A Case Study of Sexual Abuse
By Leon J. Podles
Leon J. Podles
February 19, 2008
http://www.podles.org/case-studies/Peter-Kramer-Case-Study-page1.htm
Peter Kramer
(1947- )
Diocese:
Regensburg, Germany
Current Status: suspended
 |
Location: in psychiatric institution awaiting trial
Peter Kramer, ordained in 1997, abused two boys in 1999. In 2000 he was convicted in a non-public trial, sentenced to probation, and ordered to go to therapy and keep away from children. Within months he and first communicants were photographed together. No one noticed or cared.
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His bishop, relying upon a good report from the therapist, appointed Kramer a pastor in 2004, two years after German bishops solemnly promised never again to appoint a convicted abuser to work with children. The bishop told no one about the conviction and Kramer dedicated himself to working with the boys of the parish. Kramer's past was revealed in summer 2007, and by fall 2007 he was accused of abuse in his new parish. His bishop said that he acted properly in appointing Kramer; Pope Benedict seemed to agree.
Early Career
In June 1997, Peter Kramer, a former auto mechanic, was ordained by Bishop Manfred Mùller for the diocese of Regensburg in southern Germany. In September 1997, he was stationed at the village of Viechtach.
A year and a half later, on March 31, 1999, the Wednesday of Holy Week, thirty-one-year-old Kramer abused two boys. While their parents, Joanna Treimer, a music teacher, and her husband, were at an event at the Kolpinghaus community center, Kramer played a game of tag with nine-year-old Daniel and his brother, twelve-year-old Benedikt. Kramer lured the boys into a corner, caught them, and groped their genitals. Their eleven-year-old sister Franziska saw this and reported it to their parents. The next day, the Treimers confronted Kramer. He denied everything. Joanna and her husband then told their pastor, who believed them and contacted the chancery on April 1, 1999.
On April 6, Bishop Manfred Mùller removed Kramer from his parish without any explanation. He sent the priest to a clinic for three months. The Vicar General of the diocese, Michael Fuchs, told the Treimers that no legal action should follow. "I feared that the children would have to testify in public. The boy was completely disturbed, slept badly, and had to cry a lot,"1Jrg Klotzek, "Kaplan missbraucht Buben und wird Pfarrer," Passauer Neue Presse, July 26, 2007. All translations are mine. I have quoted the German when there is a question of tone or of legal and medical terminology. Joanna later said. The family decided not to go to the police.
In July 1999, Joanna Treimer wrote to the diocese and demanded Kramer never again be allowed to work with children and youth: "I cannot sleep when [I] imagine that he could destroy the souls of more children and damage more families," she wrote. But the diocese would not agree to this and insisted that it alone would make decisions about Kramer's future.2"Doch der Justitiar des Bistums verweigerte die Versicherung, der gleichen knne 'vom Bischflichen Ordinariat nicht gutgeheirn werden,' schreib er an die Familie. Die Kirche knne nur versprechen, 'dass die kùnftige Einsatz des Herrn K. erst aufgrund einer sorgfltigen Entscheidung erfolgen wird'" (Conny Neumann and Peter Wensierski, "Schweigen gegen Geld," Der Spiegel, September 17, 2007.)
In November, the Treimers, Kramer, and diocesan officials came to an agreement: Kramer paid the children 5000 marks (then about $3,000) in damages (Schmerzengeld). The parents asked that there be no publicity for the sake of the children and signed an agreement not to speak of the affair.
The boys' father, a deeply devout Catholic, was distraught about the abuse. He had a nervous breakdown and was sent to a clinic. In early 2000, he told a fellow patient about the abuse, and she told the police.3 Jrg Klotzek, "Kaplan missbraucht Buben and wird Pfarrer," Passauer Neue Presse, July 26, 2007. Kramer was arrested, tried, and found guilty. A court-appointed forensic expert, Dr. Bernd Ottermann of the District Clinic Straubing, declared Kramer a homosexual pedophile. Of his report to the court, Ottermann later said, "I had then clearly and distinctly stated that employment of Mr. K. in the spiritual care of youth was completely out of the question."4"Ich habe damals klar und deutlich gemacht, dass ein Einsatz in der Jugendseelsorge fùr Herrn K. auf keinen Fall in Frage kommen darf" ("Widersprùche zwischen Gericht und Bistum," Regensburger Wochenblatt, n.d.).
On July 7, 2000, a judge sentenced Kramer to three years probation on two conditions: that he undergo therapy and that he not work with children during the probation. The judge explained that she imposed the latter condition because of the diagnosis of pedophilia.5This 1999 report diagnosed Kramer as having "a disturbance of sexual preference in the sense of homoerotic pedophilia" and that "he manipulatively used his positionas confessor to keep the child silent" ("Strung der Sexualprferez im Sinne einer homoerotischen Pdophilie" and "Manipulativ nutzte er seine Position as Beichvater, um das Kind zum Schwiegen zu bringen"["Pfarrgemeinderat weist Kampagnen-Vorwurf zurùck" Bayerischen Rundfunks, October 10, 2007]). However, she informed the diocese of this report via phone and only in general terms; for legal reasons she could not send the report to them.6The diocese later claimed: "ùber ganz wenige Punkte wurde der Justiciar des Ordinariates in groben Zùgen informiert; das 50-seitige Gutachten selbst wurde dem Ordinariat, da es nicht Prozessbeteiligter was nich ausgehndigt und konte logischer Weise spter bei der Entscheidung der Dizese ùber den Wiedereinsatz von Peter K. in der Seelsorge auch nicht berùcksichtigt wurden" (Dr. Franz Frùhmorgen, "Chronologie Peter K., Viechtach / Riekofen-Schnach," http://www.bistum-regensburg.de/borPage002700.asp). Additionally, the judge could have appointed a probation of? cer (Bewhungshelfer), but did not. As a result, no one was monitoring Kramer except his therapist and of?cials of the diocese of Regensburg. A priest had to send the court reports about Kramer every three months and, depending on their content, the probation period could have been extended.
A diocesan consultant found a therapist for Kramer, who was assigned as chaplain of a retirement home in the town of Sùnching. While there, the mothers of a children's group from the nearby town of Riekofen asked Kramer to help with worship services for small children. He was not of?cially assigned to the parish at Riekhofen, although he often worked there.
The diocese claimed he worked only as a supply priest (that is, saying mass) and did this with the permission of his therapist.7"Pfarrgemeinderat weist Kampagne-Vorwurf zuruck," Bayerische Rundfunk, October 10, 2007. But after the death of the pastor of Riekhofen in February 2001, Kramer took over all duties at the parish, including work with children. On May 10, 2001, the Mittelbayerische Zeitung published a photograph of Kramer with sixteen children receiving their ?rst communion. This ministry was a direct violation of the court order.
From February 2001 to August 2004, records show the administrator of the parish was the pastor in neighboring Schnach, Helmut Grùneisl. Though the diocese must have known that Kramer was the only priest working in the parish, it did not inform Grùneisl of Kramer's past. As Grùneisl approached retirement, he asked the diocese several times whether Kramer could be his successor. He was informed that Kramer had a history of heart and lung problems, and his health was questionable. Though Grùneisl thought Kramer's intense interest in the youth of the parish was "strange" (komisch), he had no reason to suspect anything wrong.
The priest who was dean of the area, Hans Bock, heard nothing of Kramer's problems until 2003, when Kramer's probation was nearly over. Diocesan of?cials told him only that "something had happened in Viechtach" and mentioned, vaguely, that Bock should "keep an eye on things." Bock was not told of the conviction or any of the conditions under which Kramer worked.8Grùneisl was told "in Viechtach hat es was gegeben" and "er mge ein bisschen aufpassen" ("Fall Riekhofen: Bistum lie Dekan ùber Vorstrafen von Peter K. im Unklaren," Mittelbayerische Zeitung, October 13, 2007).
In January 2002, Bishop Manfred Mùller retired from the diocese of Regensburg.
After a deluge of news about abusive priests in the United States, in September 2002 German bishops issued a series of guidelines, one of which speci?ed that no priest convicted of sexual abuse of children could be assigned to work with children: "Clerics who have been guilty of the sexual abuse of minors, after they have served their sentence, will never again be put in an area that brings them into contact with children and young people."9"Zum Vorgehen bei sexuellen Missbrauch Minderjhriger durch Geistliche im Bereich der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz: Leitlinien mit Erluterungen," September 27, 2002. Article 12: "Nach Verbùung seiner Strafe werden dem Tter keine Aufgaben mehr ùbertragen, die ihn in Verbindung mit Kindern und Jugendlichen bringen. Geistliche, die sich des sexuellen Missbrauch Minderjahriger schuldig gemacht haben, werden nach Verbùing ihrer Strafe nicht mehr in Bereichen eingesetzt, die sie mit Kindern und Jugendlichen in Verbindung bringen." The document has no mention that a statement from an expert pronouncing the criminal "healed" creates an exception to this guideline.
A New Era
Gerhard Ludwig Mùller was a professor of theology at Munich and friend of the Peruvian liberation theologian Gustavo Gutierrez. Together, they co-authored a book titled An der Seite der Armen (On the Side of the Poor). Mùller also is an editor of the collected works of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Mùller opined that divorced and remarried Catholics can, under some conditions, be readmitted to communion without a formal annulment. Mùller is therefore not a reactionary, but he has defended the limitation of ordination to men as theologically-based. His work attracted the Vatican's eye, and in October 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Regensburg.
Mùller soon came into con?ict with elements in his diocese, particularly the movement Wir sind die Kirche (We are the Church). Disagreements were mostly over who should exercise authority in the Church and how. The substantive issue was the ordination of women. Mùller dissolved the diocesan council, ?red a key theologian, withdrew permission to teach Catholic theology from August Jilek, and suspended pastors who disagreed with him.10Christopher Wenzel, "Sexueller Missbrauch: Regensburger Bischof in Kreuzfeuer," Die Welt, September 15, 2007. Additionally, Mùller ?ned retired pastor Siegfried Felber 600 euros for preaching at an ecumenical wedding.11Christian Eckl, "Widersprùche zwischen Gericht and Bistum," Wochenblatt, n.d.
Footnotes
1 Jrg Klotzek, "Kaplan missbraucht Buben und wird Pfarrer," Passauer Neue Presse, July 26, 2007. All translations are mine. I have quoted the German when there is a question of tone or of legal and medical terminology.
2 "Doch der Justitiar des Bistums verweigerte die Versicherung, der gleichen knne 'vom Bischflichen Ordinariat nicht gutgeheirn werden,' schreib er an die Familie. Die Kirche knne nur versprechen, 'dass die kùnftige Einsatz des Herrn K. erst aufgrund einer sorgfltigen Entscheidung erfolgen wird'" (Conny Neumann and Peter Wensierski, "Schweigen gegen Geld," Der Spiegel, September 17, 2007.)
3 Jrg Klotzek, "Kaplan missbraucht Buben and wird Pfarrer," Passauer Neue Presse, July 26, 2007.
4 "Ich habe damals klar und deutlich gemacht, dass ein Einsatz in der Jugendseelsorge fùr Herrn K. auf keinen Fall in Frage kommen darf" ("Widersprùche zwischen Gericht und Bistum," Regensburger Wochenblatt, n.d.).
5 This 1999 report diagnosed Kramer as having "a disturbance of sexual preference in the sense of homoerotic pedophilia" and that "he manipulatively used his positionas confessor to keep the child silent" ("Strung der Sexualprferez im Sinne einer homoerotischen Pdophilie" and "Manipulativ nutzte er seine Position as Beichvater, um das Kind zum Schwiegen zu bringen"["Pfarrgemeinderat weist Kampagnen-Vorwurf zurùck" Bayerischen Rundfunks, October 10, 2007]).
6 The diocese later claimed: "ùber ganz wenige Punkte wurde der Justiciar des Ordinariates in groben Zùgen informiert; das 50-seitige Gutachten selbst wurde dem Ordinariat, da es nicht Prozessbeteiligter was nich ausgehndigt und konte logischer Weise spter bei der Entscheidung der Dizese ùber den Wiedereinsatz von Peter K. in der Seelsorge auch nicht berùcksichtigt wurden" (Dr. Franz Frùhmorgen, "Chronologie Peter K., Viechtach / Riekofen-Schnach," http://www.bistum-regensburg.de/borPage002700.asp).
7 "Pfarrgemeinderat weist Kampagne-Vorwurf zuruck," Bayerische Rundfunk, October 10, 2007.
8 Grùneisl was told "in Viechtach hat es was gegeben" and "er mge ein bisschen aufpassen" ("Fall Riekhofen: Bistum lie Dekan ùber Vorstrafen von Peter K. im Unklaren," Mittelbayerische Zeitung, October 13, 2007).
9 "Zum Vorgehen bei sexuellen Missbrauch Minderjhriger durch Geistliche im Bereich der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz: Leitlinien mit Erluterungen," September 27, 2002. Article 12: "Nach Verbùung seiner Strafe werden dem Tter keine Aufgaben mehr ùbertragen, die ihn in Verbindung mit Kindern und Jugendlichen bringen. Geistliche, die sich des sexuellen Missbrauch Minderjahriger schuldig gemacht haben, werden nach Verbùing ihrer Strafe nicht mehr in Bereichen eingesetzt, die sie mit Kindern und Jugendlichen in Verbindung bringen." The document has no mention that a statement from an expert pronouncing the criminal "healed" creates an exception to this guideline.
10 Christopher Wenzel, "Sexueller Missbrauch: Regensburger Bischof in Kreuzfeuer," Die Welt, September 15, 2007.
11 Christian Eckl, "Widersprùche zwischen Gericht and Bistum," Wochenblatt, n.d.
A Second Chance, A Cruel Experiment
Peter Kramer completed his probation in July 2003. The judge must have been satisfied with the therapist's report (and certainly she did not know about Kramer's work with children in the parish) she did not extend the probation period. On August 19, 2003, the diocese received the final report from Kramer's therapist, which showed that the therapist reported to Regensburg district court that he did not foresee any further conditions for Kramer. The report stated that Kramer "with certainty" was "not a fixated pedophile;" that the one-time "regressive behavior" in Viechtach had been worked through; that a "stabilization and production of his personality" had been reached; and that "a relapse was unlikely and no longer to be expected." From a therapeutic point of view, there were "no hesitations about appointing him as a pastor in a parish."12"Peter K. 'mit Sicherheit' 'kein fixieter Pdophiler' ist, das einmalige 'regressive Verhalten' in Viechtach therapeutisch aufgearbeitet sei, eine 'Stabilisierung und Festigung seiner Persnlichkeit erreicht' worden sei und ein 'Rùckfall sehr unwahrscheinlich und nicht mehr zu erwarten' sei. Aus therapeutischer Sicht gebe es 'keine Denenken ihn als Seelsorger in einer Gemeinde einzusetzen'" ( Dr. Franz Frùhmorgen, "Chronologie Peter K., Viechtach / Riekofen-Schnach").
Wunibald Mùller, a Benedictine, a psychologist, and leader of a therapy center for priests at Mùnsterschwarzach Abbey, later said "I always become wary when a report is made by the attending therapist and not by a neutral person."13Dietmar Bruckner, "Einfach nichts gesagt," Die Zeit, September 20, 2007.
He continued, "It is scientifically recognized that reports and therapy should be carried out by separate experts," because "a therapist requires an emotional closeness to the patient; a report, on the contrary, professional distance from the offender."14Jrg Klotzekm "Bistum vertraute aufs Gutachten," Passauer Neue Presse, September 22, 2007.
On February 20, 2004, diocese legal advisor Hans Schuierer called the judge who sentenced Kramer to ask what she thought of putting Kramer back in a parish. Here the two parties have divergent memories:
* The chancery said she saw no reason not to put Kramer back in a parish; this also is what the memo of the telephone conversation indicated.15According to the diocese, the memo read: "Fr. [Name der Richterin] RiAG [Tel. nr.] Viechtach, Tel. am 20.2.04, Frau Richterin [Name der Richterin] hat aufgrund der Gutachtenlage und des Umstands, dass kein 'Kontaktverbot' ausgesprochen wurde, keine Bedenken, Herrn Kramer in der Seelsorge einzusetzen" ("Dizese bekrftigt: Gerichte sahen keine Einschrnkungen vor," Bistum-Regensburg.de, September 30, 2007). She said she added two conditions: that he be supervised and that he not work with children.16According to the diocese, it was not until September 2007 that she wrote that she had said "dass aus ihrer Sicht eine Gemeindearbeit unter Aufsucht denkbar sei, dabei aber eine Arbeit mit Jugendlichen unter keinen Umstnden in Betracht kommen knne" (Dr. Franz Frùhmorgen, "Chronologie Peter K., Viechtach / Riekofen-Schnach"). Dr. Andreas Quentin of the regional court in Nuremberg insisted that the judge, relying on Ottermann's report, told Schuierer in respose to his question about whether Kramer could be appointed to a pastoral position, that it was "Under supervision thinkable, that he would again be employed in a parish, but work with youth must be completely ruled out," "Unter Aufsicht denkbar, dass er wieder in einer Gemeinde ttig ist, aber eine Jugendarbeit darf dabei keinesfals in Betracht kommen" (Christian Eckl, "Widersprùche zwischen Gericht and Bistum," Wochenblatt, n.d.).While deciding whether to put Kramer back into a parish, Mùller said officials called Kramer twelve times and asked whether he had any relapses.17"Bischof Mùller betonte, der Priester sie mehrfach bei Gesprchen im Ordinariat gefragt worden, ob er sich etwas habe zu Schulden kommen lassen. 'Es gab ein zwlfmaliges Befragen, er hat immer nein gesagt'" (Karl Birkenseer, "Bischof sieht sich als Ziel einer Kampagne," Passauer Neue Presse, September 10, 2007). Kramer said no, and Mùller said that he had to believe him. Mùller later said that Jesus had forgiven the worst sinners, so he had to forgive Kramer. Mùller also pointed out that rehabilitation and reintegration, not punishment, was the goal of modern society's treatment of criminals.
* The diocese denies she said this until her letter of September 11, 2007.
Gerhard Mùller then appointed Kramer as pastor of Riekhofen, whose parishioners had been delighted by Kramer's prior work there (some of which was contrary to his probation order). When Kramer arrived in September 2004, the grateful parish greeted him with a searchlight and built him a new 590,000 euro (about $750,000) priest's house. At the blessing of this house Kramer spoke of the patron of the parish, John the Baptist, and preached: "Today also must the Church say what is false and unjust."18"Kirchlicher Segen fùr neues Pfarrhaus," Mittelbayerische Zeitung, June 26, 2006.
Kramer told the parish he did not want a housekeeper. The diocese told no one in Riekhofen of Kramer's past; it sent the parish a letter about Kramer's life, in which all mention of his years at Viechtach were silently excised.19Conny Neumann and Peter Wensierski, "Schweigen gegen Geld," Der Spiegel, September 17, 2007. The diocese did not inform the dean of the area about the details of Kramer's past,20Jrg Klotzek, "Kaplan missbraucht Buben and wird Pfarrer" (Passauer Neue Presse, July 26, 2007). nor did it say anything to his successor Anton Schober or the regional dean, Johann Strunz.21"Der zustndige Dekan von Alteglofsheim-Schierling, Anton Schober, der seit Anfang 2006 im Amt ist, wusste nach eigenem Bekunden ebeso wenig vom Gefahrenpotenzial des Priesters wie der ùbergeordnete Regional Dekan, der zu einer Visitation in J.s Pfaerrei kam. Vielmehr was Regionaldekan Johann Strunz 'sehr ùberrascht von dem Fall, Pfarrer K. war ja beliebt'" ("Pdophiler Pfarrer ein Geheimnis des Ordinariats," Passauer Neue Presse, September 11, 2007). No one from the chancery ever asked anyone in the village any questions about Kramer's behavior.22 "In Riekhofen fragt niemand aus dem Ordinariat nach dem Verhalten des Pfarrers" (Rudolf Neumaier, "Das Geheimnis des Beichtvaters" [Suddeutsche Zeitung, September 13, 2007]).
Immediately, Kramer began cultivating the parish. He paid much attention to the elderly and earned their support. Kramer taught religion in the school in Sùnching, and there recruited 100 altar servers. He said he would hear the confessions only of boys; another priest came in to hear the confession of girls. Kramer took boys to the movies, to the swimming pool, on overnight trips, and had his favorites (always boys, only boys) over to the priest's house, where he had delights for them. He smoked a water pipe and drank wine with them. When parents complained, Kramer was a master-manipulator of the unsuspecting. One parishioner later remembered:
"He spoke to parents, who were wary and had said: 'Father Kramer, it is not OK that they smoke at your house and drink alcohol when they are thirteen.' He had brilliantly explained I know it from these parents he reassured them, my, what did they want, that they [the boys] were going to do it anyway, and if I am there I can control it and so they do it secretly and so it is better if adults have it under control and so they [the parents] let themselves be reassured."23"Er hat Eltern gegeben, die hellhrig geworden sind und gesagt haben: Hr PK, das ist nicht okay, dass die bei ihnen rachen und mit 13 Alkohol trinken. Er hat es meisterhaft verstanden wei ich von diesen Eltern dass er beschwichtigt hat Mei, was wollt ihr, die machen das so auch, wenn ich dabei bin, kann ich das kontrollieren und so machen sie das hemlich und so ist es besser, wenn Erwachsene das unter Kontrolle haben und die haben sich beschwichtigen lassen" ("Riekofen? Wo liegt das?" Deutsche Radio, October 15, 2007).
In July 2007, the father of the two victims in Viechtach learned that Kramer was pastor in Riekhofen, and sent e-mails to the villagers, to Regensburg, and to the media to inform them of Kramer's past.24"Bùrger von Riekhofen fùhlen sich getuscht," Suddeutsche Zeitung, September 3, 2007. The people of Riekhofen, having been assured by the chancery in Regensburg that Kramer had an excellent prognosis, initially supported Kramer: "We would like Father Kramer to stay with us,"25"Wir mchten dass Herr Pfarrer Kramer bei uns bleibt," Mittelbayerische Zeitung, August 3, 2007). wrote the altar servers in a petition. Kramer had a nervous breakdown and was taken in an ambulance to a clinic.
A few days later, a boy from Riekhofen accused Kramer of abusing him between 2003 and 2006. Kramer was arrested and taken into custody. One local family asked a child psychologist to come to the village. The children began to talk:
"Since 2003, said the children, the pastor had abused more children. First on trips, later allegedly in his rectory, in which he lived without a housekeeper. K[ramer] was supposed to have invited the boys alone and to have read a sexual advice book to them, said a father, who had heard it from the altar servers. Then the priest had frequently asked the boys if they had already had sex one time. Later he was said to have become forceful. The attacks, said the father, were supposed to have been substantially worse than the events in Viechtach."26"Seit 2003 soll der Pfarrer, so erzhlen es zumindest Kinder, erneut Jungen missbraucht haben. Zunchst auf Ausflùgen, spter angeblich in seinem Pfarrhaus, in dem er ohne Haushalterin lebte. K. soll die Buben einzeln eingeladen und aus einem Sexualkundebuch vorgelesen haben, sagt ein Vater, der es von Ministranten erfahren hat. Dann habe der Priester die Jungs oft gefragt, ob sie schon einmal Sex hatten. Anschlieend soll er zudringlich geworden sein. 'Die ùbergriffe,' mutma der Vater, 'waren wohl wesentlich schlimmer als das Geschehen in Viechtach'" (Conny Neumann and Peter Wensierski, "Schweigen gegen Geld," Der Spiegel, September 17, 2007).
In Kramer's place, Nigerian priest and professor of theology Innocent Nwokenna said mass and, despite his imperfect German, had to read Bishop Mùller's letter of explanationnot an apologyto the unhappy parishioners of Riekhofen (Mùller later accused the parishioners of racism because they objected to the Nigerian's reading the letter.27 Mùller said that the letter read to the parish was "badly received, in part with racist undertones, because an black African and not a German read out the letter," "schief angenommen, teils mit rassistischen Untertnen, weil nicht ein Deutscher, sondern ein Schwarzafrikaner den Brief vorlesen habe" (Karl Birkenseer, "'Wir sind keine Staatskirche,'" Passauer Neue Presse, December 29, 2007).). The parishioners wrote to Mùller that whether or not there was a positive report (Gutachten) about Kramer, anyone should have known there was still risk and that Mùller should not have performed "a cruel experiment (grausame Experiment) with the souls of our children." The Catholics of Riekhofen demanded that he take "full responsibility" for sending a convicted abuser to their parish.28 Isabel Metzger, "Regensburger Bischof immer starker unter Druck," Passauer Neue Presse, September 7, 2007.
Footnotes
12 "Peter K. 'mit Sicherheit' 'kein fixieter Pdophiler' ist, das einmalige 'regressive Verhalten' in Viechtach therapeutisch aufgearbeitet sei, eine 'Stabilisierung und Festigung seiner Persnlichkeit erreicht' worden sei und ein 'Rùckfall sehr unwahrscheinlich und nicht mehr zu erwarten' sei. Aus therapeutischer Sicht gebe es 'keine Denenken ihn als Seelsorger in einer Gemeinde einzusetzen'" ( Dr. Franz Frùhmorgen, "Chronologie Peter K., Viechtach / Riekofen-Schnach").
13 Dietmar Bruckner, "Einfach nichts gesagt," Die Zeit, September 20, 2007.
14 Jrg Klotzekm "Bistum vertraute aufs Gutachten," Passauer Neue Presse, September 22, 2007.
15 According to the diocese, the memo read: "Fr. [Name der Richterin] RiAG [Tel. nr.] Viechtach, Tel. am 20.2.04, Frau Richterin [Name der Richterin] hat aufgrund der Gutachtenlage und des Umstands, dass kein 'Kontaktverbot' ausgesprochen wurde, keine Bedenken, Herrn Kramer in der Seelsorge einzusetzen" ("Dizese bekrftigt: Gerichte sahen keine Einschrnkungen vor," Bistum-Regensburg.de, September 30, 2007).
16 According to the diocese, it was not until September 2007 that she wrote that she had said "dass aus ihrer Sicht eine Gemeindearbeit unter Aufsucht denkbar sei, dabei aber eine Arbeit mit Jugendlichen unter keinen Umstnden in Betracht kommen knne" (Dr. Franz Frùhmorgen, "Chronologie Peter K., Viechtach / Riekofen-Schnach"). Dr. Andreas Quentin of the regional court in Nuremberg insisted that the judge, relying on Ottermann's report, told Schuierer in respose to his question about whether Kramer could be appointed to a pastoral position, that it was "Under supervision thinkable, that he would again be employed in a parish, but work with youth must be completely ruled out," "Unter Aufsicht denkbar, dass er wieder in einer Gemeinde ttig ist, aber eine Jugendarbeit darf dabei keinesfals in Betracht kommen" (Christian Eckl, "Widersprùche zwischen Gericht and Bistum," Wochenblatt, n.d.).
17 "Bischof Mùller betonte, der Priester sie mehrfach bei Gesprchen im Ordinariat gefragt worden, ob er sich etwas habe zu Schulden kommen lassen. 'Es gab ein zwlfmaliges Befragen, er hat immer nein gesagt'" (Karl Birkenseer, "Bischof sieht sich als Ziel einer Kampagne," Passauer Neue Presse, September 10, 2007).
18 "Kirchlicher Segen fùr neues Pfarrhaus," Mittelbayerische Zeitung, June 26, 2006.
19 Conny Neumann and Peter Wensierski, "Schweigen gegen Geld," Der Spiegel, September 17, 2007.
20 Jrg Klotzek, "Kaplan missbraucht Buben and wird Pfarrer" (Passauer Neue Presse, July 26, 2007).
21 "Der zustndige Dekan von Alteglofsheim-Schierling, Anton Schober, der seit Anfang 2006 im Amt ist, wusste nach eigenem Bekunden ebeso wenig vom Gefahrenpotenzial des Priesters wie der ùbergeordnete Regional Dekan, der zu einer Visitation in J.s Pfaerrei kam. Vielmehr was Regionaldekan Johann Strunz 'sehr ùberrascht von dem Fall, Pfarrer K. war ja beliebt'" ("Pdophiler Pfarrer ein Geheimnis des Ordinariats," Passauer Neue Presse, September 11, 2007).
22 "In Riekhofen fragt niemand aus dem Ordinariat nach dem Verhalten des Pfarrers" (Rudolf Neumaier, "Das Geheimnis des Beichtvaters" [Suddeutsche Zeitung, September 13, 2007]).
23 "Er hat Eltern gegeben, die hellhrig geworden sind und gesagt haben: Hr PK, das ist nicht okay, dass die bei ihnen rachen und mit 13 Alkohol trinken. Er hat es meisterhaft verstanden wei ich von diesen Eltern dass er beschwichtigt hat Mei, was wollt ihr, die machen das so auch, wenn ich dabei bin, kann ich das kontrollieren und so machen sie das hemlich und so ist es besser, wenn Erwachsene das unter Kontrolle haben und die haben sich beschwichtigen lassen" ("Riekofen? Wo liegt das?" Deutsche Radio, October 15, 2007).
24 "Bùrger von Riekhofen fùhlen sich getuscht," Suddeutsche Zeitung, September 3, 2007.
25 "Wir mchten dass Herr Pfarrer Kramer bei uns bleibt," Mittelbayerische Zeitung, August 3, 2007).
26 "Seit 2003 soll der Pfarrer, so erzhlen es zumindest Kinder, erneut Jungen missbraucht haben. Zunchst auf Ausflùgen, spter angeblich in seinem Pfarrhaus, in dem er ohne Haushalterin lebte. K. soll die Buben einzeln eingeladen und aus einem Sexualkundebuch vorgelesen haben, sagt ein Vater, der es von Ministranten erfahren hat. Dann habe der Priester die Jungs oft gefragt, ob sie schon einmal Sex hatten. Anschlieend soll er zudringlich geworden sein. 'Die ùbergriffe,' mutma der Vater, 'waren wohl wesentlich schlimmer als das Geschehen in Viechtach'" (Conny Neumann and Peter Wensierski, "Schweigen gegen Geld," Der Spiegel, September 17, 2007).
27 Mùller said that the letter read to the parish was "badly received, in part with racist undertones, because an black African and not a German read out the letter," "schief angenommen, teils mit rassistischen Untertnen, weil nicht ein Deutscher, sondern ein Schwarzafrikaner den Brief vorlesen habe" (Karl Birkenseer, "'Wir sind keine Staatskirche,'" Passauer Neue Presse, December 29, 2007).
28 Isabel Metzger, "Regensburger Bischof immer starker unter Druck," Passauer Neue Presse, September 7, 2007.
Placing Blame
Mùller repeatedly refused to take any responsibility. "The culprit bears the responsibility for the offense. I am not responsible for everything that out clerics and coworkers do."29"Die Veranwortung fùr eine Straftat trgt der Tter. Ich bin nicht verantwortlich fùr alles, was unsere Geistlichen und Mitarbeiter tun" ("Regensburger Bischof wascht seine Hande in Unschuld," Der Spiegel, September 21, 2007). he said.
Though he expressed sympathy for the victims, Mùller maintained that he did not make a mistake, and in fact did what Jesus would have done: "If Jesus forgave even the worst sinners, how could one deny the pastor a second chance?"30"Wenn Jesus auch den schlimmsten Sùndern verziehen hat, wir konnte man dem Pfarrer da eine zweite Chance versagen" ("Regensburger Bischof wascht seine Hande in Unschuld," Der Spiegel, September 21, 2007).
Mùller did not like being criticized, and also said, "We will not let us be slandered and if that doesn't stop, we will also take a legal action."31"Wir lassen uns nicht verleumden und wenn das nich aufhrt, werden wir rechtlich dagegen vorgehen." (Karl Birkensee, "Bischof sieht sich als Ziel einer Kampagne," Passauer Neue Presse, September 10, 2007). (Mùller previously asked Catholics not to take intra-Church disputes into the secular courts.32 "Er vor nicht allzu langer Zeit selbst ein Dekret erlassen hatte, in dem er den Katholiken seines Bistums untersagte, bei kircheninternen Streitigkeiten weltliche Gerichte anzurufen" (Rudolf Neumaier, Pdophiler Pffarer ein Geheimnis des Ordinariats," Sùddeutsche Zeitung, September 11, 2007).) He maintained that he could not control his priests: "I have the spiritual authority, but I cannot control everyone,"33 "Ich habe die geistliche Autoritt, aber kann nicht alles kontrollieren" (Birgit Fùrst, "Riekhofen? Wo liegt das?" Deutsche Radio, October 15, 2007). he said. A parishioner of Riekhofen, however, familiar with the way Mùller treated those who disagreed with him, said, "We have seen in past years that Mùller can control things."34Christopher Wenzel, "Sexueller Missbrauch: Regensburger Bischof in Kreuzfeuer," Die Welt, September
15, 2007.
Mùller insisted that he "had not made a mistake. Mùller ruled out any apology for the appointment of the pedophile-priest without the knowledge of the faithful in Riekhofen."35"Der Regensburger Bischof Gerhard Ludwig Mùller hat mehrfach erklrt, dass die Bistumsleitung keinen Fehler gemacht habe. Eine Entschuldigung dafùr, dass der pdophile Priester ohne Wissen der Glubingen in Riekhofen eingesetzt wird, lehnt Mùller ab" (Mittelbayerische Zeitung, October 1, 2007). Though German court guidelines said that no convicted abuser would work with children, Mùller maintained his actions did not violate the guidelines because the convicted abuser had been pronounced healed by his therapist.
The guidelines, the diocese said, did not absolve the diocese from making its own decisions which it would continue to do.36Muller maintained that "the guidelines did not absolve the diocese from the responsibility of making its own decisions. They would rely in the future on reports in assessing dangers," "Die Leitlinien wùrden die Dizesan nicht von der Verantwortung entbinden, eigene Entscheidigung zu treffen. Bei der Beurteilung von Gefhrdungen werde man auch in Zukunft auf Gutachten verlassen mùssen" (Karl Birkenseer, "Bischof sieht sich als Ziel einer Kampagne," Passauer Neue Presse, September 9, 2007). Mùller claimed that he was the victim of a campaign to discredit him, and that he did not need "any lectures from people who have nothing at all to do with pastoral care."37"Belehrungen von Leuten, die in der Pastorale gar nichts zu tun haben" ("Bischof Mùller: Brauche keine Belehrungen," Bayerische Rundfunk, October 26, 2007).
The bishop of Fulda, Heinz Joseph Algermissen, said that an offender can be given a second chance, but with such an offense, the new beginning must be somewhere there are no children.38Martin Gehlen, "Bischfe diskutieren Missbrauchsfall," Tagespeigel, September 24, 2007. Bishop Mùller countered, "There is no space free of children and youth. Even in a home for the elderly, children visit their grandmother, and in a prison, one can encounter the children of the employees."39 "Es gibt keine kinder- und jugendfreie Rume. Auch in Altersheim besuchen die Enkel ihre Oma und in Gefngnis kann man den Kindern der Angestellten begegnen" ("Missbrauchsfall ùberschattet Bischofskonferenz," netzeitung.de, September 24, 2007). At a conference of the German bishops in Fulda, the bishops emphasized the "binding character"40Daniel Deckers, "Ein grausames Experiment," Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, October 1, 2007. (Verbindlichkeit) of the guidelines. Cardinal Lehmann insisted that when someone is "guilty, in no way can he be employed in the normal care of souls."41"'Wenn jemand 'schuldig geworden ist, darf er auf gar keinen Fall un der normalen Seelsorge beschftigt werden'" (Christian Gressner, "Missbrauch durch Pfarrer: Hohe Kirchenpolitik und tiefer Schmerz," Der Stern, September 28, 2007). But Lehmann "ruled out an intervention of the bishops conference in the current case. The bishop's conference in this situation has no legal authority."42"Ein Eingreifen der Bischofskonferenz in den aktuellen Fall lehnte Lehmann aber ab. Die Bischofskonferenz habe hierzu keine rechtliche Befugnis" (Bayerische Rundfunk, September 28, 2007).
The Aftermath
In Bavaria, all political parties condemned the diocese's conduct. Kramer was employed by the state to teach religion in the school at Schnach, where he recruited his altar servers. The church did not inform the school of his conviction.43 "Kirchen sollen Staat ùber Vorstrafen informieren," Die Welt, November 29, 2007.
Today, police continue their questioning of children in the village to find out whether there are more victims. Kramer is in police custody and on suicide watch.44Jrg Klotzek, "Missbrauchsflle: Pfarrer K. sitzt und schweigt," Passauer Neue Presse, October 22, 2007. He was then transferred to a psychiatric institution and awaits trial on charges that between the beginning of August 2004 and August 2006 he abused a 14-year-old boy twenty-two times. Kramer faces up to fifteen years in prison. 45Press Release, Oberlandsgericht Nùrnberg, January 31, 2008.
The father of the boys whom Kramer abused in Viechtach is divorced and wanders the Way of St. James in Spain, railing about the priest who abused his sons. No one takes him seriously.46Jrg Klotzek, "Kaplan missbraucht Buben and wird Pfarrer," Passauer Neue Presse, July 26, 2007. Joanna Treimer has raised three children alone. One son, now twenty-one, has difficulties with relationships.
Mùller still refuses to listen to criticism, because "the only superior of a bishop is the pope," and "from that quarter I have heard no criticism."47 "denn der einzige Vorgesetzte eines Bischofs sei der Pabst. 'Und von dieser Seite habe ich noch keine Kritik gehrt'" ("Bischof Mùller: Brauche keine Belehrungen," Bayerische Rundfunk, October 26, 2007). In December 2007, Pope Benedict XVI sent Bishop Mùller congratulations on his sixtieth birthday, having just appointed him to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith48"Pabst Benedict lobt Bischof Gerhard Ludwig Mùller," kath.net, December 29, 2007. which, among other duties, oversees the trials of clerics accused of sexual abuse.
Negligence
The case is important because it occurred after German bishops read the news from the United States and saw what happened when bishops reassigned abusers who were diagnosed as "cured."
Negligence is clear on all sides, among officials of both the church and the state:
The judge failed:
* The sentence was light.The therapist failed:
* She should have sent to the diocese the 50-page report in which Kramer was diagnosed as a pedophile, instead of giving the diocese a general verbal report. If it could not be sent for legal reasons, its severity should have been made known to the diocese.
* She should have appointed a probation officer to monitor Kramer. She would then have discovered that Kramer was violating his conditions of probation by serving in a parish and working with children.
* She should have noticed the disparity between the diagnosis of pedophilia in the 1999 report and the diagnosis of a one-time regressive behavior in the 2003 report, and sought further opinion.
* In 2004, she should have followed up her telephone conversation with a written report stating she thought that Kramer could work in a parish only if he was supervised and did not work with children. Although not legally binding, it would have carried weight because she saw both the 1999 report and the 2003 report.
* He was taken in by a con man.Bishop Manfred Mùller, Bishop Gerhard Mùller, and the diocesan officials
* He was aware that Kramer was working in a parish with children, contrary to the conditions of probation.
* He should have been aware of the dangers of developing a relationship with a patient and of hoping that the therapy was working.
* He should have suggested an independent evaluation by a psychotherapist who had worked with abusers.
all failed:
* Bishop Manfred Mùller should not have let Kramer work with children in the parish of Riekhofen, because this violated his conditions of probation.Pope Benedict failed:
* He let Kramer work in this parish even before it received the report from his therapist.
* The diocese should have informed the deans who supervised the parish of Riekhofen about Kramer's conviction and trained them about how to spot danger signs.
* The diocese should have let a responsible person in Riekhofen, such as the mayor, know about Kramer, and trained him on how to spot danger signs.
* Bishop Gerhard Mùller should have followed the 2002 guidelines of the German bishops and not appointed a convicted abuser to a position working with children.
* If he chose not to follow the guidelines, Mùller should have announced that decision to the diocese, so that everyone would be aware there might be convicted abusers in parishes.
* The diocese should have asked the judge to convey in writing the opinions she expressed in the 2004 telephone conversation.
* The diocese should have asked for a second opinion about Kramer from someone who was independent and an expert in pedophilia.
* Having made a disastrous decision, Bishop Mùller should have learned that the infallibility of the Church does not extend to the administrative decisions of bishops. He should have solicited advice from as many people as possible, including those with whom he disagreed. Humility is a virtue, even in bishops.
* Mùller's failure did not hurt his standing with the pope. Benedict appointed him to a position of great trust at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Benedict should at least have reprimanded him publicly as a warning to other bishops not to take chances with children's souls.Footnotes
29 "Die Veranwortung fùr eine Straftat trgt der Tter. Ich bin nicht verantwortlich fùr alles, was unsere Geistlichen und Mitarbeiter tun" ("Regensburger Bischof wascht seine Hande in Unschuld," Der Spiegel, September 21, 2007).
30 "Wenn Jesus auch den schlimmsten Sùndern verziehen hat, wir konnte man dem Pfarrer da eine zweite Chance versagen" ("Regensburger Bischof wascht seine Hande in Unschuld," Der Spiegel, September 21, 2007).
31 "Wir lassen uns nicht verleumden und wenn das nich aufhrt, werden wir rechtlich dagegen vorgehen." (Karl Birkensee, "Bischof sieht sich als Ziel einer Kampagne," Passauer Neue Presse, September 10, 2007).
32 "Er vor nicht allzu langer Zeit selbst ein Dekret erlassen hatte, in dem er den Katholiken seines Bistums untersagte, bei kircheninternen Streitigkeiten weltliche Gerichte anzurufen" (Rudolf Neumaier, Pdophiler Pffarer ein Geheimnis des Ordinariats," Sùddeutsche Zeitung, September 11, 2007).
33 "Ich habe die geistliche Autoritt, aber kann nicht alles kontrollieren" (Birgit Fùrst, "Riekhofen? Wo liegt das?" Deutsche Radio, October 15, 2007).
34 Christopher Wenzel, "Sexueller Missbrauch: Regensburger Bischof in Kreuzfeuer," Die Welt, September 15, 2007.
35 "Der Regensburger Bischof Gerhard Ludwig Mùller hat mehrfach erklrt, dass die Bistumsleitung keinen Fehler gemacht habe. Eine Entschuldigung dafùr, dass der pdophile Priester ohne Wissen der Glubingen in Riekhofen eingesetzt wird, lehnt Mùller ab" (Mittelbayerische Zeitung, October 1, 2007).
36 Muller maintained that "the guidelines did not absolve the diocese from the responsibility of making its own decisions. They would rely in the future on reports in assessing dangers," "Die Leitlinien wùrden die Dizesan nicht von der Verantwortung entbinden, eigene Entscheidigung zu treffen. Bei der Beurteilung von Gefhrdungen werde man auch in Zukunft auf Gutachten verlassen mùssen" (Karl Birkenseer, "Bischof sieht sich als Ziel einer Kampagne," Passauer Neue Presse, September 9, 2007).
37 "Belehrungen von Leuten, die in der Pastorale gar nichts zu tun haben" ("Bischof Mùller: Brauche keine Belehrungen," Bayerische Rundfunk, October 26, 2007).
38 Martin Gehlen, "Bischfe diskutieren Missbrauchsfall," Tagespeigel, September 24, 2007.
39 "Es gibt keine kinder- und jugendfreie Rume. Auch in Altersheim besuchen die Enkel ihre Oma und in Gefngnis kann man den Kindern der Angestellten begegnen" ("Missbrauchsfall ùberschattet Bischofskonferenz," netzeitung.de, September 24, 2007).
40 Daniel Deckers, "Ein grausames Experiment," Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, October 1, 2007.
41 "'Wenn jemand 'schuldig geworden ist, darf er auf gar keinen Fall un der normalen Seelsorge beschftigt werden'" (Christian Gressner, "Missbrauch durch Pfarrer: Hohe Kirchenpolitik und tiefer Schmerz," Der Stern, September 28, 2007).
42 "Ein Eingreifen der Bischofskonferenz in den aktuellen Fall lehnte Lehmann aber ab. Die Bischofskonferenz habe hierzu keine rechtliche Befugnis" (Bayerische Rundfunk, September 28, 2007).
43 "Kirchen sollen Staat ùber Vorstrafen informieren," Die Welt, November 29, 2007.
44 Jrg Klotzek, "Missbrauchsflle: Pfarrer K. sitzt und schweigt," Passauer Neue Presse, October 22, 2007.
45 Press Release, Oberlandsgericht Nùrnberg, January 31, 2008.
46 Jrg Klotzek, "Kaplan missbraucht Buben and wird Pfarrer," Passauer Neue Presse, July 26, 2007.
47 "denn der einzige Vorgesetzte eines Bischofs sei der Pabst. 'Und von dieser Seite habe ich noch keine Kritik gehrt'" ("Bischof Mùller: Brauche keine Belehrungen," Bayerische Rundfunk, October 26, 2007).
48 "Pabst Benedict lobt Bischof Gerhard Ludwig Mùller," kath.net, December 29, 2007.
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