Criminal police investigating flood of anonymous defamatory and coercive letters sent to Heiligenkreuz. Would be shocking if Vatican started to investigate on the basis of anonymous hearsay.

Crime in Heiligenkreuz

Abuse, mystery Letters – Criminal Investigation Department investigates the Abbey

Heiligenkreuz Abbey is facing serious allegations – the Vatican is investigating, and cryptic letters are now also being investigated by the Lower Austrian State Criminal Police Office.

What's going on behind the thick walls of Heiligenkreuz Abbey? Events have been unfolding rapidly in recent days, and the church crime is also making international headlines.

In fact, an Apostolic Visitation has been announced for the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz by the highest ecclesiastical authorities, quite unusually – more on that later.

Anonymous letters in circulation

At the same time, in recent months, the Heiligenkreuz Abbey has also been preoccupied with anonymous letters containing serious allegations – several dozen are said to be in circulation now, with an estimate of around 40 to 50. These letters contain allegations of abuse and also describe accusations related to the allocation of positions.

Heiligenkreuz Abbey subsequently contacted the authorities, and since March 24, the case has been with the responsible public prosecutor's office in Wiener Neustadt. Erich Habitzl, spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office, told "Heute": "Investigations are currently underway against unknown perpetrators on suspicion of attempted coercion and defamation." The aim now is to identify the author(s) of the anonymous letters.

The Criminal Investigation Department is conducting the investigation. Stefan Pfandler, head of the Lower Austrian State Criminal Police Office, told "Heute": "The investigation is only just beginning." The letters will now be examined for evidence.

Decree dated June 5

Back to the Vatican decree: The Italian portal "Silere Non Possum" has obtained the letter from the Vatican authorities, signed by Aitor Jimenez Echave (Pope Francis appointed him Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on February 29, 2024) and Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime – a Curia Cardinal and Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery.

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The document, written in German, is dated June 5th. The introduction to the letter states: "Most Reverend Abbot Maximilian, Venerable Monks of the Abbey of Heiligenkreuz, we address you regarding some indications that this Dicastery of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has regarding the governance and administration of the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz."

In order to gain a more accurate picture of the situation of monastic life and the governance of the abbey, the "Holy See has decided to initiate an Apostolic Visitation ad inquirendum et referendum. We enclose the corresponding decree of appointment with this letter."

"Path of Inner Renewal"

The Apostolic Visitors should be approached "in a constructive and benevolent spirit" by the Abbot and all monks. "The aim of this measure is, first, to gain a clear picture of the current situation and to report it to this Dicastery. The second step is to support the community in embarking on its own path of inner renewal, to accompany it, and, if necessary, to overcome existing difficulties in a spirit of truth and fraternity."

The enclosed decree then states: "In order to gain a deeper understanding of the situation of the leadership of the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz and to comprehensively assess it, this Dicastery hereby appoints Reverend Father Jeremias Schröder (Abbot Primate of the Benedictines) and Reverend Sister Christine Rod (Missionary of Christ) as Apostolic Visitor and as Apostolic Co-Visitor."

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