Church Abuse: Hundreds of New Clues

Both in initiatives for those affected and in the Catholic dioceses, there are still many indications of abuse in the church.

Estimates even assume tens of thousands of victims.

Munich (dpa) - Since the publication of the MHG study on abuse in the Catholic Church, numerous indications of further cases have become known.

“In three years, around 250 people across Germany will have registered at the Eckigen Tisch,” said Matthias Katsch from the Affected Initiative - and that is still just the tip of the iceberg: “I assume that for every person affected who has reported so far, at least three will come and wait. "

The dioceses are also receiving more and more information: In the seven dioceses in Bavaria alone there were at least 205, as a survey by the German Press Agency revealed, including numerous reports of "border crossings" that are not criminally classified as sexual abuse.

According to the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), there are no nationwide figures.

In autumn 2018, the Catholic Church published the so-called MHG study and thus figures on sexual abuse.

According to this, a total of 1670 clerics were accused of sexual abuse of minors nationwide in personnel files from 1946 to 2014.

There were 3,677 victims.

In 2020, the religious orders made public that a further 1,412 affected people had contacted them.

"So we're talking about at least 5089 victims who are known to the church," said Katsch.

"If the various estimates based on surveys or comparative figures from abroad, such as the Netherlands, are correct, then the number of those affected by the Catholic Church should be around 80,000."

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210620-99-67068 / 2

Information on abuse in the diocese of Eichstätt