A new investigation into sexual abuses in the German Archdiocese of Paderborn has brought to light a much higher number of victims than previously known and has reignited suspicions about the actions of former ecclesiastical leaders. The study, prepared by researchers from the University of Paderborn after nearly six years of work, documents 210 accused clerics and at least 489 victims between 1941 and 2002, double the cases identified in previous studies.
According to the German portal Katholisch.de, the publication of the report has also coincided with the emergence of direct abuse allegations against the late Cardinal Johannes Joachim Degenhardt, who was Archbishop of Paderborn from 1961 to 2002.
A report that doubles the known figures
The academic investigation reveals a much greater dimension of the problem in this German diocese. The historians found 210 indications of accused priests and at least 489 minor victims of sexual assaults during the period analyzed.
These figures far exceed those presented by the so-called MHG-Studie of 2018, which had identified 111 accused individuals and 197 victims in the same ecclesiastical territory.
The researchers also emphasize that these data correspond only to the so-called “visible field”, that is, to cases documented in archives and testimonies, so the real number could be higher.
Allegations against Cardinal Degenhardt
Parallel to the presentation of the study, the victims’ representation of the archdiocese has pointed to a “credible” complaint from a person who accuses Cardinal Johannes Joachim Degenhardt of sexual abuse when they were a minor.
The organization’s spokesperson, Reinhold Harnisch, explained that the accusation was received at the end of 2025. The cardinal, who died in 2002, is considered by the victims’ group as “accused,” while they continue to investigate if there are more possible affected individuals.
However, the authors of the academic study noted that they have not found concrete evidence in the research to confirm that accusation, due to the scarcity of available data.
Previous allegations of cover-up
This is not the first time Degenhardt’s name has been linked to abuse scandals. Previous investigations had already pointed out that he and his predecessor, Cardinal Lorenz Jaeger, protected accused priests and transferred some of them, which allowed new abuses to occur.
According to the historians who analyzed the diocesan archives, both cardinals showed great indulgence toward suspicious clerics while paying scant attention to the victims.
The archdiocese admits past failure
The current Archbishop of Paderborn, Udo Bentz, described the study as a “milestone in the process of clarification” and acknowledged the failure of ecclesiastical leaders in the past.
“The culpable failure of previous diocesan leaders cannot be downplayed,” the prelate stated, assuring that the diocese must work to build a new culture of credibility.
A diocese marked by controversies
The Archdiocese of Paderborn has repeatedly been at the center of controversies in recent years. In addition to the abuse scandals, some pastoral initiatives have generated strong criticism among the faithful, such as the recent “ecumenical service inspired by Harry Potter” held in a parish.
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In that context, the new report once again focuses on a diocese whose recent history reflects both deep institutional problems and a growing crisis of credibility within the German Church.
New investigations underway
The study presented now mainly analyzes the periods of government of Cardinals Jaeger and Degenhardt. The researchers announced that in 2027 another report will be published focusing on the tenure of Archbishop Hans-Josef Becker, who led the archdiocese from 2002 to 2022.