Doris Reisinger
Doris Reisinger (née Wagner; b. 1983) is a German philosopher, theologian and author, and former nun.
Doris Reisinger | |
---|---|
Born | Doris Wagner 1983 (age 39–40) |
Occupation(s) | writer, theologian, philosopher |
Early life and abuse
Reisinger was born Doris Wagner in Ansbach in 1983 and joined the Catholic religious community Familia Spiritualis Opus ("The Work" – FSO) at an age of 19. In 2008, aged 24, Reisinger alleges she was sexually assaulted by Austrian priest Hermann Geissler, a member of both "The Work" – FSO and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).[1][2] Geissler resigned from the CDF in January 2019 but denied the accusations against him.[1][2]
Leaving the order and activism
Reisinger left the order in 2011 and finished her theology studies in 2014.[3] The same year, she published Nicht mehr ich: Die wahre Geschichte einer jungen Ordensfrau, her autobiography, which recounts her experiences as a victim of sexual assault within the Roman Catholic Church. Reisinger critiques that hierarchies of many religions and faith communities, such as the Catholic Church, subordinate individuals. She alleges that these communities would often provide the ideal conditions for assault by men higher up in the ranks.[4] A criminal investigation conducted by police in Germany and Austria against her alleged rapist did not lead to a conviction. In Germany, authorities closed the case because the priest's conduct did not meet the criteria of a crime (sections of the German penal code on sexual offenses were reformed two years later[5]). In Austria, the case was closed because the priest persuasively claimed that their relations had been consensual.[3]
Publications
- Nicht mehr ich. Die wahre Geschichte einer jungen Ordensfrau. ("No longer I: The true story of a young nun.) Edition a, Wien 2014, ISBN 978-3-99001-109-6.
- with Klaus Mertes: Spriritueller Missbrauch in der katholischen Kirche. (Spiritual assault in the Catholic Church) Herder, Freiburg 2019, ISBN 978-3-451-38426-4.
References
- Pullella, Philip (29 January 2019). "Vatican official resigns after abuse accusation by ex-nun". Reuters. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Agnew, Paddy (3 February 2019). "'Vatican official came into my room and raped me': ex-nun". The Independent. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Schulschenk, Lara (22 November 2018). "Jenseits von Eden". Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Cwienk, Jeannette (7 February 2019). "Doris Reisinger: For clergy, 'I was the perfect victim'". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Abschlussbericht der Reformkommission zum Sexualstrafrecht.