GERMANY
National Catholic Reporter
Christa Pongratz-Lippitt | Jan. 11, 2016
Two hundred and thirty-one young members of the famous German “Regensburger Domspatzen” boys choir were abused between 1953 and 1992, three times the official number published in the diocesan report of February 2015, according to an independent lawyer.
At a press conference in Regensburg on Jan. 8, Ulrich Weber, an independent lawyer called in by the diocese in May 2015 to undertake further investigations of the abuse scandal, said he feared that the estimated number of unrecorded cases was far higher.
It is highly probable that every third pupil at the preparatory school for the boys’ choir was exposed to physical abuse consisting of violent beatings, withholding fluids for up to five days, forced feeding and sexual abuse “from fondling to rape” during those years.
Weber spoke of a “system of fear” which prevailed for decades at the school.
The perpetrators were a small circle of priests, teachers and employees which included, Fr. Johann Meier, headmaster of the preparatory school from 1953-1992, Weber said.
Weber’s figures are significantly higher than those officially published by the Regensburg diocese in February 2015 which found that 72 former members of the choir had been abused. Regensburg Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer apologized for the abuse at the time and offered each victim 2,500 euros (US$2,730) compensation.
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