Over 2,220 Victims of Sexual Abuse in Germany's Protestant Church, Report Reveals

Study suggests actual number of abusers could be much higher, with estimates nearing 3,500.

An independent report reveals over 2,220 victims of sexual abuse in Germany's Protestant Church, with 1,259 church members or staff identified as perpetrators.
The actual number of sexual abusers could be much higher, with estimates suggesting nearly 3,500 people may have committed sexual abuse.
The study was funded by an unnamed church with the intention of examining abuse-of-power, costing 3.6 million euros ($3.92 million).
The head of the German Protestant Church Council, EKD, apologized to the victims during the study’s presentation, acknowledging the institution's guilt in countless crimes against countless people.
The report comes several years after Germany’s Catholic Church published staggering numbers on sexual abuse by its clergy, with at least 3,677 people abused by Catholic clergy in Germany between 1946 and 2014.