Anselm Grün Denies Helping an Abusive Priest Return to Ministry as Victims Demand a Wider Inquiry

Anselm Grün has rejected allegations that he intervened to help a priest return to ministry after sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy. The Benedictine monk, known for his spiritual books, denied claims regarding his involvement in the case, which took place in the early 1990s.

The dispute involves a priest from the Archdiocese of Paderborn who admitted his guilt during criminal proceedings. According to the fourth annual report from the Independent Commission for the Investigation of Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Paderborn, the priest spent time at the Recollectio-Haus, a spiritual center intended to assist troubled clergy.

The Council of Victims of the German Bishops’ Conference is now calling for an independent investigation into whether other accused or convicted clergy were helped to return to pastoral work through the Recollectio-Haus. Victims are seeking to determine what was known and who made decisions regarding the return of abusers to ministry during that period.