New study reveals decades of abuse cases in northern Italian diocese

Ulrich Wastl shows copies of the abuse report for the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone at its presentation in Bolzano, Italy, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. The 635-page document, published in both Italian and German, details investigations into abuse cases spanning from 1964 to 2023. / Credit: Diocese of Bolzano/Jan Kusstatscher

CNA Newsroom, Jan 21, 2025 / 12:45 pm (CNA).

A pioneering probe into clerical abuse in northern Italy’s Bolzano-Bressanone Diocese has uncovered 67 cases involving 59 victims over a nearly 60-year period, according to a study released Monday.

The 635-page report examined cases from 1964 to 2023 in the northern Italian region of Alto Adige-Südtirol and identified 41 clergy members as alleged perpetrators.

However, researchers could definitively confirm allegations against only 29 of the accused, while claims against the remaining 12 clergy could not be verified with sufficient certainty.

In what researchers called a “surprising” finding, more than 51% of the victims were female, while only 18% were definitively identified as male. This pattern marks a significant departure from similar studies in Germany, where male victims predominated, reported CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.

The study, conducted by Munich-based law firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl, noted that the diocese’s handling of abuse cases has improved since 2010. Researchers particularly praised former Bishop Karl Golser (2008–2011) for establishing the diocese’s listening center — described as “an absolute novelty in Italy” — though they noted that before 2010, diocesan leadership had “mostly reacted inadequately or inappropriately.”

The report acknowledged sincere efforts by current leadership — Bishop Ivo Muser since 2011 and Vicar General Eugen Runggaldier since 2018 — to improve the diocese’s approach to abuse cases and support for victims. However, researchers identified 16 additional cases that remain unclear based on available documentation and witness statements.

“We want the Church to be a safe place, especially for children, young people, and vulnerable persons,” Muser said, according to ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. 

“We need a change in mentality, a new culture of closeness. This is a first step in this journey.”

The bishop, who first viewed the report Monday alongside the public, added that every case was “one too many,” acknowledging that the abuse of power had occurred “at the expense of the victims.”

Muser announced he would provide a more detailed response to the findings on Friday.