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PDF versionGerman bishops release sex abuse guidelines
Aug. 31, 2010
BERLIN -- Officials and employees of Germany's Roman Catholic Church will be required to immediately report suspicions of child abuse to the police under new guidelines set to go into effect on Wednesday (Sept. 1), the German Bishops Conference announced.
The new guidelines are in response to a wave of scandal that washed over the church in the winter, as dozens of decades-old accusations of physical and sexual abuse of children came to light.
"The horrible revelations and experiences of the recent months have shown us that our guidelines of 2002 were not precise enough in all points," said Trier Bishop Stephan Ackermann, who was appointed by the conference to lead a team creating the new guidelines.
The previous guidelines had only required officials to report suspected abuse "as soon as possible."
The new guidelines allow officials to not report cases to authorities if the abused child, or the parents, requests that no report be filed.
The guidelines also require all dioceses to have at least one person who does not directly report to the bishop available as a contact person for reporting suspected abuse. Those accused of abuse are barred from working with children and all church employees who work with children will have to undergo more thorough screening.
Ackermann said that the question of financial reimbursement for past victims is still an ongoing discussion that will be carried out at a roundtable of church and government officials and experts. But he promised it would not be swept aside. "We will not hide behind the roundtable."
Several organizations representing victims called the guidelines a good start, but Germany's Justice Ministry said more clarification would be needed.
Somebody in Germany, at some
Somebody in Germany, at some point, is going to spill a whole lot of beans. The trail of beans will lead all the way to Rome.
These guidelines as described
These guidelines as described allow for creditably accused pedophiles to remain working. What difference does it make that they are "not allowed to work around children"? The collar and the job title alone gives them access to children.
Not reporting a crime just because a parent is concerned is no reason to allow a pedophile to keep abusing other children.
These guidelines are obviously carefully crafted to protect abusers.
The German Church attorneys are learning well from criminal defense attorneys paid by American bishops - put all the press on prevention - making the 94% of healthy men and women take the blame for the 6% who are now carefully protected.
Shame on the German Church for its naivete. Germany of all places should be more conscious of abuses of power. These new guidelines are completely bogus. It makes sense only in the light that the head of the German bishop's conference remains in power because of statute of limitations and that Bishop Mixa, despite beating children and defrauding his flock of 100,000 euros plus, has been forgiven by the pope, and allowed to take a retreat before returning to ministry. I guess if the German Church swallows all that, they will swallow these new fake guidelines.
Lots of words - very little
Lots of words - very little detail - again. I like the idea of having an independent person who does not report to the bishop but in the hierarchical structure how does that work? I am not sure it is possible. In canon law the bishop ultimately hires and fires all employees so how independent can this person be?
There must be a universal
There must be a universal canonical mechanism whereby clergy and laity alike oust a bishop from his cathedra for cause. A system which also preserves the bishop's right to be heard and to defend himself. Now the bishops depend upon a" good old boys club" to defend them, to select them in the first place, and then to maintain them in office. This system is perverse. It keeps dead wood and criminals in office collecting all the benefits to which they are no longer entitled.
The laity and the clergy should be able to select a bishop's successor for a fixed term of office, preferably no more than 15 years as ordinary of the diocese.
The exception for the parents
The exception for the parents to make the decision not to report is onerous. It allows the parents to put their child's purported interest above the interest of numerous future child victims. In the US, physicians such as myself have NO recourse but to report or risk a huge fine and action against my license by the state. If the parents don't want the child to testify, then the police don't have to prosecute. But the perpetrator will have been outed and he will be on the radar the rest of his life if the police do their job. The accusation will also be duly logged and can provide additional credibility in the future should additional accusations arise.
Der Speigel has a different
Der Speigel has a different version of the facts: known (not just accused) abusers are also able to remain priests and working.
Interesting that sexual abuse
Interesting that sexual abuse accusations are world wide, but physical abuse seems to be confined to Irish brothers, Irish nuns, and German & Austrian priests. No conclusions, just interesting.
Stay tuned. I doubt we are
Stay tuned. I doubt we are even out of the 1st quarter of the game.
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