SA国际传媒

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Cardinal Reinhard Marx speaks of 鈥減ersonal failures鈥� and 鈥渁dministrative mistakes鈥�, but also of 鈥渁n institutional or 鈥榮ystematic鈥� failure鈥� in the handling of the crisis of clerical sexual abuse in Germany, in a letter to Pope Francis in which he submitted his resignation as archbishop of Munich and Freising.

A 鈥減ersonal declaration鈥� from the Cardinal, posted on the Archdiocesan website, says the Pope has authorized the publication of the letter: Pope Francis, the statement reads, 鈥渉as now informed me that this letter may be published and that I should keep performing my service as a bishop until his decision is made.鈥�

A 鈥榙ead end鈥� that could become a turning point

In his letter of resignation, Cardinal Marx reflects on the crisis facing the Church in Germany: a crisis, he says, that arose not only from external causes, but 鈥渁lso caused by our personal failure, by our own guilt.鈥� 鈥淢y impression,鈥� he says, 鈥渋s that we are at a 鈥榙ead end鈥� which 鈥� and this is my paschal hope 鈥� also has the potential of becoming a 鈥榯urning point鈥�.鈥�

Co-responsibility in the crisis of abuse

The cardinal explains that has been considering resignation for the past year. In his personal declaration, he goes into more detail: 鈥淚n the past months, I have repeatedly thought about my resignation, introspected and tried to make the right decision in prayer and in the spiritual dialogue by 鈥榙iscerning the spirits.鈥�

He explains to the Pope that, 鈥渋n essence, it is important to me to share the responsibility for the catastrophe of the sexual abuse by Church officials over the past decades.鈥�

In the past few months, Cardinal Marx had approached the Westpfahl Spilker Wastl firm - the same firm that had been commissioned for the first investigation of paedophilia cases in the Archdiocese of Cologne - to draw up a report on abuse in the Church of Munich and Freising, pledging to not intervene to influence the final results. Last year, the Cardinal established a foundation in his diocese called 鈥淪pes et Salus鈥� to offer 鈥渉ealing and reconciliation鈥� to all victims of sexual violence. He also donated most of his private assets to the foundation.

Personal failures and administrative mistakes

In his letter to the Pope, published today in several languages today, Cardinal Marx refers to 鈥渋nvestigations鈥� and 鈥渞eports鈥� over the past ten years, which, he stresses, 鈥渉ave consistently shown that there have been many personal failures and administrative mistakes but also institutional or 鈥榮ystemic鈥� failure.鈥� The Cardinal also looks critically at the most recent controversies and discussions which, in his opinion, show that 鈥渟ome members of the Church refuse to believe that there is a shared responsibility in this respect and that the Church as an institution is hence also to be blamed for what has happened". Consequently, he said, they 鈥渄isapprove of discussing reforms and renewal in the context of the sexual abuse crisis鈥�.

A reform of the Church

According to the cardinal, there are two aspects that have to be considered: "mistakes for which you are personally responsible and the institutional failure which requires changes and a reform of the Church."  Cardinal Marx, instead, is convinced that a 鈥渢urning point out of the crisis 鈥� is only possible if we take a 鈥榮ynodal path鈥�, a path which actually enables a 鈥榙iscernment of spirits鈥�.鈥�

The damaged reputation of the Bishops

Looking back over his 42 years as a priest and 25 years as a bishop 鈥� 20 of them as ordinary of a large diocese 鈥� and in the light of this long experience in the Church, Cardinal Marx says 鈥渋t is painful鈥� to witness the severe damage to the bishops鈥� reputation in the ecclesiastical and secular perception, which may even be at its lowest鈥� point. In his view, 鈥渢o assume responsibility, it is therefore not enough, in my opinion, to react only and exclusively if the files provide proof of the mistakes and failures of individuals.鈥� Instead, he said, 鈥淲e as bishops have to make clear that we also represent the institution of the Church as a whole.鈥�

The greatest fault of the past: Overlooking the victims

Nor should one, the cardinal says, 鈥渟imply link these problems largely to past times and former Church officials, thereby 鈥榖urying鈥� what happened". Cardinal Marx says he feels 鈥減ersonally guilty and responsible鈥� for keeping silent, for omissions, and for focusing too much on the reputation of the Church. 鈥淥nly after 2002 and even more since 2010, those affected by sexual abuse have been brought to the fore more consequently and this change of perspective has not yet been completed,鈥� he says, adding that, 鈥淥verlooking and disregarding the victims was certainly our greatest fault of the past.鈥�

A signal for a new beginning.

鈥淲e have failed,鈥� Cardinal Marx reiterates, frankly acknowledging that 鈥渨e鈥� includes himself personally. That, he says, is why he is submitting his resignation: as an opportunity to express his willingness to take responsibility, and also as a 鈥減ersonal signal for a new beginning, for a new awakening of the Church, not only in Germany.鈥�

鈥淚 would like to show that it is not the office that is in the forefront but the mission of the Gospel. This too is part of pastoral care,鈥� he says in conclusion. Insisting that he continues 鈥渢o enjoy being a priest and a bishop, he commits himself to pastoral activity, wherever the Pope deems it 鈥渞easonable and useful,鈥� and to increasingly dedicate himself to 鈥減astoral care鈥� and to support the work of spiritual renewal of the Church.

Roles in the Church

Cardinal Marx has served as a member of the Council of Cardinals since it was established by Pope Francis in 2013 to assist him in the governance of the universal Church and to study and implement the project for the reform of the Roman Curia. In 2014, Pope Francis also appointed him coordinator of the Council for the Economy. Earlier, in 2012, he was elected chairman of the German Bishops鈥� Conference, a post he held until February 2020, when he announced that he would not stand for another term during the general assembly in March.