Diocese of Basel outsources investigations: an external law firm is now investigating the abuses

class=”sc-29f61514-0 dXbCZE”>

The Diocese of Basel has commissioned an independent law firm to conduct preliminary investigations into canon law and investigate claims for relief. According to the diocese, these procedures will now be carried out externally. This should guarantee greater independence than before.

Law firm Kellerhals Carrad will conduct canonical preliminary investigations and investigate applications for compensation from mid-November, the Basel diocese, based in Solothurn, announced on Monday. The cooperation agreement has been signed.

In the Diocese of Basel, these two procedures would be fully clarified and carried out externally in the future. The deals would ultimately be reported to the independent external coordination person.

Bishop Felix Gmür was active in the church process twice, according to the press release. On the recommendation of the coordinating person, he orders the canonical preliminary investigation by decree. After its conclusion, he would also close it by decree and send the entire file with his vote to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Cultural and structural change sought

The bishop documents these steps to the independent external coordination person. The Diocese of Basel is convinced that “with joint efforts, the expected cultural and structural change will be possible.”

According to the Diocese of Basel, an independent, external lawyer has been responsible as a coordinating person since 2017. It is the official reporting point for sexual violence in the diocese of Basel. It accepts reports of suspected sexual abuse from those involved, confidants, acquaintances, witnesses and defendants.

The diocese of Basel includes ten cantons: AG, BE, BL, BS, JU, LU, TG, SH, SO and ZG. With over a million believers, it is the largest diocese in Switzerland. (SDA)

Source:Blick