Another body works through abuse cases

adminonDecember 17, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

Bishop Voderholzer © CBA

Regensburg Cathedral Boys' Choir © Domspatzen

Another body of talks has been set up to deal with the beating and abuse cases at the Regensburg Cathedral Boys' Choir. The round is apparently intended to develop proposals to avoid such incidents in the future.

The panel includes three victims' representatives and Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer, among others, the diocese announced on its website Tuesday evening. A larger board of trustees to investigate the allegations had met for the first time in early February. It is directed by the lawyer Ulrich Weber, who is entrusted by the diocese with an investigation.

Hundreds of cases of physical and sexual violence occurred at the world-famous choir between 1953 and 1992. Weber puts the number of known cases of beating and abuse at 231, and of sexual abuse at 62. According to him, the number of unreported cases is much higher. In an interim report a few weeks ago, the lawyer spoke of a "system of fear" that had prevailed for decades in the preschool as well as in the Domspatzen boarding school.

First meeting "constructive and trusting"

The committee, which has now been established, has set itself the goal of further "processing," the diocese announced. It also includes cathedral conductor Roland Buchner, the director of the Domspatzen boarding school, Rainer Schinko, and mediators Andreas Heintz and Horst Bohm. According to their statements, representatives of the victims are Michael Sieber, Peter Muller and Peter Schmitt. The first meeting was constructive and took place in a "climate of trusting cooperation," according to the statement.

On Tuesday evening, the website of the victims' representatives said about the distribution of tasks of the appointed committees: "While attorney Weber exclusively takes care of the clarification (among other things, talks with abuse victims, differentiated statistics about the number of victims and acts), the processing of the abuse cases is in the hands of the processing committee, which elaborates concrete measures."

The accusations raised by ex-domestic soldiers range from beatings, psychological violence, deprivation of food or force-feeding to sexual assaults ranging from "fondling" to rape. In the past few weeks alone, several dozen other possible victims have come forward. The victims known so far received as a "symbolic recognition of the suffering" each 2.500 euros. In addition, the costs for therapies are covered.

According to Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister President Malu Dreyer, the topic of sexual abuse must be dealt with as a matter of urgency in German dioceses. Trust must be regained, he said, to continue to provide guidance.

Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) said Tuesday evening in Mainz that this should be the case “in all dioceses,” Dreyer said at the Martin Reception of the Catholic Office in Mainz. The “perspective of the victims” must come first, he said.

Maintaining a strong voice in society

Dreyer expressed “great shock” at results of abuse study presented in September. There is now a need for “a real change of mentality within the church in order to regain trust. The Catholic Church needs this trust in order to “remain a strong voice in society,” especially in a “time of disorientation.”.

Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz believes internal church reforms are inevitable. This and a critical self-reflection are "bitterly necessary" to regain lost trust and damaged credibility, he said. He did not give any concrete examples of reforms.

"Eyes opened"

The German Bishops' Conference's abuse commissioner, Trier Bishop Stephan Ackermann, said the study presented in September had "opened the eyes" of the bishops about "systemic factors" of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. In order to investigate this, the Bishops' Conference has undertaken "a thick work program", which is now being consistently worked through. Referring to prosecutors, Ackermann promised "full cooperation". (CBA)

From small aid agency to global advocate for children

On 11. May 1959, the Children's Fund was founded and started with five sponsorships in India. The Christian charity has supported more than seven million children and young people in the 60 years since – and is now celebrating an anniversary.

When Kenyan rapper Peter Mweke performs his songs, he also shares stories from his own life: How he ended up on the streets of Nairobi at the age of five, stealing and sniffing glue, or how, at twelve, he was sent to prison for three years. Then the turning point: The social worker of a church center supported by Kindernothilfe takes him in. He goes to school, learns to play the guitar and writes his own lyrics.

Today, the 25-year-old can make a living from his music and supports other children so that they don't end up on the streets, the "hell on earth". Mweke's experience is one of many success stories made possible by Kindernothilfe's global commitment. 60 years ago, on 11. May 1959, the idea of sponsorships for needy children in other countries was born, which eventually led to the founding of the Christian relief organization.

Work in 33 countries

Today, Kindernothilfe works with nearly 400 organizations in 33 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe to support girls and boys on their way to a self-determined life. In the 60 years of its existence, it says it has supported around 7.1 million children and young people in 5.300 projects by local partners. Currently, it serves 1.9 million children in nearly 700 projects. Behind the numbers are moving individual fates.

The spectrum of aid ranges from school attendance to nutrition and health in villages and poor neighborhoods to protection against violence, exploitation and sexual abuse. The aid organization also provides humanitarian support in the event of earthquakes or floods. "For me, every child has a right as God's child to grow up in stable and protected conditions," says Kindernothilfe director Katrin Weidemann. "This is what we stand up for."

In 2017, the charity collected a good 68 million euros from donations, sponsorships and other contributions. Of this, almost 83 percent went directly into projects and a good 17 percent into advertising and administration. Its serious financial management has earned Kindernothilfe a reputation as a "relief organization with glass pockets"; since 1992, it has received the coveted seal of approval from the Central Institute for Social Ies every year.

Continuity and growth were only possible because the work was always being developed further. The concrete help began in 1959, when committed Christians set up the first five sponsorships in a Duisburg living room to finance a place in a dormitory for poor children in India. "What I did was intended for me by God," says one of the founding fathers, 92-year-old Luder Luers.

At that time he gave up his horticultural business and went to India. Today, he is pleased that many of the children he once sponsored have become doctors, teachers or lawyers and are now taking responsibility for other children themselves. "This multiplies the aid," says Luers.

Sponsorships come under fire

Of all things, sponsorships, the heart of aid work, came under criticism in the 1980s: in the left-wing development scene, they were considered "paternalistic" and outdated. When the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989, Kindernothilfe broadened its spectrum and, in the 1990s, transformed itself into a children's rights organization by building up lobbying and advocacy work, seeing itself as an "advocate for children" at all levels.

"Children should not just be a target group, but actors who help develop projects themselves," says board chairwoman Weidemann. In 2017, for example, the aid organization asked in a campaign with other organizations 2.000 working children worldwide, how they themselves see their lives and what should change.

"Children's rights must not remain dreams" is the motto of the anniversary year. In addition to stakeholder participation, Kindernothilfe also relies on self-help groups to fight poverty.

Women learn to generate their own income by saving up microloans themselves, for example by baking bread or raising chickens. They thus improve the life of the whole family and also the village community.

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