A report prepared in Germany revealed that at least 226 children and young people were sexually abused in the Würzburg Archbishopric in Bavaria between 1945 and 2019.

According to the Independent Commission for the Investigation of Sexual Abuse report, 51 suspects, 43 of whom are Catholic priests, may have committed at least 449 crimes. In the approximately 800-page study prepared by lawyer Hendrik Schneider, it was stated that at least 226 children and young people were sexually abused between 1945 and 2019, with an estimated 3,053 incidents of these crimes occurring, and very few perpetrators being convicted.

The report also stated, “In some cases, crime series against one or more victims were only known based on information such as the duration of victimization and weekly or monthly frequencies. Based on this information, a projection attributed a total of 3,053 crimes to 51 individuals.” According to reports in the German media, Würzburg Bishop Franz Jung acknowledged that the extent of sexual violence against children and young people in his archbishopric during this period was horrifying. Jung, who has been in office since 2018, criticized the inadequate protection of the rights of those affected by this crime, stating, “It is both shameful and shocking.” His predecessor, retired Bishop Friedhelm Hofmann admitted his mistakes during his term from 2004 to 2017. Hofmann sincerely apologized for cases where victims were not adequately cared for, assault reports were not followed up swiftly enough, and perpetrators were not consistently brought to justice.

Jung said, “In personal conversations, victims have repeatedly shown me with their life stories that the church and those in positions of responsibility have largely failed and distorted the liberating message of the Gospel. Sexual abuse remains a lasting wound that does not heal as long as there are those who still suffer the pain of what was done to them in the church environment.” It was also reported that many bishoprics across Germany have prepared reports on abuse cases and established consultation councils and commissions for those affected.