Germany has been rocked by child abuse scandals in the Catholic Church and prominent schools - By Caroline Fetscher An
emotional volcano in Germany erupted even before the geological one in
Iceland did. And it is changing Germany's social landscape - to the
benefit of all, many hope.
In late January, Father Klaus Mertes, principal of the Canisius Catholic high school in Berlin, dispatched a letter to 600 former students. Mertes encouraged them to speak out if they had experienced abuse at the hands of priests teaching at the respected school. The headmaster had ample reason to act. Alarmed by personal accounts from former students, he had begun to suspect that several former staff members had sexually abused, molested, beaten and intimidated young boys at the school.
In late January, Father Klaus Mertes, principal of the Canisius Catholic high school in Berlin, dispatched a letter to 600 former students. Mertes encouraged them to speak out if they had experienced abuse at the hands of priests teaching at the respected school. The headmaster had ample reason to act. Alarmed by personal accounts from former students, he had begun to suspect that several former staff members had sexually abused, molested, beaten and intimidated young boys at the school.