Sexual abuse in the Diocese of Speyer primarily a structural problem

On 8 May, 2025, the University of Mannheim unveiled the preliminary findings of its autonomous research project investigating sexual abuse in the Diocese of Speyer. Under the guidance of auxiliary professor Dr. Sylvia Schraut, the study investigates the structural, historical, and social conditions that enabled sexual abuse in the church to occur over an extended period and complicated its exposure.

A key finding of the study: The exploitation of power in instances of sexual abuse was historically regarded as the individual failings of particular clergymen.  The church's response to accusations involved either punishing the individuals implicated or granting them immunity from such charges. Structural problems within the church were not recognized or were ignored, which served to significantly facilitate these crimes. The causes of this problem stemmed from poor control over members of religious orders, undefined responsibilities, and a heavy-handed view of authority and human nature held by the church. 

“The independence granted to religious orders, backed by Rome, allowed for spiritual endeavors within the diocese to occur mostly without oversight,” notes head of research Dr. Schraut. “The supervisory dynamics in the partnership between the order and the diocese have yet to be adequately addressed,” she continues.    

The independent project “Sexueller Missbrauch im Bistum Speyer durch katholische Priester, Diakone, Ordensangehörige und Mitarbeitende des Bistums (ab 1946)” started in April 2023 and is scheduled to run for four years. The study was launched by the Independent Commission tasked with investigating sexual abuse within the Diocese of Speyer. Funding for the research is provided by the diocese.

The complete, German-only version of the first sub-study is available online at https://www.bib.uni-mannheim.de/lehren-und-forschen/publizieren-und-open-access/sexueller-missbrauch-im-bistum-speyer-seit-1946/.