German protestant church admits failure after a study reveals nearly 10 thousand minors sexually abused by church

The German Protestant Church (EKD) has admitted to failing to protect children within its organization following a 2020 study detailing numerous cases of sexual abuse

In a profound acknowledgment on Thursday, the German Protestant Church (EKD) admitted to falling short in its efforts to protect children within its organization, following revelations from an independent study detailing numerous cases of sexual abuse.

Commissioned in 2020 by the EKD and conducted by an independent research association under the guidance of Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the study estimated that the number of minors victimized by church ministers and staff may reach as high as 9,355. This calculation stemmed from a meticulous examination of 2,225 documented assault cases dating back to 1946, identifying 1,259 potential perpetrators.

During a press conference, co-author Martin Wazlawik cautioned that the revealed figure might represent only “the tip of the tip of the iceberg,” underlining the challenges arising from limited evidence provided by regional churches. Kirsten Fehrs, the head of the EKD, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating that the study’s results exposed a “massive failure” towards the victims.

“We did not protect them at the time of the crime, and we did not treat them with dignity when they found the courage to come forward,” Fehrs emphasized in a statement, pledging to persist in efforts to rectify the situation.

The study serves as a significant indictment for the EKD, which had, until now, managed to avoid the scale of scandal that engulfed the Catholic Church. Harald Dressing, another co-author of the study, criticized the “slow work” of regional churches in providing necessary documents, impeding a comprehensive investigation despite contractual obligations.

Katharina Kracht, a survivor of abuse by a church minister in the 1980s, expressed disappointment with the study’s outcomes, attributing delays in a meaningful investigation to the actions of regional churches.

Despite the challenges, the EKD announced its intention to unveil an “action plan” in November based on the study’s findings. This announcement comes in the wake of the resignation of the former head of the EKD, Annette Kurschus, at the end of the previous year, following accusations of covering up a suspected sexual assault by a colleague.

The EKD’s acknowledgment of failure resonates with a similar study commissioned by the German Bishops’ Conference in 2018, which revealed 1,670 clergymen committing sexual attacks against 3,677 minors between 1946 and 2014. The actual number of victims is believed to be considerably higher. In 2020, the Catholic Church increased payouts for abuse in Germany to up to 50,000 euros, although critics argue the amounts remain inadequate.

Source: AFP