A detailed report on sexualised violence in the Catholic diocese of Osnabrück in Germany has identified more than 400 victims since 1945.

“It is clear that there is a large dark field – the highest estimate is 10 times this number,” legal scholar Hans Schulte-Nölke said on Wednesday while presenting the final report.

During this period, around 3,000 clerics were employed in the diocese. Of these, 4.1% have been accused of wrongdoing.

This figure corresponds to the findings in other dioceses in Germany and abroad, said Mr Schulte-Nölke.

The alleged acts cover the entire spectrum of sexualised violence, including allegations of serious sexual offences.

The study was commissioned by the Diocese of Osnabrück but conducted by academics from the University of Osnabrück.

The university’s president, Susanne Menzel-Riedl, stressed that the diocese did not influence the work of the researchers.

An initial interim report was presented two years ago and revealed several mistakes made by the diocese in dealing with sexualised violence.

As a result of the report, the then-bishop of Osnabrück, Franz-Josef Bode, resigned from his post. 

(dpa/NAN)