Freiburg Minster © pakpoomkh (shutterstock)
Brief statement: following media reports of allegations of rape and abuse cover-up against two religious in 1990, the Archdiocese of Freiburg has stressed it has fully investigated the allegations.
The applicable guidelines of the German Bishops' Conference had been taken into account. The Vatican has also dealt with the case, the archdiocese in Freiburg said. At the same time, the allegations of abuse could not have been substantiated.
No basis in canon law for action
The diocese thus sees no basis in canon law for bans or measures against the two accused religious, who today live in the Archdiocese of Freiburg. The diocese promised to re-examine the case and to investigate it further if there are new, changed indications or information.
The Archdiocese of Freiburg also announced that it had made several offers of help to the person concerned, for example in the form of psychological support by telephone. Archbishop Stephan Burger as well as the Bishop of Dresden, Heinrich Timmerevers, had "personally sought support for the person concerned and clarification in the case.".
The "Badische Zeitung" and the "Sachsische Zeitung" had spoken on Monday of disagreements between the diocese of Dresden-Meissen and the archdiocese of Freiburg in dealing with the accusations. The Archdiocese of Freiburg now stressed that at no point in the proceedings had there been any dissent between Dresden and Freiburg.
Order accuses newspapers of "prejudicial reporting"
In the case in question, a woman accuses a novice of the Order of having raped her in 1990 when she was 22 years old. A second religious is said to have covered up the crime and prevented a reappraisal. The order rejected this account when asked about it. There can be no question of abuse.
At the same time, the Order accused the newspapers of "completely prejudicial reporting" without sufficient "factual and evidentiary basis". The reports had "unjustifiably violated and partially destroyed" the existence and personal rights of the two religious. The order also promised to take consistent action against sexual abuse. If the accusations prove to be true, the necessary consequences will be drawn.