Catholic Church in Switzerland Plans Ecclesiastical Tribunal Amidst Sexual Abuse Scandal
The Swiss Bishops’ Conference recently announced its plan to establish an ecclesiastical criminal and disciplinary tribunal for the Catholic Church in Switzerland. This decision comes in the wake of a shocking study conducted by the University of Zurich, revealing cases of sexual abuse within the Church.
While Swiss civil criminal law would still hold precedence, the new tribunal would ensure that the criminal prosecution authorities are involved in all cases of abuse or other offenses committed within an ecclesiastical context. The aim is to address the necessary legal sanctions for any breach of ecclesiastical law, as stated in a press release issued by the Swiss Bishops’ Conference.
To establish this national tribunal, the Swiss bishops will engage in discussions with Vatican officials in the following weeks. This collaboration highlights the Church’s commitment to addressing the gravity of the sexual abuse scandal in Switzerland.
In response to the study commissioned by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the Roman Catholic Central Conference of Switzerland, and the Roman Catholic religious communities of Switzerland, additional measures will be implemented. These measures include the continuation of the study by two historians to uncover the true extent of abuse.
In order to support victims, a national service will be set up to collect reports. Moreover, the members of the ETUC have pledged to ensure the accessibility of all ecclesiastical archives under their responsibility, with a commitment not to destroy any documents.
The ETUC has also decided to introduce a comprehensive psychological assessment procedure for seminarians, novitiate candidates, and other pastoral workers. While this assessment procedure already exists in certain regions, it will now be standardized and professionalized nationwide, becoming mandatory everywhere. Additionally, the personal files of all pastoral staff will undergo professionalization. These measures are expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2024.
The pilot study conducted by the University of Zurich, which was published on September 12, revealed a disturbing number of sexual abuse cases perpetrated by members of the Catholic clergy and religious since 1950. The researchers documented at least 1,002 cases, but they believe this is just the tip of the iceberg, as numerous cases likely went unreported, and many documents were destroyed.
Of the 921 victims identified in the study, 56% were male, and a staggering 74% were minors. The majority of the perpetrators were male, with the report detailing various degrees of abuse, ranging from boundary issues to severe and sustained sexual assault, including rape. The Catholic Church has been heavily criticized for often covering up or downplaying these cases.
The establishment of an ecclesiastical tribunal in Switzerland demonstrates the Church’s determination to confront the sexual abuse scandal. By working alongside civil authorities and taking comprehensive measures, it is hoped that justice will be served, and steps will be taken to prevent such atrocities from happening in the future.
