Allegations, division and protest against Bishop Oster

The “Hauzenberg case” has drawn ever larger circles in the past few weeks. In the meantime, he has not only arrived at national media, but also with the Munich archbishop Reinhard Cardinal Marx. It is about the pastor of the Catholic parish association Hauzenberg, a 12,000-inhabitant city in the Lower Bavarian district of Passau. He is accused of excesses of alcohol, « sexualized » drinking games, crossing border. But almost even more is about the consequences that have the allegations – and these consequences are serious. Hauzenberg is divided into supporters of the pastor, who denounced him and treated him unjustly by Passauer Bishop Stefan Oster. And in alleged victims and whistle who feel intimidated and threatened by the pastor’s supporters.

Is a cleric wrongly accused? Or is it the alleged victims who are wrong?

It is not unusual that community members explain solidarity in such cases in solidarity. You cannot or do not want to believe that a popular clergyman should have behaved wrong or even made it punishable. In Hauzenberg, however, the case has accepted remarkable dimensions: hundreds of people came to a service to demonstrate their support to the pastor. Dozens of altar servers resigned from the pastor out of lack of understanding about dealing with the pastor, dozens of Catholics from the Church.

Has long been a basic thing: is a cleric wrongly accused? Is it the alleged victims who are wrong? Last but not least: does that Catholic Church learned from the numerous abuse cases in their ranks?

In the « Hauzenberg case », after the noise of the past few days – newspapers wrote of « uprising » and « small war » – has returned. At least some are silent about saying something to say. At the request of our editorial team, neither the diocese of Passau nor the Archdiocese of Munich nor the independent Commission to deal with sexual abuse in the diocese of Passau. This refers to her next working session on April 14th. Before: no comment. On the other hand, one that is well networked and has been committed to education and dealing Richard Kick, spokesman for the independent advisory board in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. He massively criticizes the responsible Passau bishop Stefan Oster – and the advisory board in the diocese of Passau.

This is accused of the pastor of Hauzenberg

First the facts: The 47-year-old pastor has denied all allegations-including the one to consume too much alcohol-and is represented by law. The presumption of innocence applies. On March 20, the diocese of Passau made its retreat as a pastor and dean by press release. In this there was vague of « suspicions against his person who accommodated him with serious misconduct in youth work ». He is also suspected of « spiritual manipulation ». The diocese initiated a church law examination in Rome and intervened by the public prosecutor. Bishop Oster expressed a temporary ban on celebration and prohibited the pastor to publicly appear as a priest – both with effect from March 24th. The independent commission for dealing with sexual abuse in the diocese of Passau also called for the pastor’s dismissal.

Media then reported, with reference to a report created by the independent representative of the diocese of spiritual abuse and kept under closure, among other things by drinking with altar servers and that they had showered with the pastor. The independent representative for sexual abuse stated that there was « latently » the accusation that the behavior of the pastor would go beyond an initiation relationship.

The Passau bishop Stefan Oster said about the « Hauzenberg Fall »

Finally, last Friday reported Bishop Stefan Oster to say. He justified that he had not commented on the « protection of people and personal rights », and he « did not want to pour more oil into the fire in a heated mood ». From Oster’s point of view, there is an opinion in Hauzenberg that the pastor had not been guilty – and as a bishop, he was being given as the evil. In addition, he complained: « Many who position themselves critically are experiencing excluded or bullied, right down to concrete threats. » And more clearly: « There is a prevailing opinion in Hauzenberg, which is also made very strong in the media. It reads: A few people who can be clearly named are the guilty of the misery. They hanged the pastor with the bishop. » Oster said about the pastor that he was « apparently a human fisherman ».

It was interesting what the bishop explained: Even with the pastor’s earlier field of work, there were « inquiries like the current ones in Hauzenberg » that he had had an intensive conversation with him. Later, measures were imposed on the pastor who « restricted certain aspects of youth work ».

Richard Kick: « I have the impression that Bishop Oster wants to keep the topic away as far as possible »

Richard Kick, the spokesman for the independent advisory board in the Archdiocese Munich And Freising, says in conversation with our editorial team: « In this case, many mistakes have been and are made. I have the impression that Bishop Oster wants to keep the topic away as far as possible. He acted too late. » As well as: « The advisory board in the diocese of Passau would have had to ask him for a long time ago to personally intervene. » Both, criticized Kick, should have clearly named in public how difficult the allegations against the pastor weigh and to what extent they can already be proven. This was not done and promoted the split.

The « Hauzenberg case » is far from over. In order to increase the pressure on those responsible, a person from Saarland, who is more abused by Saarland, has made a « message » that, according to church law, asks Munich’s Cardinal Marx to act: he now has to deal with whether the behavior of Bishop Oster should be checked or not. It would have to be checked whether the Passau bishop correctly brought the case to the Vatican. The renowned Münster Church Rights Professor Thomas Schüller said Passau new press From Friday, in the diocese of Passau, one was « obviously careless ». He assumes that Bishop Oster will have to answer in Rome because of this.

Piquant: With Oster, one of the most conservative Catholic German bishops focuses on, for quite a few he is a stimulus figure; Cardinal Marx, on the other hand, had sought to profile himself as a decisive abuse enlightener in recent years.

It continues in Hauzenberg and Passau. The pastors’ supporters want to organize a demo for him on April 12th. After a solidarity rally, the protest march should move to the cathedral square. The pastor stands for a living, human and open church, ”they explain. The fact that Bishop Oster had recalled him find them deeply unjust. They announce further steps, including the « distribution of information materials such as posters and flyers ». To do this, you have collected almost 7,000 euros in donations within a week.