Die Kirche und der sexuelle Missbrauch, Paderborn 2022: Brill Schöningh.

The book review deals with the topic of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. It is pointed out that the scientific investigation of this abuse is mainly carried out by medical professionals, psychologists, criminologists, and social scientists. Historians, psychologists, and educators examine the internal and societal causes of the perpetrators' misconduct and the leadership's behavior. The interdisciplinary volume contains contributions from various experts and documents a conference on addressing the abuse. It is emphasized that the insights and consequences from this investigation can be painful and provoke resistance. The text deals with the abuse scandal in the Catholic Church and emphasizes that scandals are places of confrontation where power structures collide. Abuse in religious contexts is considered particularly serious because the victims have a spiritual dependence on the perpetrators. The church's reactions to abuse cases have often been characterized by cover-ups and a lack of care for the victims. The author emphasizes that the church can only regain its credibility if it fundamentally reconsiders its self-image and hierarchy and does not abandon the victims. [Extracted from the article]