Apologies to the German cardinal for abuse: 'It has been put up in the box'

fulda - The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, Cardinal Marx, has apologized for all forms of sexual abuse within the church over the past decades. He did so during the presentation of a comprehensive study into the abuse of children and young people.

'For too long the church lied about abuse, looked away and put it in the cover up. For all the failure and all pain, I apologize, 'said the prince. ' I am ashamed of the trust that was destroyed, for the crimes that people have been inflicted by ecclesiastical officials ''.

As in other countries like the Netherlands, the Roman Catholic Church in Germany is struggling with the consequences of sexual abuse in the past.

The study that appeared on Tuesday shows that between 1946 and 2014 3677 minors were abused by 1670 ecclesiastical officials. The case is by no means handled with the study according to Marx, but now begins ''. This week the German bishops hold their autumn meetings and there will be talk about changes within the church, the cardinal announced.