The Catholic church in Germany has vowed to probe new reports that claim the extent of sexual abuse by some of its clerics may have been much higher than previously admitted. German news magazine Der Spiegel reported over the weekend that at least 10 church employees currently face accusations of sexual abuse. The magazine said more than 94 clerics and laymen have been suspected of sexual abuse since 1995. But only 30 of those suspects had actually been prosecuted, the report said, because of legal time constraints on pursuing cases. The latest reports come amid a widening scandal of serial sex abuse by Catholic priests in Germany. Earlier this week, Berlin's elite Canisius College admitted systematic abuse of pupils by at least two Roman Catholic priests. between 1975 and 1983 who once taught there. One of them has reportedly denied doing so. Suspicions have since emerged at three other Jesuit-run schools, in Hamburg, Bonn and in the Black Forest region, also dating back to the 1970s and 80s.
German news magazine Der Spiegel reported over the weekend that at least 10 church employees currently face accusations of sexual abuse.
The magazine said more than 94 clerics and laymen have been suspected of sexual abuse since 1995. But only 30 of those suspects had actually been prosecuted, the report said, because of legal time constraints on pursuing cases.
The latest reports come amid a widening scandal of serial sex abuse by Catholic priests in Germany.
Earlier this week, Berlin's elite Canisius College admitted systematic abuse of pupils by at least two Roman Catholic priests. between 1975 and 1983 who once taught there. One of them has reportedly denied doing so.
Suspicions have since emerged at three other Jesuit-run schools, in Hamburg, Bonn and in the Black Forest region, also dating back to the 1970s and 80s.
