The debate continues in Germany on the priests accused of sexual abuse. After the intervention of the president of the German Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Bishop Gebhard Fürst of Rottenburg-Stuttgart has also discussed the problem in a recent interview granted to the Catholic press agency KNA. Bishop Fürst announced the presentation in September of new rules that will discipline “in a clear way” cases of sexual abuse committed by priests. “In this way we can rapidly react to well-founded accusations, also furnishing if necessary collaboration with the state authorities”, declared the bishop. The new rules guarantee “the protection of the personality of both protagonists and victims” and satisfy “the public’s right to information”. A “special section for prevention” is also planned. “The Church must more clearly recognize that the sexual abuse of children may occur and unfortunately does occur among priests”, emphasized Fürst; she must “make it clear that paedophilia is a grave offence, a heinous sin. No one must doubt that the Church is absolutely conscious of her responsibility”. The bishop called for “an exchange between state and ecclesiastical educators” to identify persons with paedophile tendencies.
