“The renowned theologian and historian Thomas Großbölting died in a tragic accident on Tuesday. Großbölting was significantly involved in a number of studies on coming to terms with sexual violence in the churches. [...] He was previously Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the Department of History at Münster University from 2009 to 2020. [...] The investigation that the diocese of Münster commissioned Großbölting with in 2019 was not a research project like any other for him.”

“At the opening of its office, the Independent Reappraisal Commission for the Diocese of Münster presented its tasks and projects. [...] One project was presented at the opening of the office: The historian Bernhard Frings is investigating the extent to which sexualised violence occurred in Catholic foster care.”

“Alfons Freistühler was a priest and school director in Kleve. He abused at least 25 children and young people. More and more cases have come to light. Now, for the first time, a dossier provides detailed information about the offences. [...] The dossier was compiled by the historian Bernhard Frings, who is not related by blood or marriage to the intervention officer of the diocese of Münster, Peter Frings.”

“At Wasserburg Rindern, victims and representatives of the church discussed sexualised violence. [...] Großbölting was head of the study on sexual abuse in the diocese of Münster, the results of which were presented last year by researchers from the Department of History of the University of Münster. In his short introductory talk, the historian presented the results in the Wasserburg and made it clear that the study had not been able to cover all cases. “There are still follow-up reports, here in Kleve there was only recently such a report”.”

“It is now one year since Thomas Großbölting and Bernhard Frings presented the study “Power and Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church”. What has happened since then? For Thomas Großbölting, still far too little. He is concerned that first and foremost the power structures in the church must change, because these have favoured and encouraged the abuse. The toxic relationship to sexuality, the uptight sexual morality, must also be brought more into focus if the Catholic Church wants to regain credibility in society.”

“It is exactly one year since the diocese of Münster published its scientific investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. The bishop has promised a lot, now there was a first review at a panel discussion in Münster. [...] “A lot has really been done in the diocese of Münster in terms of disclosure,” says the head of the abuse study, historian Professor Thomas Großbölting. However, much is still up in the air — previously announced measures are being delayed”

“At a panel discussion on Tuesday evening in Münster, the historian Thomas Großbölting criticised the fact that so far too little has been said about specifically Catholic conditions for the development of sexual abuse. Among these, the co-author of the study on sexual abuse in the diocese of Münster counted a lack of distribution of power in the church, clericalism in the image of priests as well as a sexual morality that promoted double standards. “We have only just left the starting block in the race against abuse,” Großbölting concluded.”

“According to historian Thomas Großbölting, the handling of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church is “moderate to poor”. He told the Münster-based portal kirche-und-leben.de (Thursday) that there had been a number of institutional advances in intervention and reporting obligations, awareness-raising and prevention. However, these are in no way capable of eliminating the deep irritations and doubts within the church. [...] Großbölting criticised that the conditions that made abuse in the church possible were not being changed.”

It has been one year since an independent historical commission of the University of Münster presented a study on cases of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Münster on 13 June 2022. On the anniversary of the publication, a critical interim evaluation is now to be drawn up. [...] Peter Tenbusch from Rhede will look at the reappraisal from the perspective of those affected. Further impulses will be given by Prof. Großbölting, Bishop Genn and the editor-in-chief of the Herder Korrespondenz, Dr. Stefan Orth.

“The diocese of Münster, which also includes the district of Wesel, wants to further investigate cases of abuse. Those affected can now turn to a newly founded commission. It is mainly staffed with volunteers who work outside the church structures. [...] The commission will now gradually begin its work. The author of the study on sexual abuse in the diocese, historian Thomas Großbölting, is also a member. A team of researchers from the University of Münster had proven massive sexual abuse in the study. According to the study, there were at least 196 perpetrators and 610 underage victims in the diocese between 1945 and 2020.”

“The studies on coming to terms with sexualised violence in the Catholic Church will change theological science at the universities. [...] Klaus Große Kracht reported on the processing of the abuse cases in the diocese of Münster. [...] After the shocking results, a Catholic theological faculty would have to ask itself what responsibility academic theology has for the training of future priests. The faculty would have to come to terms and ask about its heritage, said Große Kracht.”