In various cases of abuse there had been errors in the clarification. Bishop Genn admits that. An accused pastor was not clearly enough prohibited from pastoral work.
Munster's Bishop Felix Genn has apologized again for his handling of an abuse case. In a non-public conversation yesterday Thursday evening with committees of the parish of St. Margaret Wadersloh, he admitted mistakes, "from which we then always have to learn anew". Everything is uncovered, he said according to data of the diocese Munster from today's Friday. Next Tuesday the bishop comes again to Wadersloh, this time for a discussion with all parishioners, as it was said.
Coming to terms with abuse case
Specifically, it is about a clergyman who, as a chaplain in Kevelaer in the 1980s, is alleged to have sexually abused a girl over a long period of time during confession. The victim informed the diocese in 2010, but demanded that the facts not be made public and that the prosecutor's office not be called in. The clergyman was retired as pastor in Wadersloh-Bad Waldliesborn in 2010. About three years ago, the woman again reported to the diocese, because the clergyman did not adhere to the requirement to celebrate only "services without large public".
Genn again called it a mistake that he had not clearly enough forbidden pastoral activities to the clergyman who later moved to Wadersloh-Bad Waldliesborn. In addition, the pastor, the pastoral team and the committees in Wadersloh should have been informed about the background of the matter. The person concerned had made her case public at the beginning of November.
Clerical abuse
According to the diocese, the clergyman admitted his guilt in a letter to them. Meanwhile, another woman accused the clergyman of abusing her as a girl in the 1980s. According to the diocese, there is a third victim of the priest. However, this is not sexual abuse, but "a particularly reprehensible form of spiritual abuse". But this case did not take place in Wadersloh. Further cases are not known to the diocese.