Johannes-Wilhelm Rorig © dpa
The Federal Government Commissioner for Abuse, Johannes-Wilhelm Rorig, has demanded more transparency from the Catholic Church in dealing with sexual abuse. "I can very well understand the criticism of those affected," he said.
"Moreover, transparency is the be-all and end-all," Rorig added to the "Passauer Neue Presse" after the publication of initial research results on the causes and extent of abuse cases in the Catholic Church.
Name names required
The reappraisal must take place with as much detail as possible, he said. "This also requires naming names, and not just the names of the perpetrators. Those who protected the perpetrators must also be taken into account," Rorig demanded.
Study results from the German Bishops' Conference
A study commissioned by the Bishops' Conference on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church attests to perpetrators among the clergy being sexually immature, having personality disorders and pedophilic tendencies. A total of around 12,900 documented sexual offenses by churchmen in nine states were evaluated. The scientists want to put nine dioceses in Germany under the microscope. But it is not about naming or prosecution.
Change aptitude tests for priest candidates
From abuse commissioner's point of view, the Catholic Church has not drawn the right conclusions from the scandals. "For me it is not recognizable that the aptitude tests for priest candidates would actually have been changed," said Rorig. "Even in times of a shortage of priests, the profile of requirements for the priesthood must be significantly increased in order to better protect children and young people."