Friday, 25 April 2014 - 17:04
Catholic Church affirms late Bishop's molestation
The abuse registration point of the Catholic Church has ruled that four complaints of molestation against the late Bishop Jan Niënhaus are founded.
Niënhaus died in 2000. The abuse of underaged boys apparently took place from the 19850’s to the early 1970’s. This was confirmed today by the archbishopric of Utrecht, after reports by Volkskrant newspaper.
Niënhaus, who formally served as substitute Bishop in Utrecht and Benda, is the second Dutch bishop of whom the registration point finds grounds that claims of child abuse are grounded. Earlier the abuse by bishop Jo Gijsen was affirmed.
Cardinal Wim Eijk has said that he “regrets that the abuse took place” and that he hopes that affirmation 'can help in the victims’ process of healing.