Ghosts of post-conciliar age haunting Catholic conference centre

kfd demands renaming of rooms at Erbacher Hof

kfd Federal President Mechthild Heil hands over the letter with the appeal to Bishop Prof. Peter Kohlgraf.

During its federal assembly from 8 to 10 June in Mainz, the Catholic Women's Association of Germany (kfd) - Bundesverband e.V. called on the diocese of Mainz to rename the conference rooms there in Erbacher Hof. These bear the names of bishops and cardinals who have been proven to have covered up acts of abuse and protected perpetrators.

"We were dismayed to read in the study on acts against sexual self-determination since 1945 in the area of responsibility of the Diocese of Mainz that Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Cardinal Hermann Volk and Bishop Albert Stohr have incurred great guilt. Therefore, we appeal to the Diocese of Mainz to give new names to the meeting rooms 'Cardinal Volk Room' and 'Bishop Stohr Room' and to remove the bust of Cardinal Volk in the inner courtyard," explained Mechthild Heil, Federal President of the kfd. On the very first day of the meeting, 8 June, she had called on the 95 delegates from 21 diocesan associations to sign the appeal to the diocese of Mainz. At the same time, the kfd national chairperson was able to hand over the appeal to Bishop Prof. Dr. Peter Kohlgraf, who addressed a greeting to the kfd women.

Cardinal Lehmann at the dedication of Cardinal Volk's bust

The letter says: "Against the background of the abuse study, we consider it no longer acceptable that the conference rooms bear these names. Working in rooms with these names is an unacceptable imposition, especially for women (and men) affected by sexual and spiritual violence." With this, the kfd wants to keep its own promise to stand up for those affected by abuse and to expose abuses. This also includes the question of how to deal appropriately with the remembrance of hitherto respected and highly esteemed personalities.

"The culture of remembrance of priests, bishops, cardinals and religious must also be fundamentally reviewed against the background of the abuse scandal. We have asked our members to take a closer look in their dioceses and church institutions," said the kfd national chairwoman.

With its #MachtLichtAn campaign, the kfd already demanded five years ago that people take a closer look and take the necessary steps.

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In 2021, the kfd federal assembly adopted the self-commitment "Long kept silent and omnipresent - spiritual abuse and sexualised violence in the church". In it, it commits itself to do everything possible to prevent abuse in the Catholic Church, but also to take a look in the mirror. The Erbacher Hof is the conference centre where many events of the kfd National Association take place.