New online portal to prevent abuse of adult women in the Church. Time for the Pope to take their training programme to correct his mistakes on the Rupnik case!

 PROJECT LEADER: “SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO PREVENTION WORK”

Maria, do not be silent, for a believable Church fit for the future

Maria Flachsbarth at the centre.  She is an ardent Synodolist.

Sexual violence against women in the church has long been overlooked. From now on, a new portal that the KDFB helped develop will provide information about the extent, causes and consequences - and make a contribution to prevention work.

Basic knowledge about abuse of adult women and the patterns behind it - this is bundled in a new online portal. The offer is intended to close gaps in prevention, as the Catholic German Women's Association (KDFB) announced on Friday in Cologne. The Association developed the portal together with Regensburg Professor Ute Leimgruber.

Sexualized violence, mistreatment or so-called spiritual abuse of adult women has long been overlooked, according to the website verkehrsmuster.de. "It is known that adults, especially women, can also become victims of abuse in the church." There are numerous hidden patterns at work in this area that need to be made known through research, training and narrative projects. These patterns concern, for example, gender images or the idea of violence.

Promote quality in pastoral care

The tutorial is intended to promote quality in pastoral care, explained project manager Leimgruber. "It is a practical, scientifically based offer and an important contribution to prevention work." It's about the extent, causes, consequences and characteristics of abuse. This is also an expression of “our determination to confront systemic abuse in our church so that what was previously unheard is finally heard,” emphasized KDFB President Maria Flachsbarth.

The offer, which corresponds to the diocesan training regulations, is aimed primarily at people who work full-time or on a voluntary basis in the church or who aspire to such an activity. According to the information, the six-hour course includes interactive elements as well as interviews with experts and those affected. The association called on dioceses and bishops to include the free offer in their training programs “and thus take a concrete measure to prevent abuse.”

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