A new study by historians has found that at least 1,000 children were sexually abused by Catholic priests in Switzerland between 1950 and the present day. The study, which was conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Zurich, is the first of its kind in Switzerland and is considered to be the most comprehensive investigation of clerical sexual abuse in the country to date.
Unveiling Switzerland’s Dark History
The study found that the majority of the abuse victims were boys, and that the abuse took place in a variety of settings, including schools, orphanages, and churches. The researchers also found that the Church hierarchy often covered up the abuse, and that many of the accused priests were never punished.
More Read About: Solothurn Council Approves Election Poster Rules
The study’s findings have reignited calls for a reckoning with the Church’s history of sexual abuse. The Swiss Bishops’ Conference has apologized for the abuse and has vowed to take steps to prevent it from happening again. However, many victims and their families are calling for more concrete action, such as the release of the names of all accused priests.
The Swiss Pilot Study is a significant piece of research that has shed new light on the dark history of clerical sexual abuse in Switzerland. The study’s findings are likely to have a major impact on the Church in Switzerland and around the world.
Source: SRF