GERMANY
Deutche Welle
Compensation will be paid to at least 422 people who were sexually and physically abused over several decades as part of a Catholic choir in Bavaria. A church and victims’ representatives panel is addressing the abuse.
Hundreds of children who were sexually and physically abused over several decades at the Domspatzen, a world-famous Catholic choir in Bavaria, will be financially compensated, Regensburg Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer said on Wednesday.
The 1,000-year-old choir in Bavaria’s Regensburg was first shaken by the massive sexual abuse scandal in 2010, when former pupils alleged abuse by adults in the Catholic Church. To date, 422 former singers have registered complaints of abuse, including at least 65 cases of sexual abuse, from teachers and priests between 1945 and the 1990’s. The actual number of victims is believed to be much higher.
The Catholic Church and victims’ representatives have led a panel to address the tragedy.
Voderholzer announced on Wednesday the results of an interim report and progress on addressing the abuse as part of the panel that includes victims’ representatives. Describing the investigation as the “most depressing experience” of his religious service, the bishop said the panel had agreed on a four-pillar approach to addressing the abuse.
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