After the Franciscans in Germany ordered an investigation into cases of sexual abuse within their monasteries, investigators are now looking for even more victims to come forward.
Helga Dill, head of the Institute for Practice Research and Project Consulting (IPP) in Munich, which previously investigated cases of abuse, reported that the institute had received more than forty reports.
However, the researchers assume that the actual number of victims is even higher. Since the IPP appeal two weeks ago, four additional reports have been submitted. The IPP continues to call on all other victims of sexual violence by Franciscans to speak out.
So far, investigators have interviewed members of the order and reviewed files and documents on brothers accused of abuse. The crimes identified so far mainly took place between 1950 and 1970, mainly in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Most of the identified victims were male, between 10 and 14 years old at the time of the first crime.
Markus Fuhrmann, head of Germany’s Franciscan province, said in January that the order has paid about €500,000 ($545,000) in compensation for victims of sexual abuse.
The German Franciscan Province, headquartered in Munich, currently has 212 members, with an average age of 73, according to its own information. Only 40 of the monks are under 60 years old.