32 years after his death, Ruhr Bishop Franz Hengsbach is accused of sexual abuse. The diocese itself calls the allegations “serious” – and is now removing its sculpture in front of the cathedral.
The sculpture of Cardinal Franz Hengsbach, who died in 1991, in front of Essen Cathedral will be removed “immediately” after serious allegations of abuse against the clergyman. The cathedral chapter decided this by mutual agreement in the afternoon, the diocese said. The Essen cathedral provost Thomas Zander also announced that a place of remembrance for the victims of sexual abuse should be created in place of the sculpture.
The cathedral chapter is the legal owner of the cathedral and the property on which the sculpture stands. It wants to talk to the advisory board of those affected and clarify whether and how such a memory project could be initiated. According to Zander, there are still some open questions to be clarified with the artist of the Hengsbach sculpture. The cathedral chapter will also contact the previous sponsors of the sculpture unveiled in 2011.
The dioceses of Essen and Paderborn announced on Tuesday that there were “serious” allegations of abuse against Hengsbach. Among other things, he is said to have abused a 16-year-old girl in 1954 when he was an auxiliary bishop in Paderborn. He is also accused of another attack on a woman in Essen in 1967.
Source: Stern
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