Sexualized violence has also occurred in the Evangelical Church for decades. A study now reveals the extent: According to this, at least 1,259 suspected perpetrators were documented. Probably just the tip of the iceberg.
Sexual violence against children and young people has occurred in the Protestant Church to a greater extent than previously assumed. An independent research team commissioned by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) presented its study in Hanover, which reported at least 2,225 people affected and 1,259 suspected perpetrators. However, that is only the “tip of the tip of the iceberg”.
Extrapolation results in even higher numbers
According to the research team’s statement, there is knowledge of other cases that could not have been recorded in a structured manner due to a lack of information. According to the information, only disciplinary files were examined across the board. An extrapolation, which from the research team’s point of view must be viewed with “very great caution”, would result in a total of 9,355 affected people out of an estimated 3,497 accused.
So far it was only known how many of those affected had contacted the responsible authorities in the regional churches in recent years. According to the EKD, there were 858.
Fehrs: “We are guilty.”
The current EKD council chairwoman Kirsten Fehrs said when presenting the study: “As an institution, we have also been guilty of harming countless people. And I can only apologize from the bottom of my heart to those who were so hurt.”
This request for an apology can only be credible “if we act with determination and initiate further change measures. We wanted this study, we initiated it and we accept it with humility,” said Fehrs.
Criticism of slow processing
In the past, criticism has been voiced several times about the slowness in coming to terms with abuse among Protestants. The Cologne constitutional law professor Stephan Rixen criticized the behavior of the EKD and Diakonie. Often no disciplinary files were created for acts of sexual violence. It is also “completely absurd that the personnel files are not examined because, realistically, there are indications of misconduct in personnel files,” says Rixen, who is a member of the Federal Government’s Independent Commission for the Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse. The regional churches and the Diakonia must ask themselves “whether they really want to comprehensively deal with the abuse in the Evangelical Church”.
Those affected are demanding help from the state
When the study was presented, those affected called for the processing of cases and structures to be pushed forward even more – also with the help of the state. “We need the state to assume responsibility here. Because it has been shown again and again that the church is not a counterpart for those affected,” said Katharina Kracht, representative of those affected and a member of the research association’s advisory board. External experts and complaints bodies are needed. Kracht emphasized that processing is the supreme discipline. From their point of view, the regional churches lack competence and probably also interest in actually uncovering cases.
“If such investigations are not undertaken, perpetrators will remain undetected.” Although the study comes late, it is important for those affected because they were included in the investigation, said Kracht. She complained that the Evangelical Church could have acted long ago. The study can therefore only be a beginning.
Hardly comparable with studies of the Catholic Church
The EKD initiated the study in 2020. The number of cases is not directly comparable with the results of a study on sexual violence in the Catholic Church that was published in 2018. After evaluating almost 40,000 personnel files from the period between 1945 and 2014, 1,670 Catholic priests and deacons were accused, to whom 3,677 children and young people could be assigned as those affected. At the time, scientists emphasized that the number was “a lower estimate.”
“No comparisons” could be made with the Catholic Church or other institutions, said the study’s coordinator, Martin Wazlawik. The numbers in no way suggest a lower number of accused in the Evangelical Church and Diakonia.
Buschmann: Processing is not a substitute for criminal prosecution
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus called on the Evangelical Church to systematically deal with sexual abuse at an institutional level. The results of the study are shocking, explained the Green politician. The trust of those affected in the institution of the Evangelical Church was abhorrently exploited by individual perpetrators.
Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann called on both churches to work towards clarifying cases of abuse, making reparations and better prevention. “Church investigation is important – but it is no substitute for state prosecution where this is possible,” explained the FDP politician.
Castellucci: Clarification is also needed in other areas
The SPD politician Lars Castellucci welcomed the study and called for clarification in other areas of society. Most of the crimes take place “in personal proximity, but also in other sports institutions, voluntary work, educational institutions and homes”. Politicians must ensure that sexual violence “is identified and combated everywhere,” said the church representative of the SPD parliamentary group.
Abuse commissioner also sees the state as having a duty
In an interview with the daily topics The federal government’s abuse commissioner, Kerstin Claus, explained how laboriously those affected in the various regional churches and diaconate structures had to fight for recognition and coming to terms with it: “Today is not a day where apologies should have much space, but where it is about recognizing that a lot still needs to be done.”
Among other things, Claus demanded that the state also take responsibility. “When I look at the fact that it is difficult to come to terms with things in the Catholic Church and that there is now evidence in the Evangelical Church that there is no coming to terms with sports and other institutions – then the state also needs to take responsibility.”
This includes, among other things, strengthening the structures of the processing commission and its office. Claus also called for uniform compensation regulations: It should not be the case that it depends on chance how high the payments to those affected in the respective regional church are.