Diocese of Berlin dispenses one million euros to victims who experienced sexual abuse
The Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin has revealed that it has made payments totalling around one million euros to victims of sexual violence over the past seven years. The disclosure was made on Monday, July 15, as part of the Archdiocese's annual report which outlines measures taken to prevent such incidents and provides the number of new reports and the total sum paid out in "recognition payments".
In 2024 alone, the Archdiocese awarded approximately €249,000 to victims of sexual violence. The report stated that the Church in Berlin received twelve new allegations of sexual violence in 2024, nine of which were current, while three referred to incidents dating back ten years or more.
Seven of the new allegations in 2024 involved teachers at Catholic schools, while two concerned volunteers. Three of the new allegations were directed at members of the clergy. The Archdiocese has not disclosed specific details about the cases, citing the need to protect the privacy of the victims.
The Archdiocese of Berlin, which covers the entire city of Berlin, as well as parts of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Saxony-Anhalt, including the city of Havelberg, has been taking active steps to address claims of sexual violence since 2018. The report issued in 2024 detailed these measures, which include intervention, prevention, and processing of claims.
Since 2002, the Archdiocese has processed a total of 147 cases of sexual violence. However, details about compensation for sexual abuse cases and the total sum paid by the Archdiocese from 2002 to 2024 are not publicly available. For specific and detailed information, it would be necessary to consult official records or reports from the Archdiocese or relevant legal documents.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin encourages anyone who has experienced or witnessed sexual violence to come forward and report it. The Archdiocese is committed to providing support and taking appropriate action to address such incidents.
In the light of the Archdiocese's continuous efforts to ensure health-and-wellness, specific measures for sexual-health were detailed in the 2024 report. This included the provision of therapies-and-treatments for victims of sexual violence and a total of €249,000 was allocated for recognition payments.
