Church – Frankfurt am Main – Abuse in Church: Protest against slow reappraisal – Panorama

Frankfurt / Main (dpa) – With oversized figures and boards reminding of the ten commandments, an action alliance in Frankfurt protested against the slow coming to terms with sexual abuse in the churches. The Ecumenical Church Congress begins this Thursday in Frankfurt. The figures show, among other things, a bishop in a hammock as a symbol for the protesters’ view of the slow action of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches. The action alliance understands this as an appeal to those participating in the church convention to become more involved. Church laypeople had left the processing to bishops and church leaderships for too long, according to a statement on Wednesday.

In recent months there had been criticism of the churches in connection with the processing of allegations of sexual abuse. For example, an abuse report commissioned by Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki from Cologne was initially kept under lock and key. According to his own statements, Woelki considered the report to be flawed and not legally secure and therefore did not want to publish it. This decision triggered a serious crisis of confidence in the largest German diocese.

The protest figures are to remain in downtown Frankfurt until the end of the church convention next Sunday. Organizers are initiatives for those affected and the Giordano Bruno Foundation from Oberwesel in Rhineland-Palatinate.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210512-99-575124 / 2

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