“We demand action instead of words. Finally”

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Various initiatives call for honest clarification and "finally action" © Fabrice Caterini-Inediz (KNA)

In a published "open letter to parishes affected by sexual abuse by priests or staff," initiatives call for documentation of abuse cases that is accessible to all.

"Fine words like 'shame and mourning' or papal letters do not help," it says literally; it must "finally follow deeds". In an open letter to church congregations, various initiatives call for a thorough reappraisal of abuse cases and independent abuse commissions that work according to uniform standards. In addition, there must be "adequate compensation" and the "honest will" to clarify the acts and to support those affected, he says.

Church fails to punish sexual offenses

As a current occasion the letter calls the report of a national jury over abuse in dioceses of the US state Pennsylvania in August. Among other things, as a reaction to this, the Pope had addressed a letter to Catholics worldwide, in which he deplores church failures in the punishment of sexual offenses against minors and speaks out for "zero tolerance".

The German Bishops' Conference will present the results of its research project on sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church at its fall plenary assembly in Fulda at the end of September.

Various initiatives such as the "Domspatzen" have signed on

Among the signatories of the letter are the "Corner Table", initiatives such as "Former Johanneum Homburg", "Abuse in the Brudergemeinde Korntal", "Domspatzen", "Abuse in Ahrensburg" and individual victims from the dioceses of Freiburg, Trier and Rottenburg-Stuttgart.

Nikola Eterovic (l.) in conversation with Cardinal Reinhard Marx (Archive) © Harald Oppitz (KNA)

Pope's ambassador Nikola Eterovic has called on the Catholic German bishops at the beginning of their spring plenary assembly to unity. At the same time he drew in his greeting the picture of a church in crisis.

The church, he said, continues to struggle "to find adequate responses to the spread of secularism, the painful ie of sexual abuse, as well as continuing departures from the church, in a new departure of evangelization". In addition, there would be "negative consequences in the social and economic sphere" due to the Corona pandemic.

Not every crisis opens opportunities

However, while crises generally represent an opportunity "insofar as they offer the possibility for growth," conflict remains negative because it divides people into victors and vanquished, into "lovable friends and enemies to be fought," Eterovic said. For the ecclesial community, the conflict is "particularly harmful" because it destroys the sense of unity.

"The Christian must always be ready for dialogue with God in prayer, but also with his neighbor in brotherly love," Eterovic emphasized. He called for a return to tradition in the debates about the future of the church.

"Forgive one another"

Eterovic concluded his address with a quote from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, which he had also prefaced his greeting with, "Every kind of bitterness and anger and clamor and blasphemy with all evil banish from among you! Be kind to one another, be merciful, forgive one another, as God also forgave you in Christ."

Bishops' plenary session continues through Thursday. Due to Corona, the meeting will take place for the first time in a purely virtual way.

For many years Wunibald Muller has been researching the topic of "sexual abuse and the church". In his new book, "Hidden Wounds," he describes how sexual abuse in the church can be recognized – and prevented.

"The priest must bring physical closeness in harmony with celibacy."A sentence with explosive power – especially in these times. Wunibald Muller knows that. All too often, the psychotherapist and theologian has been in trouble for saying the wrong things about abuse in the eyes of some churchmen. That was years ago. In the current crisis, he first prescribed silence and concentrated on his work in the Munsterschwarzach Recollectio House. There he cares for priests and religious who feel burned out or who want to prevent precisely this from happening. Talking about feelings, experiencing physical closeness Muller sits in a comfortable chair in his office and explains: "Priests and religious have to learn intimacy, just like any other person. "I need to be able to experience being who I am in a deep, meaningful, and committed relationship with other people." That means talking about feelings, experiencing physical closeness – even if without genital sexuality. Intimacy empowerment is what the psychotherapist calls it. It should already be part of the formation of prospective priests and religious. They have to learn to protect their own privacy and to decide for themselves how close another person is allowed to get to them. "I always have to have the zipper on the inside."This is also necessary in order to be able to show consideration for the feelings of others. Be clear about one's sexual identity Just like every person, a seminarian must be clear about his sexual identity and accept it, including a possible homosexual identity. But how does this go in harmony with celibacy? "I have to admit to myself: Who do I find attractive, who excites me, who do I fall in love with??" Every aspiring clergy person needs to feel the power that sexuality can have. Only in this way is a decision for a celibate life free. "Otherwise, sexuality is in the driver's seat." Trying to suppress this emotional maturation process or avoid it through evasive maneuvers is wrong, the therapist says. Of course, this path could also lead to the realization that a candidate is no longer willing to live a celibate life. Many people who sexually abuse minors are ultimately psychosexually immature, Muller says. They would have difficulty engaging in an equal relationship with their peers. That's why they seek closeness to children. They could not empathize with their victims. Sexuality plays an important role In addition, Muller also emphasizes the ability to surrender: to be able to go beyond oneself means more than just taking care of oneself. Sexuality plays an important role in this. It has this potential for transcendence, the theologian said. It allows merging with someone or something else, he said. Therefore, it is also important for priests to make use of this ability to surrender. For that is precisely what makes up the celibate way of life: A clergyman, after all, renounces marriage and family so that he can give himself in a special way to people and to the cause of God. In order to do this, he must also know his sexuality – a sensitive topic in the Catholic Church. "It is a pity that the potential for transcendence is made impossible when one gives poison to sexuality." Another sentence of the theologian with explosive power.

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