Cardinal Marx apologizes for “failure”

Munich's Archbishop visits a community in which there have been many cases of abuse - after a convicted priest was transferred there.

Reinhard Marx admits mistakes.

Garching an der Alz - The Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, apologized for abuse in the community during a visit to Garching an der Alz and admitted mistakes.

Today we know "that there has also been abuse, that the pastor who worked here was an abuser," said Marx on Saturday after discussions and a joint prayer with community representatives.

"This is a betrayal of the message of Jesus and it is a failure of the institution for which I apologize."

A priest convicted of sexual abuse had worked in Garching for around 20 years, although he had previously abused children in another parish and had been convicted for it.

According to the diocese, he relapsed after his transfer to Garching, which occurred before Marx was the responsible bishop.

Three victims had come forward accusing the man of having abused them.

“I apologize for this failure,” said Marx. "We have probably underestimated something in terms of tension and wounds and injuries." Dpa