Shocking allegations of abuse: Church in Göttingen reacts!

Shocking allegations of abuse: Church in Göttingen reacts!

Obernjesa, Deutschland - In the former children's home in Obernjesa in Rosdorf, serious cases of sexual abuse occurred in the 1950s. These allegations are the focus of a scandal that has been smoldering for years, which only became public in 2012, raised to those affected against the late pastor couple Hermann and Margarete Grüneklee. According to Göttinger Tageblatt The Göttingen-Münden church district informed the regional church for more than a decade after the first allegations. Errors in communication were granted by the Hanover State Church, in particular that church representatives were not informed about financial compensation to two former home children.

Klaus Grüneklee, the accused's son, caused additional vertebrae by trying to experience the names of the victims and threatened with legal steps. The regional church announced a procedure for processing the incidents and is planning talks with the Göttingen Church Circle and the Evangelical Youth Welfare Obernjesa (EJO) to encourage other those affected.

New case of sexual violence

Another scandal is currently unfolding in Göttingen. Here a former pastor is accused of having had sexual violence against children for 14 years from 1992 to 2006. Both the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Schaumburg-Lippe and the regional church of Hanover have already initiated disciplinary proceedings against the clergy. Affected people have become active and report severe attacks; Over 50 have reported so far. This reports NDR .

The churches have undertaken to extensively examine the allegations. This also includes calls to other those affected to report confidentially. Before the synod, demanding claims to State Bishop Ralf Meister, who has been informed about the processes, have been expressed in this context since 2020.

processing in the Evangelical Church

The study will be published in January 2024 and is intended to create a comprehensive basis for changes. The aim is to improve transparency and the processing in all Protestant regional churches and diaconal institutions. "Independent regional processing commissions" will soon be formed in which those affected can also actively work.

The incidents in both Obernjesa and the current accusations throw a harsh light on the structures of the church and illustrate how important a comprehensive and transparent processing is. The people concerned earn and support - a step that is demanded by both the churches themselves and society.