“It was never about covering anything up”

"In the past few days, the cases of abuse that happened 20 and more years ago in Oberharmersbach have become known anew. This is connected with accusations against the actions of the archbishop's office at the time, which are also directed against me as the former personnel officer. I will first outline the state of affairs at the time and then make a personal assessment. In 1991, when we became aware of generalized allegations against the parish priest – without naming any witnesses or people involved – the archbishop at the time took immediate action, retiring the priest and requiring him to leave the place. When a witness later came forward with specific allegations, we confronted the accused and told him clearly that we were determined to involve the public prosecutor's office. He evaded prosecution by taking his own life. On behalf of Archbishop Saier, the dean went to the parish, informed them and asked for apologies and forgiveness on behalf of the archdiocese. At the same time, he offered that victims should turn to a therapist named by him in the sense of coming to terms, healing and therapy. In the course of the next months, 17 persons reported to him. Some of them were treated therapeutically for a long time and received financial support from the archdiocese. We were shocked and affected by the events then, and I am also today. Archbishop Saier as well as Vicar General Bechtold and I were anxious to act according to our level of knowledge. It was never our intention to cover up anything. Unfortunately, the long silence on the scene prevented us from early intervention. The cases of abuse in Oberharmersbach depress me personally to this day, and I apologize once again on behalf of the archdiocese to the victims and ask for their forgiveness. As far as I had responsibility and had to act, this was always done in close consultation with the archbishop and the vicar general. I claim for the diocese management and myself to have always acted to the best of my knowledge and conscience. According to today's knowledge and in view of my responsibility as archbishop, in view of the guidelines adopted by the German Bishops' Conference in 2002, I would search and have searched for witnesses and victims more consistently and with greater emphasis. We have all learned from the appalling cases of abuse. As far as at all possible, I will do my best to ensure that the unspeakable events of the past are no longer repeated in the space of the church. Robert Zollitsch, Archbishop of Freiburg."