German Franciscan Province Admits Complete Failure in Combating Sexual Abuse

The German province of the Franciscan order has publicly acknowledged its responsibility for decades of systemic negligence and cover-ups of sexual abuse cases. During a press conference in Bonn, the results of an independent audit were presented, shedding light on the dark past of educational facilities and boarding schools run by the Friars Minor. The report documents the activities of 98 alleged perpetrators, representing about 4 percent of all friars serving in Germany during the studied period. The victims, primarily young boys, experienced violence in places meant to ensure their safety, including boarding schools in Vossenack and facilities in Bavaria. Researchers emphasized that for decades, a culture of silence prevailed within the order, prioritizing the protection of the institution's image over the well-being of harmed children. Superiors often transferred perpetrators to other parishes without any warnings, enabling the continuation of criminal activity. The current provincial of the order categorically admitted that the Franciscans failed on every front—from prevention to the thorough investigation of reports. Although most of the identified perpetrators are no longer alive, the report is intended to serve as a foundation for a new process of redress and a radical change in power structures within the order. The Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscans, was founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209 as a community based on poverty and humility, which stands in stark contrast to the revealed cases of abuse of power. Victims who participated in the report's preparation describe their lives as "ruined" by traumatic childhood experiences. Many only found the strength to speak about the humiliation they suffered at the hands of clergy sixty years later. The report's authors warn that the official numbers are only the tip of the iceberg, as many archives were incompletely archived or deliberately purged in the past.