Von Michael Evers 7. Februar 2010, 15

 

In allen Kirchen des Bistums Hildesheim wurde an diesem Sonntag eine Erklärung von Bischof Norbert Trelle verlesen.

 

[summary]

It's deathly quiet in St. Clement Basilica in Hanover as Dean Martin Tenge made a gesture that is an important step for the Catholic Church. "Mea Culpa," he said during the Sunday service and he put his fist to his chest. Rev. Tenge said the whole church is responsible for the sexual abuse of minors by priests because of the "let's not talk about it" mentality.

He told the packed church that he knew priests who were perpetrators and he knew a lot of casualties. He said the victims are owed a deep apology.

Catholics attending Mass Sunday at churches in the Hildesheim diocese heard the priest read a letter from Bishop Norbert Trelle. He said response to allegations of abuse by church authorities is a shame and outrage. He is asking victims to come foward.

In Hanover, several women brought a small group of children for worship in the Children's Church located in the basilica basement. Dean Tenge said the women had not yet been informed of the unexpected focus of worship but this was not a problem. A communion candle burned on the altar while the pastor spoke in personal terms of the abuse problem.