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"Nobody may be protected": Freisinger reactions to the abuse report

2022-01-20T16:44:04.938Z


"Nobody may be protected": Freisinger reactions to the abuse report Created: 01/20/2022, 17:30 By: Magdalena Höcherl, Helmut Hobmaier It is almost 1900 pages thick: The report on the cases of abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising from 1945 to 2019 was published on Thursday. © Sven Hoppe The abuse report certifies massive misconduct by those responsible from the Archdiocese of Munich


"Nobody may be protected": Freisinger reactions to the abuse report

Created: 01/20/2022, 17:30

By: Magdalena Höcherl, Helmut Hobmaier

It is almost 1900 pages thick: The report on the cases of abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising from 1945 to 2019 was published on Thursday.

© Sven Hoppe

The abuse report certifies massive misconduct by those responsible from the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

In Freising they demand "ruthless honesty".

Freising

– There is talk of a “balance sheet of terror”: The report on the cases of abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising from 1945 to 2019 was published on Thursday. Auxiliary Bishop Bernhard Haßlberger was "horrified" after the experts' press conference, which he had followed in the BR live stream. Of course, the subject of abuse has occupied the Church for a long time, but the fact that such massive misconduct has also occurred in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising simply makes him "speechless". Above all, the lack of empathy for those responsible for the victims makes him sad. The church apparently didn't want to see "that the victims are marked for a lifetime," said Hasslberger.

Auxiliary Bishop Bernhard Haßlberger is sad about the lack of empathy towards the victims.

© ft

It is now important to continue on the synodal path.

But that's not enough: "Our basic attitude has to be looked at.

We have to be there for the people again, and not the people for us.

We have to adapt, we have to do it.” With Archbishop Reinhard Marx: “I don't think he will resign.

That wouldn't make sense either," emphasized Hasslberger on Thursday afternoon.

“Because now there is no more time to lose.

We need to get together as soon as possible.

A resignation, on the other hand, would entail a lengthy succession plan.

Then again nothing would happen for a long time.”

(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)

The fact that Marx himself was not present at the press conference met with little understanding from the auxiliary bishop of Freising.

That surprised him too: "He will have his reasons," Haßlberger said diplomatically, "but I don't know them."

“Resignation would be the right consequence”

Josef Zehetmaier, chairman of the Catholic Workers' Movement (KAB) Neustift, finds sharper words: Even if Cardinal Marx made a statement in the afternoon - "he would have listened to the press conference in any case." Zehetmaier would again suggest that the cardinal resign.

Marx himself had already expressed this wish to Pope Francis last spring, but he had rejected the request.

"For me, resignation would be the right consequence after these scandalous incidents," said the KAB chairman.

Josef Zehetmaier, Chairman of the KAB Neustift: No statue for the Pope.

© ft

No Pope statue in Freising

What is also important to Zehetmaier: "After the last free niche on the Isar Bridge was planned for a bust of Pope Benedict, the city of Freising must now consider whether this is actually still appropriate."

Zehetmaier calls for an immediate resignation for the clergy and servants who are accused of misconduct and who are still in office.

"They endanger the reputation of the church in such a way that they have to be released from all offices and from church service in general," says the KAB chairman.

“These people definitely need to be held accountable.

Both from the church and from the judiciary – if that is still possible at all.”

"Massive loss of trust"

Ernst Fischer, chairman of the Catholic District Education Center (KBW) in Freising, speaks of a “massive loss of trust”.

This is now also clearly noticeable within the church, in the parishes.

"The church has waited far too long to deal with it honestly - and above all to approach the victims." This must now be done immediately, with "ruthless honesty".

Fischer emphasizes: "It's no longer about protecting the reputation of the church, it's already ruined.

Nobody should be protected, no bishops, no ex-popes, no dead cardinals: the scar has to be cut open, the pus has to come out!”

Ernst Fischer, Kreisbildungswerk Freising: "Massive loss of trust" © ft

Only through open communication and the premise that the victims finally get the hearing they deserve can the tedious work of regaining trust be undertaken.

Because, according to Fischer: "If you don't trust someone, you won't believe them, even if they're right.

Despite all the justified criticism of the church, it still conveys certain values ​​that are important in this singular society.” However, that is currently not being seen – “quite rightly”.

Keyword open communication: As was learned on Thursday, after the press conference, the Archbishop's Ordinariate instructed the clergy not to make any statements, comments, assessments or similar to the report to media representatives.

Source: merkur

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