Memorial for victims of abuse

adminonNovember 30, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

Memorial for victims of abuse

A "cautionary millstone" against violence and sexual abuse has now found its place at the Vatican. Representatives of an initiative against violence and sexual abuse of children and young people had delivered it to Pope Francis a week ago.

He said the pope had decided to place him in front of the headquarters of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children on Largo Giovanni Paolo II behind the Paul VI Audience Hall. to let set up, so press speaker Matteo Bruni on inquiry of the catholic news agency (KNA).

Pope "deeply moved and moved"

The 1.4-ton memorial was placed between two pillars of the Audience Hall in a bed of usambara violets. The stone carries in German the sentence of Jesus: "But whoever gives offense to one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were sunk into the depths of the sea" (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verse 6). It was presented to the pope by an initiative based in Siershahn in Rhineland-Palatinate. Francis was "deeply moved and moved," initiative says. She quoted him as saying, "This is strong!"

The "Admonishing Millstone" has been on display in many German cities since 2008. The idea is to set a sign to remind adults of their responsibility towards the children entrusted to them. Chairman of the initiative is the social pedagogue Johannes Heibel, who has been dealing with cases of sexual abuse in church and society since 1993.

Publication this thursday

The Munich law firm Westphal Spilker Wastl, which has come under criticism, publishes an abuse report for the Aachen diocese on Thursday. In the archdiocese of Cologne, a publication of the chancery had recently been canceled.

Bishop Helmut Dieser and Generalvikar Andreas Frick would then learn at the same time with the media for the first time of the results, communicated the firm on Monday in Munich. The investigation of personnel files, among other things, is about possible misconduct by diocesan officials in dealing with abuse cases from 1965 to 2019. The Archdiocese of Cologne had surprisingly canceled the publication of a similar expertise by WSW at the end of October because of alleged shortcomings.

The concern of the Aachen diocese is an independent investigation, emphasized Bishop This. "We do not examine ourselves."He invited to follow the livestream with the publication. He is primarily concerned with relevant findings on structures and responsibilities "and with all related indications that help us to vigorously put a stop to sexualized violence in our diocese," emphasized This. "Legal questions we leave to the lawyers."

Criticism from former diocese leadership

Previously, former bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff (80) and former vicar general Manfred von Holtum (76) had criticized the report. From WSW they expected unjustified accusations and no fair trial, they told the "Aachener Nachrichten" (Monday). He could understand the objections of several criminal lawyers to the investigation prepared for Cologne, said von Holtum. As long as the question of professionalism has not been clarified, the expert opinion for Aachen may not be published, also for reasons of personal protection. The sent protocols of the interviews conducted with Mussinghoff and von Holtum were "inadequate and very flawed," the two clergymen stated.

Short notice cancellation of the publication in the archdiocese of Cologne

The for the 12. March of this year planned presentation of the expert opinion for Cologne had the archdiocese at short notice canceled. Fears were expressed of legal disputes with former or active decision-makers whose names are to be mentioned in the study. In the meantime, it has become known that the former head of personnel in Cologne and current Archbishop of Hamburg Stefan Hebe had raised legal concerns. Therefore, the archdiocese called in two law firms specializing in press law to subject the WSW opinion of an "expression-legal" examination.

At the end of October, the archdiocese announced that it would not publish the WSW report. Other experts had come to the conclusion that the expertise did not meet the minimum requirements "in the entire methodology, in the structure and the fundamental approach". Now the Cologne criminal lawyer Bjorn Gercke is to present a new investigation by March 2021.

Coming to terms with the past

Mussinghoff and von Holtum ared that the diocese management at that time had done what was necessary and possible for those affected. But if it turns out "that we, as those responsible at the time, did not sufficiently exercise our responsibility according to today's knowledge, we must face up to it," von Holtum said.

The former bishop admitted to having felt overwhelmed, especially with victim interviews. "I would not have trusted myself to speak to them appropriately. I would not advise this to any bishop."In 2011, a commission of experts had been set up with, among others, psycho- and trauma therapists.

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro has rejected accusations of discrimination by the Vatican's ban on blessings for same-sex couples. The same ban would also apply to heterosexual cohabitation outside marriage.

The dogmatist and prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints told the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" (Tuesday). Unlike state legislation, the church is "subject to the will of God".

"Not a question of will"

Semeraro compared the ie of homosexual unions to the debate on the admission of women to the priesthood. It is "not a question of will". The Catholic Church is "bound to the Holy Scriptures, to the Word of God". Whether a person is sinful cannot be deduced from his or her community of life; one must not "judge the inner situation," Semeraro stressed.

Nevertheless, the church "cannot recognize a connection that is not provided for by the Holy Scriptures," the cardinal said.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had said Monday that the Catholic Church had no authority to bless homosexual partnerships. While such initiatives show "a sincere will" to "accept homosexual persons, accompany them and offer them ways of growing in faith," the paper says.

Not in accordance with the divine will

But since the unions of homosexual couples were not in accordance with the divine will, they could not be blessed. Individual theologians criticized the decision as backward-looking and out of step with science.

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