Swiss Protestant Church investigates cases of abuse
Published: Friday, Dec 22nd 2023, 15:00
Updated At: Friday, Dec 22nd 2023, 15:02
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The Protestant Reformed Church of Switzerland (EKS) sees a need for action and wants to address its cases of sexualized violence. EKS President Rita Famos expressed her conviction on Friday that there are also many cases of abuse in her church.
The Protestant Reformed Church has also looked the other way for too long, said Famos on Friday on SRF Radio's "Tagesgespräch" program. Famos also made this assessment on the basis of a study by the German Protestant Church (EKD), the results of which are to be presented on January 25.
Famos went on to say that the results of the German study would be used to set up their own protection concepts well. She is still of the opinion that the extent of the EKS is smaller than in the Roman Catholic Church. But "we also have our cases and we certainly don't have a small number of cases".
The EHL is also looking for ways to come to terms with the past. The church must guarantee that it is a "safe place" for people seeking advice and support, Famos continued. Reporting offices have been set up for cases of abuse. A separate national study in Switzerland and payments to victims are also being discussed.
An analysis of secret archives of church institutions published in September 2023 by historians at the University of Zurich (UZH) brought to light over a thousand cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church since 1950.
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