More Sexual Abuse Revelations

The horrorible crimes from within the Church continues to unravel as these stories, reported by the Washington Post, of systematic sexual abuse at one of the most pre-eminent Catholic schools in Germany, remind us of the failure of many priests and bishops to protect their flock—instead becoming predators upon them.

I've posted on the sexual abuse within the Church previously, listing important books to read to understand and realize the depth and cause of this evil.

An excerpt.

“BERLIN -- Several students at one of Germany's most prestigious high schools were sexually abused for many years by their teachers, the school's director said Thursday.

“Father Klaus Mertes says he has sent out 500 letters to alumni of Berlin's private Catholic Canisius Kolleg to determine the extent of the case after seven ex-students recently reported they were abused in the 1970s and 1980s.

“Canisius Kolleg is one of Germany's pre-eminent schools, alma mater of many politicians, businesspeople and scientists.

“Mertes said Thursday that the seven, and likely many more, were abused by two ex-teachers who were members of the Jesuit order.

"I'm deeply shocked and ashamed about these appalling assaults, which are not just single incidents, but took place systematically and over several years," Mertes wrote in his letter to the school's alumni.

“At a press conference at the local archdiocese's office, Mertes said the school had been guilty of looking the other way when the abuse cases happened.

“He said the letter was an apology and a signal to other possible victims to come forward.

“Mertes said the two Jesuit fathers taught at the school for eight years before leaving in the late 1980s.

“They are no longer members of the Jesuit order, but after the allegations surfaced earlier this month, they were contacted by its independent counselor for sexual abuse victims.”