GERMANY’S CLERICAL abuse scandal is taking on “unprecedented dimensions”, according to an investigator who has been contacted by more than 120 former pupils of Jesuit schools.
Faced with a growing number of abuse claims, the federal justice minister has dismissed as “premature” calls from survivors’ groups to extend Germany’s 10-year statute of limitations on most common sex crimes.
Berlin attorney Ursula Raue, appointed by the Jesuits to investigate abuse claims at three schools, has said order authorities were aware of abuse claims against 12 priests and at least two women.
Ms Raue said that, by moving alleged abusers on to other schools, the order “took better care” of them than the children in their care.
“Reviewing the files, I have not come across any indication of a concern for the welfare of the children,” she said, adding that she expected further cases to come to light.
“This has taken on unprecedented dimensions.”
Some 40 to 50 of the victims who had contacted her were former students of Jesuit schools in Berlin, Hamburg, Bonn and the Black Forest. She said that 80 per cent of those who contacted her were not interested in financial compensation, but a “serious apology”.
Large-scale legal action is unlikely: the Jesuit cases date back to the 1970s and 1980s, beyond the 10-year statute of limitations on most common sex crimes.
Germany’s leading victim support group has said that, regardless of this, police and state prosecutors should investigate suspected abuse cases.
“Someone who abused children in the past will go on to abuse another and another, and in many cases police will come across a case not yet outside the statue of limitations,” said Mr Veit Schiemann, spokesman for the Weisse Ring victim support group.
“It’s a very emotional thing for the victim to admit to himself and others what happened – and then to go to the police and find out they don’t want to know.”
Federal justice minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger has said she was “shaken” by the accusations, and has called for a full investigation. But she said it would “send the wrong signal” to change the law in light of the unfolding clerical abuse cases.
Bavarian justice minister Beate Merk has called for a 30-year window on prosecutions.
“The minister is calling for full investigation into institutions of the Catholic Church – while blocking a change in the law that would allow this,” Ms Merk said.