Statue of late German Cardinal Franz Hengsbach will be removed after allegations of sexual abuse

ESSEN, Germany — A statue of late German Cardinal Franz Hengsbach might be faraway from exterior a cathedral in western Germany after allegations of sexual abuse towards him surfaced, Catholic church officers mentioned Friday.

A memorial for victims of sexual abuse might be created to take the place of the statue, which was erected in 2011, German information company dpa reported, citing Thomas Zander, the dean of the cathedral of the town of Essen.

The transfer got here after a number of hours of closed-door deliberations.

The controversy across the statue, which is positioned simply exterior Essen Cathedral, was sparked on Tuesday when the German Dioceses of Essen and Paderborn introduced that that they had began investigations into no less than three sexual abuse allegations introduced towards Hengsbach.

Two allegations date again to the Nineteen Fifties and Sixties. The primary case alleges that Hengsbach abused a 16-year-old woman in 1954 whereas he was nonetheless an auxiliary bishop within the German metropolis of Paderborn. The second case dates again to 1967 when he allegedly assaulted one other lady throughout his time in Essen when he was already a bishop.

The most recent allegations have been made by a 3rd sufferer in October 2022.

Hengsbach based the Diocese of Essen in 1958 which he led till his loss of life in 1991 at age 80.