Rome's special investigator speaks on abuse crisis engulfing Swiss Church. Further cases possible.

Special investigator Bishop Joseph Bonnemain: "I am not happy".

Six bishops are alleged to have actively covered up cases of abuse. An active member of the SBC is himself accused of abuse of a minor. Bishop Joseph Bonnemain must now investigate his confreres. "I would have preferred to refuse the assignment from Rome," says the Bishop of Chur. He believes he can keep a professional distance.

You have been appointed special investigator by the Vatican and have to investigate your confreres. How do you feel about that?

Joseph Maria Bonnemain: I am not doing well. It is a great challenge to investigate only the facts of the case and to ignore everything else. I would have preferred to refuse the assignment from Rome. For the sake of the victims and justice, I accepted. Now I have to do it and investigate the allegations.

"I look my fellow bishops straight in the eye."

Can you keep a professional distance?

Bonnemain: Yes, I think so.

Your confreres are alleged to have covered up abuse. An active member of the Swiss Bishops' Conference is even said to have committed abuse himself. You know the alleged perpetrators. Can you still look them in the eye?

Bonnemain: I look my fellow bishops straight in the eye. I have no problem with that.

Canon law obliges bishops to investigate and punish abuse under criminal law.

What exactly is a special investigation and how do you go about it?

Bonnemain: It is a preliminary investigation under canon law. I have been given the task of investigating the allegations that are being made. It is about investigating whether those responsible reacted correctly at different times or violated reporting obligations. I'm not investigating anyone - it's about checking the facts and recording the results in a report.

What does your co-operation with the public prosecutor's office look like?

Bonnemain: I am responsible for church investigations. We have guidelines according to which every suspicion of a sexual offence against minors must be reported to the cantonal public prosecutors. That has also been done in these cases.

What are the guidelines?

Bonnemain: The guidelines of the Swiss Bishops' Conference are publicly available. Art. 5.3.2 states: "The Ordinaries (cf. 5.2.2. as well as CIC Canon 134), taking into account the opinion of the victim and/or the persons acting on her behalf, shall in every case report to the state prosecution authorities if they become aware of a punishable act which is to be prosecuted ex officio according to state criminal law. Ordinaries must always file criminal charges with the state criminal prosecution authorities if they become aware of a reasonable suspicion of a sexual offence committed at a time when the victim was still a minor."

If the allegations are substantiated, do you advise the accused bishops to resign?

Bonnemain: As the investigator, I cannot comment on that. The further steps in such a case will have to be decided by the Dicastery for the Bishops.

"Whether the investigation will be extended will be decided by the competent dicastery in Rome."

Shouldn't they already - at least until the special investigation is completed - retire from their offices?

Bonnemain: I cannot speak or decide for others here.

On Tuesday, the pilot study will be published. Should further cases of active cover-up become known there, will you also include them in your special investigation?

Bonnemain: Whether the investigation will be extended and who will carry it out will be decided by the competent dicastery in Rome.

*Joseph Maria Bonnemain (75) is Bishop of Chur. Pope Francis appointed him special investigator on 23 June 2023.