ABUSE SCANDAL
Switzerland: a document for reflection At present the Swiss Bishops’ Conference sees no reason to make a statement on the wake of the Holy Father’s Pastoral Letter on sexual abuses in the Irish Church, declared Walter Müller from the Swiss Bishops’ Conference, as reported by Swiss news agency Kipa. “The Pope’s letter issued March 20 to Irish bishops encourages also the Swiss Church to follow the undertaken path. Indeed, “the Letter reiterates the Guidelines for cases of abuse released by the Swiss Church in 2002”, he added. And therefore, for the time being “the Swiss bishops’ statement on the letter is not due”. Firstly, “the bishops need to accurately study the document”, bishop Müller concluded. According to Kipa, some cases also took place in Swizerland. Last week, a parish administrator in the diocese of Chur resigned after having been informed of charges of alleged abuse on a minor in the 1970s. According to the abbot of Einsiedeln abbey Martin Werlen, five cases of abuse by religious have been recorded in the period 1970-2010. Holland: “recovering faith”The Dutch bishops conveyed their sincere appreciation of the Holy Father’s Pastoral Letter on sexual abuse to Irish bishops issued a few days ago, stated Msgr. Van Luyn, President of the Bishops’ Conference and Msgr. de Korte, responsible for investigations into the abuses. “Although the letter is addressed to the Catholic community in Ireland”, the bishops say, “the Pope’s message is relevant also for Dutch Catholics”. “His sincere words of regret and his sympathy with the victims e and their families can be extended also to the victims in the Netherlands”, the bishops write in their statement. Van Luyn and de Korte affirm, “Dutch bishops acknowledge the Holy Father’s proposals aimed at doing the victims justice, for repentance, for the victims’ healing process and for the recovery of faith”. “The bishops conclude with these words: “when the pope recalls the failures of Church leadership, that could undermine the Church’s credibility, the bishops and the superiors must take on their responsibilities and address all criticism. Independent research that was proposed, on which the ex Chamber President Win Deetman is planning consultations, is the area where these problems are due to be addressed”. Germany: the establishment of an ad hoc Committee Germany’s Federal Government approved on March 24 the establishment of a committee on sexual abuse in public and private institutions and in families. The 40-expert panel, chaired by the minister for the family Kristina Schröder, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (Justice) and Annette Schavan (Education) will convene for the first time next April 23. The government appointed the former Minister for the Family Christine Bergmann as independent consultant for abuse cases, with the task of speaking to the victims and proposing material and spiritual help. According to Schröder, the committee is expected to conclude the works by the end of the year. “Two workshops are being planned”, he announced, “for prevention and to raise awareness amongst children, parents and pedagogues”, along with “information and management of abuse cases”. “We must seek the causes of abuses within institutions”, said Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger. “But we must also find a way to respond to the suffering of the victims”. The President of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), Msgr.Robert Zollitsch, welcomed Bergmann’s appointment also.
