New report accuses Bishop Felix Gmür
The fuss surrounding Bishop Felix Gmür and the investigation into the abuse cases in the Catholic Church is not abating. Last week, the "Sonntagsblick" newspaper reported that the Lucerne native is allegedly denying the historians investigating the abuse cases further access to the diocese's files.
Since the publication of the pilot study, 92 additional reports have been received, which would necessitate another visit to the archive (zentralplus reported). However, Gmür insisted that he would adhere to the agreed contract and would not comment further on the research project.
Reprimand from Rome
A new report is said to reveal further misconduct by the bishop, as the "NZZ am Sonntag" reports. It concerns, of all things, the case for which Gmür has already received a reprimand from Rome. This case involves a priest who allegedly abused a minor over several years.
Gmür discontinued the church's preliminary investigations against the priest and did not send all documents to Rome. According to the "Beobachter," he also allegedly sent diaries and information from the alleged victim to the priest – including her telephone number and home address at the time.
Gmür was quoted in a press release at the time as saying: "I am doing everything in my power to ensure that procedural errors, which cause additional harm, especially to those affected, are not repeated through the current procedural regulations and the standardized, independent processing of reports."
Gmür intervened with the Vatican
According to a recently surfaced expert opinion from a canon lawyer, Gmür's misconduct in the case is even more far-reaching. As the "NZZ am Sonntag" reports, citing the document, Gmür is said to have explicitly advised the Vatican to forgo canonical proceedings in this case "due to a lack of clear evidence." The expert also criticizes the fact that Gmür allegedly handed over all evidence to the alleged perpetrator before any proceedings had even begun.
Gmür is also said to have attempted to legally protect his actions. According to the newspaper, the bishop commissioned a law firm to seek legal grounds to legitimize the disclosure of the information. The lawyer who allegedly wrote this justification heads the "independent" reporting center for sexual assaults in the Diocese of Basel.
Bishop Gmür writes to the newspaper that he acknowledges the report. However, the case has been closed under canon law. Furthermore, the diocese has admitted the errors and apologized for them.
Diocese of Basel rejects allegations
The Diocese of Basel published a statement late Sunday evening regarding the media reports by "NZZ am Sonntag" and "Sonntagsblick." In it, it refutes several key allegations. The Diocese of Basel emphasizes that it will make all archive files available to the research team at the University of Zurich.
Furthermore, the canonical proceedings have not been discontinued, but rather concluded. Recommendations to the Vatican are part of the standard procedure, according to the diocese. The statement further states that the person concerned was offered the option of criminal proceedings under canon law – however, her legal representative, who also authored the criticized report, declined. The Diocese of Basel also rejects the accusation of a lack of independence on the part of the reporting office.
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