Shocking conversation: Victims of abuse confront Bishop in front of the camera - "Persecuted by the devil"

Created: 01/13/2022, 02:12 PM

From: Tobias Gmach

Met for an ARD broadcast in Augsburg's Sankt-Ulrich-Haus: Bishop Bertram Meier (left) and the two abuse victims, whose real names are not mentioned in the contribution.

© Report Munich

The Bishop of Augsburg, Bertram Meier, apologized to two victims of abuse in front of the TV camera for the acts of violence that occurred in Feldafing decades ago.

Feldafing

- The devil is always there, even during this unique conversation in Augsburg's Sankt-Ulrich-Haus.

“I have the devil in my gnack,” says Robert Waldheim.

Martha Stark says: "Tonight he threatened me that he would come if I talk to you." Waldheim and Stark, who actually have different names, talk to Bertram Meier, the Augsburg bishop.

You are sitting across from him on brown chairs in a bare room.

Two people who were sexually abused by Pastor Otto Oehler and the home staff in the Haus Maffei children's home in Feldafing and in the church sacristy confront the high-ranking clergy on television.

Report Munich: Augsburg bishop speaks to abuse victim - never before

That has never happened before, say the initiators of the conversation: the ARD political magazine

and the

.

The contribution was sent on Tuesday evening, a longer version is available in the ARD media library.

Title: "Bishop Meets Victims of Abuse."

No moderator, as small a film team as possible: The editorial team at

reports that it was weeks in

.

The great wish of Waldheim and Stark: "That one of the higher rulers apologizes to us."

Meier will be the first German bishop to do this in front of the camera.

Feldafing belongs to his diocese of Augsburg.

Meier asks for an apology, but he emphasizes that he cannot "excuse" the deeds in the name of the whole church.

Abused by the pastor for decades: the smallest associations awaken horrific memories

His interlocutors not only tell him that the devil persecutes them to this day because they were taught his supposed power as a child.

They were locked in boxes in the church and before that in well-filled water barrels.

The pastor stubbed cigars on their bodies, pressed them into a pile of dung with his face and raped them anally.

And not only that: the children, especially those without parents, were distributed to several priests.

In June 2021, those affected spoke about the cruel deeds in the sacristy and cellar.

For that they had returned to the crime scenes.

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Waldheim reports in detail what traces the violence has left on his body. For decades, no one was interested in her suffering, despite several attempts. That is why Stark wants to know from the bishop: “Do you believe us?” Meier: “Otherwise I would not have invited you at all.” You could trust that he would be honest and not act. The bishop wears a large cross around his neck. “Does that have to be?” Asks Stark. Answer: "If it doesn't bother you too much, I would leave it on."

The smallest associations can evoke the cruelest images in the minds of the victims.

Strong is reminded of the agony when she goes to bed, Waldheim when he has to go to the toilet.

Both are now over 60 years old.

Stark, who repeatedly bursts into tears, tells Meier that the church only pays her 50 therapy hours, Waldheim only 25 - although several years are necessary.

The bishop promises: "I'll stick with it and listen."

Bishop appalled at acts of abuse - trust needs to be restored

Meier appears empathetic, above all listens.

But he's also trying to make a few things clear.

He indignantly describes the actions of the church representatives at that time as "abuse of office".

The devil is not behind the two, "that contradicts the Catholic teaching".

The devil is the "perversion" of the good news that he wants to spread as a priest.

He stressed that neither money nor lawsuits would heal their wounds.

Rather, it is about rebuilding trust in people and perhaps also in Jesus.

At this point Martha Stark interrupts him and says: “I don't believe any more Jesus.

I was two years old when the martyrdom started. "

Impressive sign of openness and clarification

Towards the end of the article, Meier asks the abuse victims: “What do you advise me as a bishop?” Waldheim's counter-question: “Isn't it possible to control all priests somehow?

Are they all on the right track?

Can't you control it from here?

That was missing from us. "Meier replies that he is going the" path of zero tolerance ", one does" a lot, but we have no guarantee ".

Stark and Waldheim stepped in front of the camera with fears and uncertainty, but with a positive impression they step out of the spotlight.

The contribution ends with the farewell and a voice from the off: “The meeting of three courageous people.

An impressive sign of openness and clarification. "

Read here why the processing of the abuse in the Feldafing children's home could have started as early as 2010.

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