University of Freiburg distances itself from three former Archbishops (two of them now dead) over handling of abuse
Zollitsch, Saier and Seiterich
The University of Freiburg has formally distanced itself from former Freiburg archbishops Zollitsch, Saier and Seiterich. The reason is serious misconduct in dealing with victims of sexualised violence.
It distances itself from Robert Zollitsch (term 2003-2013), Oskar Saier (1978-2002) as well as Eugen Seiterich (1954-58), the university announced on Thursday. The university senate expressed solidarity and sympathy to all victims and stressed that abuse of power was not to be tolerated.
Honorary senators and honorary trustee
Seiterich had been awarded honorary senatorships of the university in 1957 and Saier in 2003. According to the university, their names will not be removed from the list of honourees, but the distancing will be expressed in an explanatory footnote. The same applies to the honorary doctorate awarded to Saier in 2002.
Zollitsch, the university continued, had until recently been a member of the University advisory board and an honorary trustee of the University foundation. After the publication of the expert report on abuse by pastors in the Archdiocese of Freiburg in mid-April, Zollitsch resigned from both honorary posts. The university described this as logical and without alternative.
Breaches of law, protection of perpetrators and cover-up
The abuse report published on 18 April accuses Saier and Zollitsch of breaking the law, protecting perpetrators and covering up sexualised violence. Zollitsch has not yet commented on the new findings. He referred to an earlier video message in which he admitted mistakes and asked abuse victims for forgiveness.
Abuse study in the Archdiocese of Freiburg
The investigation into sexualised violence and concealment of acts of abuse in the Archdiocese of Freiburg finds serious misconduct and serious violations of the law in the handling of criminal offences by priests on the part of former Archbishops Robert Zollitsch and Oskar Saier. The protection of the church as an institution and of the perpetrators took precedence over everything else, said study author Eugen Endress at the presentation of the 600-page report. There was no help for those affected and their relatives: "They were left alone.
In response to the report published in April 2023 by the "AG Aktenanalyse" (Working Group on File Analysis) on coming to terms with sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Freiburg, the Senate of the University of Freiburg adopted a declaration of dissociation at its meeting on 24 May 2023. In it, it resolutely distances itself from the academic honours of the following persons: Dr. Robert Zollitsch, Dr. Oskar Saier (1932 - 2008) and Prof. Dr. Dr. Eugen Seiterich (1903 -1958). The reason for this is their grave misconduct during their tenure as archbishops. The Senate expresses its sympathy and solidarity to all victims of sexual abuse and affirms that abuse of power of any kind must not be tolerated.
According to the report of the "AG Aktenanalyse", Oskar Saier and Robert Zollitsch in particular practised a system of cover-up during their decades of cooperation in the Archdiocese of Freiburg, which was characterised, among other things, by missing written material, insufficient documentation and review of instructions as well as ignoring the law. After the report became known, the Senate had commissioned Rector Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein to form a working group to examine the findings of the "AG Aktenanalyse" with regard to their relation to the University. The results of the working group form the basis for the declaration of dissociation.
Eugen Seiterich was appointed honorary senator of the University of Freiburg in 1957 and Oskar Saier in 2003. The dignity of an honorary senator is a personal honour conferred by the Senate. It expires upon death and can no longer be withdrawn. With its dissociation, the Senate makes clear its disapproval of the misconduct of the two former archbishops.
In the spirit of a transparent handling of its own history, the naming of Oskar Saier and Eugen Seiterich in the overview of all honorary senators of the University of Freiburg will not be deleted. Instead, the distancing is expressed with an explanatory footnote.
Oskar Saier was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Theology in 2002. This award, in turn, is conferred by the respective faculties and cannot be withdrawn posthumously either. After the report became known, the Faculty of Theology firmly distanced itself from the award of the honorary doctorate, which the Senate confirmed.
Until recently, Robert Zollitsch was a member of the University Advisory Board as well as an honorary trustee of the New University Foundation Freiburg. After the publication of the report, he resigned from both honorary positions, which the Senate considers to be logical and without alternative.
Resolution
The Senate of the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg takes note with great shock of the report published on 18 April 2023 by the "AG Aktenanalyse" (Working Group on File Analysis) on coming to terms with sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Freiburg. Against this background, the Senate resolutely distances itself from the academic honours of the following persons: Dr Robert Zollitsch, Dr Oskar Saier (1932 - 2008) and Prof. Dr Dr Eugen Seiterich (1903 -1958). The reason for this is the serious misconduct of the three former archbishops during their time in office in the Archdiocese of Freiburg, as shown in the report. The report proves that Dr Robert Zollitsch and Dr Oskar Saier contributed significantly to a system of cover-ups during their decades of cooperation in the Archdiocese of Freiburg. Prof. Dr. Dr. Eugen Seiterich was also involved in cover-ups as Archbishop. The Senate has commissioned the Rector to form a Working Group to examine the results of the "AG Aktenanalyse" with regard to their relation to the University. Dr Robert Zollitsch received his doctorate from the Faculty of Theology at the University of Freiburg in 1974. Until recently, he was a member of the University Advisory Board as well as an honorary trustee of the New University Foundation Freiburg. Following the publication of the report, Dr. Robert Zollitsch resigned from both honorary offices, which the Senate considers to be logical and without alternative. With its dissociation, the Senate expresses its disapproval of the misconduct of Dr Robert Zollitsch. Dr Oskar Saier was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Theology of the University of Freiburg in 2002. In 2003, the University also awarded him the dignity of Honorary Senator. The dignity of an honorary senator is a personal honour conferred by the Senate. It expires upon death and can no longer be withdrawn. By distancing itself from Dr Oskar Saier, the Senate expresses its disapproval of his misconduct. The honorary doctorate is awarded by the respective faculties and cannot be withdrawn posthumously either. After the report became known, the Faculty of Theology resolutely distanced itself from the award of the honorary doctorate, which the Senate reaffirms. Prof. Dr. Dr. Eugen Seiterich was a full professor of apologetics and religious studies at the University of Freiburg from 1949 to 1952. He received his doctorate from the University of Freiburg in 1930 and 1935 and submitted his habilitation thesis in 1938. In 1957, the University of Freiburg awarded him the honorary senatorship. Here, too, the Senate's dissociation makes clear its disapproval of Prof. Dr. Dr. Eugen Seiterich's misconduct. The Senate appreciates the important clarification work of the AG Aktenanalyse and the GE Commission. Both the seriousness of the individual cases of abuse and the extent of the entire cover-up system in the Archdiocese of Freiburg, which were uncovered by the Commission's report, are deeply distressing. 01 24.05.2023 The Senate expresses its sympathy and solidarity with all victims of sexual abuse and affirms that abuse of power of any kind must not be tolerated. Should incriminating findings concerning honorary senators or persons otherwise associated with the University of Freiburg become known in the future, it will again deal with the issues immediately. This procedure is in line with the University of Freiburg's claim to always face up to its own history.
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