Sexuelle Kindesmisshandlung durch Priester in der katholischen Kirche.

An editorial is presented on the sexual abuse of children by the Catholic Church. The author notes the number of papers written on the subject and the Church's first official acknowledgement of such abuses in 2002. The offense is seen as a violation of the priests' authority and pastoral role, as well as of children's trust in an unequal power relationship. Numerous statistics on priestly sexual abuse of children are cited from U.S. records covering 1950-2002 involving some 4,400 Catholic clergy and 10, 667 child victims, with most instances unpunished and having caused considerable psychic injury to the afflicted children.