MUNICH – Pope Benedict XVI’s former diocese is facing new allegations of physical and sexual abuse on a daily basis, the head of its new sex-abuse task force said Friday.
“It is like a tsunami,” Elke Huemmeler, who leads the diocese’s newly founded abuse prevention task force, told The Associated Press.
Huemmeler estimates there are about 120 cases on the record to date, around 100 of them at the nearby Ettal monastery boarding school, run by Benedictine monks. She stresses, however, her role is not to deal with the old cases, but help set up the prevention program.
On Friday, her new Task Force on Sexual Abuse Prevention, now officially commissioned and backed by Archbishop Reinhard Marx, began its work.
By November, it plans a comprehensive program to fight abuse in Roman Catholic institutions. It is the first of its kind in the German church, which has been deeply shaken by allegations of sexual and physical attacks on minors since the beginning of the year.
When the first abuse cases broke at Ettal about three weeks ago, Huemmeler immediately sat down with colleagues to brainstorm and find a way out of the “disaster,” as she calls it.
“I don’t think I have ever seen us that shocked,” Huemmeler, head of the diocese’s social work unit, said about the church leadership.
Marx has said he wants to bring out everything into the open and also named a commission to comb through old records to find out who knew what and when.
The diocese now has three specialists to listen to and investigate victims’ allegations of abuse, Huemmeler says. The third was named just this week because the workload has grown immensely in a short time.
The first step is to take stock of what has happened, analyze patterns and then find ways to prevent sexual abuse by making people look more closely.
When educators start doing unusual things like taking kids for walks or having them over for dinner, “a red light has to start blinking,” she says.
Huemmeler says several institutions have been affected by abuse allegations but did not name them. The diocese also would not give names, numbers or details at this point, citing the ongoing investigations.
Huemmeler is familiar with some individual cases, however. She mentioned a man who was abused as a child in the 1970s at a home for handicapped kids. He contacted the diocese just this week.
Last week, the diocese confirmed the case of a priest who was transferred in 1980 to Munich. That came after three sets of parents alleged he had abused their children in the northwestern city of Essen, the diocese there said.
The priest underwent therapy, but then returned to work with youngsters. He was convicted of abuse in 1986.
Pope Benedict, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was Archbishop of Munich and Freising at the time of the priest’s transfer from Essen to Munich. The diocese has said Ratzinger knew about the transfer but not about the priest’s continued work in Bavarian congregations after he assumed his duties at the Vatican.
A psychoanalyst who said he treated the recently suspended Rev. Peter Hullermann for 12 years after the initial allegations of sexual abuse said the priest resisted the idea of having to go through therapy and saw himself as a victim.
“He never accepted these conditions,” Werner Huth told the AP in a telephone interview. “It was impossible to use certain forms of therapy with him that I believed were necessary.”
Huth had wanted Hullermann to stop drinking and to have a supervisor with him at all times, but the priest would accept neither.
Erwin Wild, then spokesman of the diocese’s council of priests, said he and his colleagues were not informed by Ratzinger that the priest was an offender, which he thinks was wrong.
“We should have known,” Wild said.
Sex abuse allegations have surfaced in several other countries in recent weeks.
In neighboring Switzerland Friday, the Basel diocese admitted that it hired a priest in 1971 knowing that he had sexually abused children. It said it made an unjustifiable assessment when it hired Father Gregor Mueller, knowing he was dismissed from a previous post in Germany for sexual abuse.
In Austria, a man alleged that he was sexually and physically abused in 1978 as a 14-year-old student at a boarding school affiliated with a Benedictine monastery in the western province of Tyrol.
The man, now 46, told public broadcaster ORF that he and others had their genitals groped by a priest as they slept in the dormitory. He said that, when he reported the incident, he was slapped and had to promise not to tell his parents or anyone else.
In Italy, the bishop of the northern diocese of Bolzano apologized to victims and promised to go to prosecutors with any cases that rest within the statue of limitations.
Bishop Karl Golser issued an apology late Thursday, after several victims came forward alleging physical and sexual abuse at a Bolzano convent and church school in the 1950s and 60s. He also launched an Internet campaign to urge more victims to come forward.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted March 19, 2010 at 2:50 pm
No surprise…The RCC has managed to spread itself all over the place in it’s zeal to “convert” the heathens. That great organization spread child molesters too. This story isn’t over….more and more countries will be uncovering the evil that this group has perpetuated.
posted March 19, 2010 at 8:05 pm
We can hope the RCC in Germany has enough resources, and they can be found, to give appropriate reparations to all the people they hurt. (Who doesn’t think those resources are being shipped out of Germany as fast as they can be, secretly?)
We can hope the men involved in doing these acts and in covering them up are sent to prison for the rest of their lives. Real prison.
We can hope people learn from this to never let those deemed to have moral authority close to their children unattended by a parent or a close friend or relative who would not be swayed by such claims of authority.
We can hope. But I’m not confident.
posted March 19, 2010 at 11:56 pm
It is no surprise that one sees the same people posting against the Catholic Church, right “Pagan Sister?Right, NNMS? Man I guess you all must be above it all, huh? You act as though every priest is a child molester. Actually very very few of them were and I think they have done a great job of rooting them out in the last trwenty years. Lets not forget how long ago these claims are from too, nothing even remotely recent. By the way, I am NOT a Catholic but I do know a bit about the organization and the fact that they are the biggest provider of services for the poor, needy, downtrodden. They pay out millions of their own money helping people with health care/hospitalization, Pagan Sister is too busy spreading falsities to bother to know anything about that. How many people have the “Pagans”helped lately? I wonder how many pedophiles consider themselves to be Pagan? Wasn’t that actually a part of paganism? As well as child sacrifices?? THAT is well know so you really have alot of nerve espousing your garbage all over the web. I bet if your backgroung were investigated we’d find a treasure trove of non sense wouldn’t we? Man, it sucks to be picked on by someone that really doesn’t know jack about you, doesn’t it?
posted March 20, 2010 at 12:04 am
Oh, and they also have homeless shelters as well as job assistance centers, counselling for people suffering mental health disorders, give money for rent assistance and the list goes on and on. I guess my point is this, they sure seem to give alot back to this world and help an incredible amount of people. Yes, people have abused their positions in the past and were not dealt with appropriately but in reality NO ONE was very good at dealing with those sort of things until very recently. The fact is this world needs organizations that help so many people in this world and to kick an entire group because of what so few have done is just absurd!This annonymity and the mob mentalty one sees on the internet is as wrong as anything they rail about. It is amazing the stupidity of some of these people, the same people that if you were to talk with them face to face would be nice normal people but get behind that curtain and here comes the hate!
posted March 20, 2010 at 6:07 am
Glenn-
Please add me to you list.
However, you need to correct your statement. We are not posting against the Catholic Church. Rather we are posting against the actions of some in the Catholic Church. And, we are posting against what seems to be a systemic cover-up of what most people believe is wrong. Specifically, the molestation of boys by older men.
Yes, there is no doubt that the Church as an institution has done some great things for humanity. Unfortunately, there also seems little doubt that the Church as an institution has systemically, for years and years, covered up and enabled child molestation in the USA, Ireland, Germany, and other countries.
Further, some of those authorized to speak for and act on behalf of the Church have also repeatedly lied…..and, seemingly are still doing so.
Peace!
posted March 20, 2010 at 8:27 am
Glenn I do appreciate the good things the RCC does, and you may be more aware of some of them than I am. But I’m also very aware the RCC opposes real birth control for anyone and it opposes abortions which are often badly needed, these despite a world that’s too full of people already. And of course it teaches people, starting at a very young age, to believe nonsense.
Now to the point at hand. You confined your attention to the priests who did these things and you claim they’ve been rooted out. Since through most of its existence the Church would have denied they were even there, don’t you think there needs to be some evidence they’ve been rooted out. And, with exactly the same old structure there, what’s to prevent it all from happening over again? They’re still not letting their people marry. They’re still not letting women into the power structure. There’s still all that secrecy. No, Glenn, I think there’s no reason to think this has been stopped unless it’s because rank and file Catholics have become fed up with being silenced.
And it seems to have escaped your attention that for decades, perhaps centuries, the people who run the Roman Catholic Church were aware it was happening and systematically and aggressively covered it up. They covered it up by demanding, on pain of excommunication (a far bigger deal to a believing Catholic than to you or me, Glenn) that the victims and their parents and others in the church never say anything for any reason whatever. And they continue to cover it up. Nowhere has the Church announced there was child abuse going on before victims came forward and made it public. Do you really think it’s now all out in the open? Hah!
And in keeping all this secret they moved perpetrators from one parish to another where they could victimize new boys and girls. And when they sent a priest for counseling they didn’t (always? ever?) tell the counselor what he had done.
So, Glenn, if there were a company whose main job was to confuse people about the truth and take their money and hold power over them and which, as byproducts, also produced some good things and, knowingly and consistently for decades, some really, really bad things; if there were a company like that do you think it should stay in business?
posted March 20, 2010 at 8:56 am
Expect a new group to face similar charges: the Boy Scouts. A judge has ordered a set of files they’ve kept of suspected offenders, 1,247 of them, from 1965-85, to be made available. The article says they are public record and it records men who went from one troop to another. And while Scouts apparently made some attempt to protect their kids they did not report these men or their suspicions to the authorities.
Again, secrecy and an attempt to protect their organization that has gone on and on.
Scouts does a lot of good things and if they can clear this up and get around to admitting homosexuals and atheists I hope they continue, but I suspect they face a world of hurt for now.
posted March 20, 2010 at 10:39 am
I would be proud to be added to Glenn’s “list”.
“You act as though every priest is a child molester.”
No, Glenn. What we are angry about – and rightfully so, imo – is the offical Vatican policy is to NOT report these crimes to the police. It is called ‘Crimens Solicitationis’ – and unless and until the Pope gets rid of such an anti-human policy, any “apologies” are hollow, sham rhetoric, not worthy of a Vicar of Christ.
posted March 20, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Well, the Pope’s response is out. He blames the Irish church. No blame on the Vatican.
posted March 20, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Nnmns there is the Vienna Boys Choir, too. It seems anything to do with groups of boys should be watched very closely. Families years ago told their children don’t tell anyone your business or our business. Everyone obeyed this admonition back then. Nobody wanted anyone to know what they wanted covered up, even if they didn’t know how to take care of it themselves. Everyone should regroup and come into the 21st Century with the knowledge of now, if anything is to change for the better.
posted March 20, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Glenn quote: “Man it sucks to be picked on by someone that really doesn’t know jack about you, doens’t it?” Is that what you were doing? Didn’t really notice. Was rather amusing, actually. Glad your aren’t Catholic…if that is the defence of a non RC.
Yes Pagans did their share of sacrifice, as did many in the Bible…mostly the OT. The RC has the Crusades to be proud of as well as the Inqusitions. RC still has Communion which, in their way of thinking,is actually drinking the blood of Christ and nibbling on his body. Most Christian churches (at least when I was Methodist), used Communion wine/grape juice and bread as representing the blood/body of Christ. (which is better than thinking they are cannibols). There is no religion that hasn’t got skeltons in their closets. You mentioned that not all priests are molestors. Totally agree with that….but ONE is ONE too many. And you mentioned that the RC has done/does good things all over the world and in this country to help people in need. Don’t deny that. My comments reflect my feelings on what is happening in the RC now and apparently for a very long time, under the noses of the bisops, archbishops and all the other “boss dudes” who, to protect the face of THE church, did NOTHING to stop the situation. As to mistreatment of children by Pagans….probably has happened, just like it has happened by other religions too. No one or religion is perfect. However don’t remember any large incidents where those haveing been moslested by a Pagan priest has come forward, do you?
To repeat nnmns’s question….you know that all the molestation has stopped in the RC now? Good….let us know the source. That would be great.
I didn’t spend 10 years teaching in an RC school for nothing. I learned a lot. Most of it good…but this whole situation….not good and Benny is once again trying to sneak out of blame. The VATICAN is untouchable. He wishes.
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posted March 21, 2010 at 10:55 pm
I’ve been watching the historic events in the House. Finally America is joining the other advanced nations in providing health care for its citizens. It wouldn’t have been my choice of ways to do it but it’s incredibly better than the present situation.
I’ve also been struck at the willingness of Republican after Republican to stand before the American people and lie. I think they must realize how much our fellow citizens will come to appreciate not having to worry about losing their health insurance, not having to worry about pre-existing conditions and will appreciate the help many of them will get to pay for health insurance. And many worried about our national debt should come to realize that, compared to the situation before this passed, our debt situation will be a good deal better.
Some gullible people have been lied to by experts like Rush and the Fox commentators but as time goes by a lot of them will realize the Democrats have done them a world of good.
posted March 22, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Here’s a story about a candidate for governor in R.I. who apparently was instrumental in getting one of the first, probably the first, story out about child abuse by a priest in Massachusetts, where the stink all began.
I’ll bet if the Vatican could have this guy retroactively aborted they’d do it in a minute
posted March 22, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Most of the news has been about the Roman Catholic Church for days. On Mar. 19th in local paper a tiny little bleep said Merril Leroy Jessop is sentenced to 75 yrs.. He was indicted in Texas, remember? I looked on CNN, MSNBC, etc. nothing about it. So went into SanAngeloStandardTimes.com, and read about it from the Texas paper. You can probably still read it there. Polgamist news was covered by them when it was all going on. Thought you, nnmns, and pagansister would be interested.
posted March 22, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Thanks Henrietta. I think I saw a headline about it and wondered if it was that case. 75 years is a good number.
posted March 22, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Yes, Henrietta, thanks for the update on Jessop. I certainly hadn’t heard anything…as you said, the RCC news and the Health Care bill have certainly dominated news. Jessop got just what he deserved! Thanks again.
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