A Spiegel research into allegations of abuse is targeting the diocese of Trier. The then Bishop Cardinal Marx is also under criticism.
Trier – With numerous accusations, criminal charges and admitted errors, the Catholic Church regularly comes under even greater pressure. Research by the news magazine Spiegel has now uncovered further cases of abuse from the Trier diocese. It is about a forced abortion after a young woman became pregnant by a priest, about sexual violence against acolytes and students, and about superiors who are said to have looked the other way.
Several high-ranking representatives of the Roman Catholic Church also come under pressure. The two most prominent names: the then Bishop of Trier and today’s Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who made a resignation to the Pope in the spring, which was rejected, and his successor as Chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Limburg Georg Bätzing. Bätzing was vicar general in the diocese of Trier from 2012 to 2016.
Alleged abuse in the diocese of Trier: Victims complain of inactivity of the church
Only a few victims appear by name, and one of the reporters is reported to have received a threatening phone call at night. Those who tell their stories despite shame and intimidation are Timo Ranzenberger, who was allegedly abused by a priest as a teenager; Karin Weißenfels, who is said to have been sexually abused by a priest as an employee and then forced to have an abortion; and Martina Oehms, who describes abuse by a religion teacher.
In addition to the must-measure offenders, the victims also accuse the church, which is said to have failed to act in known cases of abuse. Timo Ranzenberger reported a suspected sex offender in 2006 who remained in office for a long time and was only retired years later after further reports. In spring 2021, Ranzenberger published an open letter on the social network Facebook, a few days before Marx is said to have asked the Pope to resign.
Allegations of abuse in the diocese of Trier: over 100 priests suspected
According to the Spiegel report, many cases are still in the investigation stage at the Diocese of Trier, although the accusations in some cases were already known under Marx and Bätzing. In some cases, the victims have not had the courage to report their stories to the authorities. According to the diocese of Trier, which does not comment on the latest allegations, there are 442 people affected from 1918 onwards, and 208 more people have reported since 2010 and accused clerics of a criminal offense. The allegations were directed against 73 deceased and 36 still living church employees. At least one of them, reports Der Spiegel, died during the years of investigation.
Canon law expert Thomas Schüller confirmed in an interview with the reporters that the diocese of Trier, where “serious errors” had occurred, “was one of the worst examples of poor reappraisal”: “When the investigations are over, it will be difficult for the bishops concerned to come to terms hold. “(ska)
