News
New book on patterns of abuse by Ute Leimgruber published
Sexual abuse of adult women in the church is a largely invisible phenomenon. In media debates, academic discourse and often also in church reappraisal projects, adult victims are hardly ever mentioned. Ute Leimgruber shows that this invisibility is no coincidence. In theologies, cultural interpretations and gender stereotypes, patterns are at work that produce the very ignorance that enables sexual abuse and promotes cover-ups.
Why are adult women so rarely regarded as victims - even where abuse has long been recognised? How are the offences interpreted when the victims are adults and female?
Ute Leimgruber gets to the bottom of these questions. She identifies the "hidden patterns of abuse" - hidden patterns that go unquestioned and are deeply rooted in institutional structures, but also in theology and society. Her book analyses the conditions under which sexual abuse of women is committed in the church, but also in secular society, and yet is not seen as such. The book is therefore an instrument for effective prevention and a contribution to a debate that is long overdue.
Download here for free as an e-book (external link, opens in a new window)
New book by Barbara Haslbeck "Sexual abuse of women religious in German-speaking countries" published
The book accompanying Barbara Haslbeck's study "Sexual abuse of women religious in German-speaking countries" has been published. Sexual abuse of women religious happens all over the world - including in Germany. This is shown by the study, for which interviews with those affected were methodically conducted and analysed for the first time in German-speaking countries. In addition to a look at the abuse scenarios, the book offers insights into the experiences of those affected as well as an analysis of the role of the respective community. The analysis shows that perpetrators use their role and spiritual ideals to legitimise the abuse. And there are systemic conditions in the communities that have a jeopardising effect.
The study is available in open access at
A recording of the book presentation on 18 September 2025 (Dombergakademie Freising) can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtG6hzJzBlw (external link, opens in a new window)
Film recommendation by Ute Leimgruber: LUISA (cinema release 23.4.26)
Prof. em. Dr Konrad Baumgartner passed away on 15 March 2026
Obituary (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible)for Prof. em. Dr Konrad Baumgartner
SelVi@ur - virtual and interactive support for self-study phases during lectures.
As part of the SelVi@ur project, in which Philippa Haase and Ute Leimgruber represented our faculty, digital, moodle-based modules were developed that specifically support students in acquiring skills for self-regulated learning and promote virtual interaction in the teaching process. The project, funded by the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education in the period 08/2021-12/2025 with a funding volume of €2,547,236, has now been completed with the publication of an e-book OER:
Centre for University and Academic Teaching (ed.). (2025). SelVi@ur - Accompanying self-learning phases in lectures virtually and interactively. University of Regensburg, doi no. 10.5283/epub.78170.
Click here (external link, opens in a new window) for the e-book.
A feminist perspective on abuse in the Catholic Church
In 2020, the book "Narration as Resistance" drew attention to the sexual and spiritual abuse of adult women in the Catholic Church. Five years later, it is time to take stock: Dr Magdalena Hürten will present the results of her research. Afterwards, we will discuss the importance of a culture of storytelling and listening.
- Dr Magdalena Hürten, Regensburg
- Dr Regina Heyder, KDFB
- Dr Dewi-Maria Suharjanto, Diocese of Limburg
Cooperation:
- Catholic German Women's Association (KDFB)
Lecture, panel discussion
Mon 15 December 2025
19:00-20:30
Networking conference "Assumption of power - spiritual abuse - sexualised violence"
From 4-6.8.25, 45 academics in the qualification phase as well as representatives from church practice and work with those affected met at the Catholic Social Institute in Siegburg to address the pressing issues of usurpation of power, spiritual abuse and sexualised violence. The conference provided a platform for an intensive exchange and controversial discussions, which were enriched by diverse contributions from various theological disciplines, history and law.
The contributions centred on key questions: What can be observed in the church? How can these phenomena best be described and defined? Which theological topoi and church practices prove to be particularly problematic or helpful? In addition, approaches for prevention and intervention were discussed in order to effectively counter these challenges.
The event not only promoted exchange and networking between academics, but also in various non-university practical contexts. The participants emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in order to meet the complex challenges and bring about sustainable change in the church context.
The conference was prepared by Magdalena Hürten, Christiane Kuropka, Pavlos Leußler and Jakob Schrage and organised in cooperation with the Catholic German Women's Association (KDFB), the KSI in Siegburg, the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Bonn and its IPA Hub work and research centre, as well as the Foundation Centre of the Archdiocese of Cologne.
The presentations will be published in conference proceedings.
Patterns of abuse in the university context - Orange Day 2025
Dr Judith König (external link, opens in a new window) and Philippa Haase (external link, opens in a new window) were invited by the Equal Opportunities Coordination Office at the University of Regensburg and the OTH Regensburg's Equal Opportunities Service Centre to take part in Orange Day 2025. The speakers organised the event with a keynote speech and a subsequent workshop on the topic of "Hidden Patterns of Abuse. Seeing and understanding patterns of abuse", which was aimed at all interested parties, in particular students and doctoral candidates at both universities.
For the first time, a comparison was made between the church and the university in order to visualise hidden patterns (external link, opens in a new window) of abuse (external link, opens in a new window).
Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, no photos of the participants were taken. Pictured are: Katja von Poschiner (Equal Opportunities Coordination Office, University of Regensburg), Philippa Haase, Dr Judith König (both "Hidden Patterns of Abuse", University of Regensburg) and Miriam Kerl (Equal Opportunities and Diversity Service Office, OTH Regensburg). The photo was taken by Jana Niederstrasser.
Study on the Catholic Integrated Community seeks interview partners
The project "Ganzhingabe - Spiritual Abuse in the Catholic Integrated Community (KIG)" (external link, opens in a new window) is investigating how former members experienced life in the KIG. Many people today report both positive spiritual experiences as well as pressure, a lack of freedom or stressful forms of community and leadership. The focus here is on the concept of spiritual abuse, i.e. situations in which religious authority or community structures have violated one's own right to spiritual self-determination.
In order to better understand these experiences, interview participants are currently being sought who were previously part of the KIG - regardless of whether their experiences were predominantly enriching, mixed or difficult. Each perspective helps to paint a more complete picture and visualise possible structures that may have led to dependencies or border crossings.
All interviews take place voluntarily, are treated confidentially and are analysed anonymously. The interviews serve to scientifically analyse the history of the KIG and give those affected a voice.
Click here for the interview call (external link, opens in a new window)
Contact
Philippa Haase
philippa.haase@theologie.uni-regensburg.de
International conference "Behind the Veil"
From 26-29 July 2020, 60 academics, journalists and activists from all over the world who are concerned with the spiritual and sexual abuse of women religious met in Regensburg. Together, they analysed the "hidden patterns" of abuse against women religious, discussed cultural specifics and, above all, identified the global structures that make abuse a worldwide problem. The conference provided an important networking opportunity for stakeholders to strengthen international cooperation and work together on the existing challenges.
You can find a more detailed report on feinschwarz.net (external link, opens in a new window).
"Listening to silence" - Magdalena Hürten's dissertation published
Under the title "Listening to the silence. The significance of the concept of epistemic injustice for research into the abuse of adult women in the Catholic Church. A case study on the founding history of the St Francis Sisters of St Francis of Assisi", Magdalena Hürten's dissertation has been published by Karl Alber Verlag. Using Miranda Fricker's theory of "epistemic injustice", the author developed a method to lift knowledge from the files that was concealed by negative prejudices against the women concerned, patriarchal ideas about legitimate and illegitimate sexual acts and religious ideals such as sacrifice and devotion. With this method, the work makes a contribution to research into the abuse of adult women in the Catholic Church beyond the case study of the St Francis Sisters of St Francis of Assisi.