Munich, investigation into pedophilia in the Church, Cardinal Marx: “Ready to take responsibility”
On the basis of the “Munich report”, the cardinal declared Reinhard Marx, in reference to the investigation into pedophilia in his archdiocese, which accused him of erroneous behavior in two cases, “I’m ready to take responsibility”.
Pedophilia, Cardinal Marx apologizes to the faithful and to the victims
“I once again apologize in the name of the archdiocese. These are apologies addressed to the victims of abuse but also to the faithful, who now doubt the Church, who no longer trust those responsible and whose faith has suffered damage”. This was stated by Marx at the Catholic Academy of Munich, in a press conference convened to comment on the report on sexual abuse in the German Church from 1945 to 2019. The high prelate apologized “also to the parish communities, in which they were employed the perpetrators “of the abuses. “We did not have enough attention towards these parishes, involving them”, Marx continued.
Pedophilia, Cardinal Marx: “Ready to continue if it will be useful”
“I am not attached to my office. As I wrote in my letter to the Pope, the offer of my resignation last year was presented with great seriousness. But the Pope decided in another way, asking me to continue the service responsibly. . Which I’m ready to do, if it’s useful. ”
The cardinal says he is willing to stay “also in view of the next steps that must be taken for more reliable processing, for greater attention to the victims and for a reform of the Church “. On the other hand, continues Marx, “if the impression emerges that I can represent more of an impediment than a help, I will seek dialogue in the competent places” to see if to continue. However, it will be a decision “that I can no longer make alone”. And yet, with respect to the abuses “I was not and I am not indifferent. Could I have acted more and with greater commitment? Certainly yes”, the cardinal continued. “In at least one case I reproach myself for not intervening actively”, Marx said, according to whom the report “represents a profound break for this archdiocese, for the Church and beyond. I myself, at a second reading, am still shaken and troubled “.
For Cardinal Marx, the report represents “a dark page that will remain visible in the story” of the diocese and of the Church. “And those who still deny the reality have not understood the challenge we are called to face”, added Marx, according to whom “we have seen a disaster, now it is a question of watching and listening: we owe it to the victims and to the faithful. it’s a closed page “.
Pedophilia, “the Church must renew itself”
“There won’t be a future for Christianity in our country if there isn’t renewal in the Church“, added the cardinal in Munich, during the press conference. According to Marx,” the elaboration of the abuses must be part of a wider reform of the Church, as affirmed by the Via Synodal “. The document elaborated on commission. of the same archdiocese of Munich identifies at least 497 victims of abuse, 235 responsible, including 173 priests. The text also calls into question the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in particular for what concerns “errors of omission” in four cases when the office of Archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982.
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