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Abuse scandal in the church - Catholic "was not at all surprised"

2022-01-27T08:05:13.943Z


Abuse scandal in the church - Catholic "was not at all surprised" Created: 01/27/2022, 08:51 By: Dominik Stallein The Catholic Church faces further abuse allegations. In an interview, the former mayor of Geretsried, Cornelia Irmer, talks about the recent scandal. © Nicolas Armer/dpa Cornelia Irmer has been involved in the Catholic Church for decades - and will remain so, despite all the scanda


Abuse scandal in the church - Catholic "was not at all surprised"

Created: 01/27/2022, 08:51

By: Dominik Stallein

The Catholic Church faces further abuse allegations.

In an interview, the former mayor of Geretsried, Cornelia Irmer, talks about the recent scandal.

© Nicolas Armer/dpa

Cornelia Irmer has been involved in the Catholic Church for decades - and will remain so, despite all the scandals.

In the interview, she explains what kind of reaction she would like.

Geretsried – The current report is shocking: Hundreds of cases of abuse are said to have been swept under the table in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

Many have left the Church.

Cornelia Irmer, a committed but critical Catholic, would like to remain a member.

In an interview with our volunteer Dominik Stallein, she explains how she would like the church to react.

Abuse scandal in the church - Catholic "was not at all surprised"

Ms. Irmer, did the new report surprise you?

Irmer:

I wasn't at all surprised by the result, on the contrary: I expected it.

It is frightening what has happened over the decades without the church having reacted consistently.

Cornelia Irmer former mayor of Geretsried and critical Catholic © Ralf Gerard

What reaction would you have liked?

Irmer:

I would have expected back then that the church would immediately contact those affected and help them to come to terms with the situation.

The perpetrators should have been taken out of circulation immediately and treated.

And of course also make sure that they can never again be active in children and youth work or in everyday parish life in general.

The church has a huge responsibility.

She has not complied with this topic.

Do you think things are changing now?

Irmer:

Hope dies last.

But I'm not really confident that the church will tackle the issue as vigorously as it needs to.

Incidentally, this is not only a matter for the religious community, but of course also for the rule of law.

He must become active, follow the clues and hold the perpetrators accountable.

I have the impression that the church has been left to its own devices for too long.

If a case of abuse became known in a company, it would immediately be a matter for the public prosecutor.

It shouldn't be any different in the church.

You can read more news from Geretsried here.

Many believers have now turned their backs on the Church.

How do you rate that?

Irmer:

Most of the people who have left have not lost their religion, but are disappointed with the church as an institution.

The fact that many people are leaving the church should no longer surprise anyone given the scandals.

Nevertheless, I believe that many have a great need for faith, religion and spirituality.

Our society needs something like this

Do you yourself, although you are a critical voice, remain loyal to the Church?

Irmer:

Yes, because I also see how important the work is and how much good the church does.

My husband is a deacon, so I know how much people care about companionship and encouragement.

It is important to me to help these believers.

Nevertheless, I am appalled at how irresponsibly and carelessly the church deals with cases of abuse.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-01-27

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