Hamburg, Werner Thissen – formerly auxiliary bishop and vicar general in Münster – asked to be allowed to look at the study in peace. Only then should a decision be made as to whether he will retain the title of honorary canon.
Report: At least 196 clerics as perpetrators
Between 1945 and 2020 there were at least 196 clerics as perpetrators and 610 child victims of sexual abuse, according to the investigations of the five-strong research team. After the Archdiocese of Cologne, Münster is one of the largest dioceses in Germany in terms of the number of Catholics, along with Freiburg and Stuttgart. The diocese also includes parts of the Oldenburger Münsterland in Lower Saxony. The researchers were also able to prove decades of failure in the diocese leadership, cover-up and frustration of justice by personnel managers in various cases.
Source: Stern
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