Vatican Insider
September 18, 2011
http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/news/detail/articolo/8099/
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| BERN |
A total of 146 complaints against acts of sexual abuse were made in 2010, to the Swiss Catholic Church. These facts were presented by the Swiss Episcopal Conference at a press conference in Bern.
According to the provisional report, most of "the pastoral sexual abuse cases" presented to journalists, allegedly took place before 1990, whilst in the decade 2000-2010, there were 13 cases and in the '90s, 9 cases were noted.
"Each number represents a person who needs our help," Martin Werlen, abbot of Einsiedeln said during the press conference.
"Since sexual abuse is no longer a taboo subject, it is much easier for victims to come forward. This process, however, is still in its early days," he added.
The president of the commission of experts, established by the Episcopal Conference, Adrian von Kaenel, spoke of a "prevention system that is working increasingly better," and which has brought about a reduction in the number of complaints. "But the figures relating to the abuse cases, he concluded, make prevention even more crucial."
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