GERMANY: German Jesuits must update priesthood vetting procedure says national bishops conference in light of current sex abuse scandal

Record ID: 334582

  • Title: GERMANY: German Jesuits must update priesthood vetting procedure says national bishops conference in light of current sex abuse scandal
  • Date: 3rd February 2010
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 2, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CANISIUS COLLEGE WHERE SEXUAL ABUSE TOOK PLACE VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF CANISIUS COLLEGE CANISIUS COLLEGE SIGN BONN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 2, 2010) (REUTERS) MATTHIAS KOPP, SPOKESMAN FOR GERMAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE, WALKING IN CORRIDOR (SOUNDBITE) (German) MATTHIAS KOPP, SPOKESMAN FOR GERMAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE, SAYING: "In 2002 the German bishop's conference published guidelines how to deal with cases of sexual abuse. That now needs to be clarified and since these guidelines have been in existence we have been trying to implement them." GERMAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (German) MATTHIAS KOPP, SPOKESMAN FOR GERMAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE, SAYING: "A lot has changed in society and the Church has also learnt from this. For example in the training of priests. This means that for many years even before 2002, it has been asked during priest training how to deal with sexuality and how do you deal with teaching the development of a personality? These are elements which would not have been found in the training of priests 30 years ago." BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 2, 2010) (REUTERS) PAN ACROSS CANISIUS COLLEGE COLLEGE WINDOWS CANISIUS COLLEGE SIGN EXTERIOR OF COLLEGE
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAR575N4QI7NSEYFRLJ4LZ8SRX
  • Story Text: Jesuit priest recruitment guidelines need updating in the light of revelations that two priests carried out systematic sexual abuse of children at one of Germany's most prestigious schools. That's the view of Matthias Kopp, spokesman for the German Bishops Conference, a summit of the country's Christian leaders.
    Speaking on Tuesday (February 2) in Bonn, Kopp said church guidelines published eight years ago needed to be reviewed urgently.
    He said: "In 2002 the German bishop's conference published guidelines how to deal with cases of sexual abuse. That now needs to be clarified and since these guidelines have been in existence we have been trying to implement them."
    Father Klaus Mertes, director of the exclusive Canisius College, apologised on Monday (February 1) for serial sexual abuse apparently committed by two priests.
    At least 20 students were abused in the 1970s and 1980s, a higher figure than originally admitted.
    Church representatives have conceded that the Jesuit order of Germany had held evidence of the sexual abuse cases since 1981, but had never informed parents, students or authorities. The two priests had continued to sexually abuse boys and girls after being transferred from Canisius to other Catholic schools and youth institutions in Germany, Mexico, Chile and Spain.
    Kopp insisted that the church had moved forward in recent years. He said: "A lot has changed in society and the Church has also learnt from this. For example in the training of priests. This means that for many years even before 2002, it has been asked during priest training how to deal with sexuality and how do you deal with teaching the development of a personality? These are elements which would not have been found in the training of priests 30 years ago."
    The Jesuit order has assigned an independent counselor for sexual abuse victims to investigate all allegations and present a report on the findings in two weeks.
    Canisius College was founded as an all-boys school and admitted girls in the late 1970s.
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