Overview
- The study documents sexual abuse and physical violence against minors by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Passau from 1945 to 2022.
- Researchers delivered the report in late November to the Independent Review Commission, the diocesan victims’ advisory council, and Bishop Stefan Oster before releasing it publicly.
- Professor Marc von Knorring said the work seeks to acknowledge victims’ experiences and elevate societal understanding of the harm.
- Passau’s publication follows earlier diocesan reports in Munich and Freising, Würzburg, and Augsburg, with studies in Bamberg, Eichstätt, and Regensburg planned for 2027 to 2028.
- Bavarian dioceses report ongoing recognition payments and reforms, including millions paid in Munich and Augsburg, thousands of applications logged in Würzburg, and new victim reports following prior disclosures.