Abuse affair in Obernjesa: Church admits communication errors

Abuse affair in Obernjesa: Church admits communication errors

In the tranquil Obernjesa, a former Evangelical Youth Welfare children's home, there are dark shadows from the past. According to the first allegations, the most serious sexual assaults occurred there in the 1950s. In 2012, those affected made allegations against the now deceased pastor couple Hermann and Margarete Grüneklee. But the responsible Göttingen-Münden church district was not informed of these serious allegations until more than a decade later. In a statement from the Göttingen Tageblatt It is pointed out that the Hanover regional church has admitted errors in communication. A tragic circumstance that could cause additional pain for those affected.

The situation escalated further when it was discovered that the responsible church representatives in Göttingen were not informed about monetary payments to former children in care. Such payments actually occurred after an independent commission from the regional church classified the allegations as plausible. This fact alone speaks volumes about the years of silence and lack of transparency to the detriment of the victims.

Ongoing concerns about current allegations of abuse

But the allegations of abuse are not just from the past. A current case concerns a pastor who has to remain employed despite ongoing investigations and serious allegations. According to the Hanover Regional Church The responsible court had decided that the conditions for withdrawing his appointment were not met. One allegation came from 2004, when a then 15-year-old person experienced sexual harassment. However, at that time the pastor was not employed by the regional church, which complicated the situation.

The views on the legal situation became clear: the presiding judge described the incidents as sexual harassment, which has only been punishable since 2016. A circumstance that presented the courts with a challenge. Jens Lehmann, President of the State Church Office, said that the church wanted to wait for the verdict before considering possible legal remedies against the pastor. However, the ban on working with children and young people remains in place, which is probably a bit of a relief for the parents affected.

Working through the symptoms of abuse

The fates of the victims of abuse are not just a tragic footnote in the history of the Church; they also raise important questions about the systems that have sheltered abusers for decades. In this context, coming to terms with sexual violence plays a central role. Experts emphasize that there are three forms of coming to terms with it: individual, institutional and social. The first is aimed at helping those affected deal with and cope with their experiences. Institutional reappraisal, on the other hand, deals with the structural deficiencies that have created a protected space for perpetrators.

The regional church has at least announced that it will initiate proceedings to deal with the events in Obernjesa. Discussions with the Göttingen church district and the Evangelical Youth Welfare Service should take place soon. The aim is to encourage other affected people to speak out. An important step in making the victims heard and at the same time promoting trust in the institutional process. This is particularly crucial when you look at history: Klaus Grüneklee, the son of the accused pastor, has in the past actively sought information about the names of those affected and even threatened legal action. A circumstance that puts additional pressure on those affected who are already vulnerable.

Dealing with the incidents of abuse therefore remains a challenging undertaking that affects not only the people affected, but also the entire institution of the church and how it deals with the past. The road to healing and justice is long, but it is necessary to learn from the mistakes of the past and prevent future injustice.