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CRIME

Probe ordered into Catholic Church sex abuse cover-ups in Switzerland

The coordinating body of the Catholic dioceses in Switzerland said Sunday a preliminary investigation had been launched into accusations of sexual abuse cover-ups within the Church.

Probe ordered into Catholic Church sex abuse cover-ups in Switzerland
The monastery of Montcroix in Delemont, north-western Switzerland. Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP.

The Bishops’ Conference of Switzerland said an investigation has been opened following accusations of both abuse and efforts to cover up abuse had been made against several former and serving members of the conference, as well as other members of clergy.

The conference statement came after the SonntagsBlick weekly on Sunday reported that a former prominent priest had in a letter accused four current and two former bishops of covering up cases of sexual abuse by clergy in Switzerland.

One of them was himself accused of sexually harassing a boy, the paper reported.

The conference acknowledged in Sunday’s statement that a letter dated in late May contained accusations involving “the handling of sex abuse cases”.

Some of those names “are accused themselves of committing sexual abuse in the past”, it said, stressing that “the appropriate authorities have been informed about the cases mentioned in the letter”.

The letter had been addressed to Martin Krebs, the apostolic nuncio to Switzerland, who had transmitted the accusations to the dicastery in Rome.

On June 23, the dicastery ordered a preliminary investigation, and appointed the Bishop of Chur Joseph Bonnemain to lead the probe, the statement said. The investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

“The main focus of this preliminary ecclesiastic investigation is the accusation of dissimulation of abuse cases,” the conference said.

Investigation of the alleged sexual abuse itself would primarily fall to police and prosecutors, it explained.

The conference stressed that its directives oblige ecclesiastic leaders to file complaints with the authorities in any cases where there is suspicion of sexual crimes against minors.

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LAUSANNE

American tourist ‘violently attacked’ in Lausanne

A woman visiting from the United States was stabbed during a robbery attempt while sightseeing in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

American tourist 'violently attacked' in Lausanne

The attack occurred at the end of May, but the Swiss media reported it on Tuesday.

The victim, in her 50s, was “violently” attacked by a man with a knife while sightseeing in the Old Town, according to Lausanne’s newspaper 24 Heures. The attempted robbery was confirmed by local police.

The tourist was stabbed in the shoulder as the assailant tried to flee with her bag.

A local shopkeeper said she was “alerted by cries of distress in English” and witnessed the victim “lying on the ground and trying to defend herself against a man who was attacking her. The scene was extremely violent.”

Even though passersby attempted to intercept the attacker, he managed to escape.

He was, however, caught and arrested shortly thereafter. Police said the perpatrator was known for prior criminal acts.

This was the second case of a brutal attack in Switzerland  against a US tourist in a span of several months.

In February, an American woman was raped and beaten in Geneva. 

The suspect in that case lived in France and, according to the Geneva prosecutor’s office, was arrested “outside Switzerland.” 

Does this mean the two cities are unsafe for tourists?

Lausanne police said that no incidents “targeting tourists in particular” have been reported in the Vaud capital.

But reading about these attacks probably doesn’t fill you with confidence regarding your personal security in Switzerland.

Still, you should put these unfortunate incidents in perspective.

That’s because Switzerland consistently ranks among the least risky nations in the world, both in terms of personal safety and overall crime rate.

Not only is crime limited in scope, but other statistics also indicate that, in comparison with other countries, Switzerland is very safe.

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