“What have i and the other bishops been doing for the last few months??”

Remarks by German Family Minister Giffey raised eyebrows of Bishop Kohlgraf. He and the other bishops have been implementing the politician's demand that words be followed by deeds for months, he said.

Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz defends the Catholic Church's efforts to come to terms with the abuse scandal against criticism. Corresponding arrivals of the Federal Minister for Family Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD), he described in a Facebook post on Wednesday as "astonishing".

Giffey had previously demanded action and personnel consequences from the church. So far, there has only been a "declaratory willingness to do something," the politician said. He rubbed his eyes when he read Giffey's statement, Kohlgraf said. "What am I doing, what are the other bishops doing the last months??"

Bishops continue efforts to come to terms

The diocese of Mainz set up an advisory group in early March to deal with sexual abuse, including external experts. At the level of the German Bishops' Conference, its abuse commissioner, Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier, announced new projects to deal with, compensate for and prevent abuse at the end of the spring plenary meeting in Lingen.

In addition, Catholic bishops agreed on a "binding synodal path" for church renewal and change. In this context, celibacy, the sexual morality of the church and the "necessary reduction of power" among clerics are to be put up for debate.