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	Jesuit Order Admits Child Sex Abuse in Three Nations - Summary Earth Times February 1, 2010 http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/307013,jesuit-order-admits-child-sex-abuse-in-three-nations--summary.html Berlin - The Jesuit Order of Catholic priests admitted Monday that boys had been sexually abused at its secondary schools in three nations and that it covered up the scandal a quarter century ago. Stefan Dartman, superior for Germany of the worldwide order, spoke in Berlin after a former sex abuser who left the order in 1991 went public with an admission that he forced boys to have sex at an upmarket boys school, Canisius College, in the capital from 1975 to 1983. Dartmann disclosed that the same sports teacher had been guilty of similar abuses at the order's schools in Spain and Chile. Dartmann criticized his predecessors for not making the cases public. In Germany, the abuses happened in five different towns. "We realize with horror that these matters were evidently perceived differently in the 1970s, 80s and 90s," Dartmann said. "I apologize for the failure back then of the order's superiors to properly and closely scrutinize what happened and respond appropriately," he said. The apology was directed at former pupils, their parents and the rest of the teaching staff at the schools. The order, which is under direct papal authority, teaches in schools and universities with a focus on training young leaders. Dartmann confirmed there had been sex abuse in the 1970s and 1980s at five German locations: in Berlin, Hamburg, St. Blasien, Goettingen and Hildesheim. The self-confessed abuser taught at three of the colleges. The former sports teacher, now 65, left the Jesuits and now lives in Chile. He wrote a circular letter to several victims apologizing. Prosecutors said the crimes appeared to have happened too long ago to bring charges. Around 22 boy are believed to have been victims of the predatory sports teacher and a second Jesuit teaching priest at the Berlin college. "As provincial superior I don't want anything to be concealed," Dartmann said. "But I don't think it's my role to publicly sit in judgement on these brothers." Most Jesuit colleges at the time were for boys only but they have since become co-ed. Dartmann thanked the victims for speaking out, despite their painful memories.
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