Coming to terms with the acts of abuse: Ulm is moving forward with an information event

Coming to terms with the acts of abuse: Ulm is moving forward with an information event

A dark chapter in the history of the Catholic Church is now being reopened by the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart: the abuse committed by former vicar Bernhard Rapp, who worked in Ulm from 1975 to 1978, is the focus of extensive reappraisal measures. At that time, Rapp was vicar in the parishes of Wiblingen and Heilig Geist. Various discussions are taking place with the affected communities to address the allegations and their impact. In 1996, the first reports of Rapp's sexual assault became public. The priest pleaded guilty to the crimes and admitted to having abused a male adolescent and two other people in Schwäbisch Gmünd and Wangen.

The literalness and tragedy of these acts could not be more serious: At the time they became known, however, the allegations had already become statute-barred, which prevented the crimes from being prosecuted. Rapp died in 2012, but his legacy continues to roil the community. As the Swabian reported, Bishop Dr. Klaus Krämer and other people responsible made clear statements about the incidents. The next steps and support for the affected parishes will be discussed at an information event on October 6, 2025 in the Bischof-Sproll-Haus.

Public information event on October 6th

As already announced, the information event will take place on October 6th at 7 p.m. in the Bischof-Sproll-Haus at Olgastraße 137 in Ulm. This is public and does not require registration. Cathedral Chapter Holger Winterholer and Ordinary Councilor Regina Seneca will provide the parishes with comprehensive information. A similar event had already taken place in Wangen in July; another is planned for November 17th in Schwäbisch Gmünd. The aim of the investigation is clear: the diocese not only wants to deal with the allegations transparently, but also offer support to those affected catholic-church-ulm.de.

A standardized process to support communities facing similar cases was also promised. This could be a step in the right direction, because sexually motivated attacks not only have devastating consequences for the victims, but also cast a massive shadow on the credibility of the church. The new bishop not only wants to name actions and promote their processing, but also wants to actively talk to the congregations.

Processing: A common goal

Coming to terms with sexual violence, especially in religious institutions, is not just an internal matter, but also requires trusting dialogue with those affected. The Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD) is already working intensively on this, for example by creating a procedure for the recognition of claims through “recognition commissions”. There are also efforts in the Catholic Church like this commissioned-abuse.de reported. The development of binding standards in processing is essential for the credibility of the church.

The social discussion about abuse in the church must continue. The voices of those affected are essential here. The commitment of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart is a first step that gives hope that the process of coming to terms with the situation will do justice to the victims and that lasting changes will be initiated.