GERMANY
The Trumpet
By Gareth Fraser
From its institution, the universal church of the city of seven hills has shown itself more powerful than governments which at times have challenged its authority and influence. In 2013, amid the Vatican-led “Year of Faith,” another such instance occurred as the German Catholic Church told the Berlin government it had better tow the line regarding the ongoing administration of the sex abuse scandal.
In a move that stunned government officials, the church shut down its phone line dedicated to individuals claiming sex abuse at the hands of priests. The reason? The line was not being used.
For over two and a half years, the line received calls from victims and their family members, acting as their initial contact in resolving alleged acts of clergy exploitation. “The number you have called is not in service” is what callers now hear. A spokesman for the German Bishops’ Conference claimed the line had served its intended purpose.
In a nationally televised interview, Berlin’s sanctioned arbiter for underage sex abuse stated, in defiance of the church’s actions, that such a helpline was “important for the first step towards finding help” for victims.
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