Archbishopric of Berlin distributes one million euros to individuals who suffered from sexual assault
The Catholic Church in Berlin has been making payments to victims of sexual violence since at least 2017, according to the archdiocese's annual report. In 2024 alone, the Church awarded approximately €249,000 to 12 victims of sexual violence, with some cases dating back ten years or more.
The report includes the number of new reports and the total sum paid out in so-called "recognition payments". However, the payments are not specified as being for a specific number of victims or for a particular type of sexual violence. The Church has not announced any plans to stop making these payments.
The Archdiocese of Berlin, which covers the entire city of Berlin, as well as parts of Brandenburg, the eastern region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and the city of Havelberg in Saxony-Anhalt, has processed 147 cases of sexual violence since 2002. Three of the new allegations were directed at members of the clergy, while seven involved teachers at Catholic schools and two concerned volunteers.
The report outlines the measures taken by the Church to prevent such incidents. These measures include intervention, prevention, and processing claims of sexual violence. The Church has been working to address these issues and improve victim support, as acknowledged by former Archbishop of Berlin, Reinhard Marx, who later became a Cardinal.
The broader context of sexual abuse within the German Catholic Church is well-documented. A study commissioned by the German bishops' conference revealed widespread sexual abuse from 1946 to 2014 across Germany, with almost 4,000 victims identified. The Catholic Church in Berlin's efforts to address these cases reflect the German Church's broader reckoning with sexual abuse scandals over the post-war decades.
Though specific detailed records of cases and compensations by the Archdiocese of Berlin prior to 2018 are not explicitly available, the €1 million paid since 2018 reflects ongoing efforts to address such cases. The Church has paid out approximately one million euros to victims of sexual violence over the past seven years.
In an effort to expand its focus beyond the Church's internal affairs, the Archdiocese of Berlin has shown interest in supporting broader health and wellness initiatives, such as sex education programs, to promote sexual health. The Church's concern for general news topics extends to advocating for stricter laws in the realm of crime and justice, particularly those aimed at protecting children from abuse.
