Shocking figures: abuse scandal in the diocese of Trier further uncovered

Shocking figures: abuse scandal in the diocese of Trier further uncovered

Coming to terms with sexual abuse in the Diocese of Trier is taking another step. Today, October 30, 2025, historians at the University of Trier are presenting a new interim report that deals with the terms of office of Bishop Reinhard Marx and Bishop Stephan Ackermann. This is the third interim report of a comprehensive historical study analyzing events from 1946 to 2021. The reports paint a vivid picture of how those responsible in the diocese reacted to cases of abuse that became known.

Reinhard Marx was bishop in Trier from 2002 to 2008, while Stephan Ackermann has been in office since 2009. The study shows that a total of 711 victims and 234 accused were documented between 1946 and 2021. The current figures, which have been updated in the new report, are particularly alarming. Bishop Ackermann is now also responsible for how the diocese deals with the known allegations.

A dark picture of the past

A connection between the previous reports and the more recent information is obvious. According to the latest interim report, historians are looking at at least 199 men and women who suffered sexual assaults at the hands of clerics between 1981 and 2001, 194 of whom were minors. There are at least 49 suspected perpetrators among the accused, 14 of whom are classified as “multiple or intensive offenders”. This dark chapter in the diocese's history shows that some perpetrators were active for decades.

The study suggests that the actual number of victims may be higher than those previously documented. It is striking that over 1,000 church personnel files and conversations with those affected and contemporary witnesses were used to create the study. This comprehensive research proves to be essential in order to obtain a holistic picture of the offenses and to understand their impact on the victims.

Criticism of the diocese leadership

A central theme in the report is the diocese leadership's inadequate response to known cases of abuse. The management at the time under Bishop Hermann Josef Spital, who was in office from 1981 to 2001, was sharply criticized for its inappropriate treatment of intensive care offenders. More than 20 accused people were known to the diocese leadership, but no active measures were taken against the perpetrators. Only three convictions have been made in two decades, indicating a systematic failure in investigation and prosecution.

The claim that the state authorities in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland acted too leniently against the perpetrators reinforces the dark shadow that weighs on this chapter of the diocese's history. Auxiliary Bishop Leo Schwarz is also accused of not having adequately recognized the extent and consequences of the sexual assaults.

The independent commission to investigate sexual abuse was only set up in June 2021 and consists of those affected and experts. Your job is to look at past events in detail and clarify responsibilities to avoid future mistakes.

In the long term, the development of these studies could contribute to creating a new level of transparency and accountability in the Catholic Church. With around 1.2 million Catholics in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, the Bishop of Trier embodies the challenges that the Church must overcome today.