Swiss Reformed Church Proposes Recognition Process for Abuse Victims

The Swiss Reformed Church (EERS) has initiated a discussion on how to recognize cases of abuse within its congregations. This initiative, set to be debated at the upcoming Synod in Bern, proposes measures that include financial compensation capped at 20,000 francs per victim. The proposal, presented by the EERS Council, aims to provide acknowledgment of harm rather than serve as compensation.

In addition to financial support, the proposal includes symbolic gestures such as public apologies or awareness-raising efforts. The EERS Council explicitly states that these measures are not intended to replace legal remedies but to offer recognition of the abuse. The Church acknowledges that no amount of money can fully compensate for the harm experienced by victims.

An independent commission will be established to assess each case of abuse. Composed of up to seven experts from fields such as law, psychology, and victim support, this commission will determine the appropriate recognition and, where applicable, the amount of financial assistance. The criteria for determining payments will be based on existing guidelines from the Protestant Church in Germany and the Catholic Church in Switzerland, though no fixed scale is proposed.

The process is open to any individual who has been affected by abuse, but financial compensation will not be provided if legal remedies have already been pursued. Payments will only be made in cases where no legal recourse is available, such as when the offender is deceased or the statute of limitations has expired. Symbolic gestures, however, may still be offered even in ongoing or concluded legal cases.

To ensure local accountability, victims are required to submit their reports to the cantonal church where the abuse occurred. This allows local churches to implement preventive measures, such as removing individuals who have committed abuse from positions of influence. The costs associated with the recognition process will be covered by the cantonal churches.

Source: Read the original report (translated from French)