Heinrich Maria Janssen, Bishop of Hildesheim

Heinrich Maria Janssen, born in 1907 in Rindern near Kleve and died in 1988 in Hildesheim, was Bishop of Hildesheim. According to the 2021 expert report he and his vicar general covered up the acts of a priest wanted on an arrest warrant, who went on working in Paraguay under another name. Two victims made abuse allegations against him; the report expressly considers the account of one of them coherent. He was never convicted.

Life dates

1907-1988 (about 81 years old)

Country

Germany

Institutions

Diocese of Hildesheim

Category

Cover-up

Level of evidence

A Primary source · what does this mean?

Background

Course of events

1. Janssen was born in 1907 in Rindern near Kleve and died on 7 October 1988 in Hildesheim. He was Bishop of Hildesheim.
   Evidence: Deutsche Biographie (Historische Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek), Lebensdaten

   „Lebensdaten 1907 1988-10-07 Geburtsort Rindern bei Kleve Sterbeort Hildesheim Beruf/Funktion Bischof von Hildesheim“

Response of the Church

1. According to the expert report it is established that Janssen and probably also his vicar general massively violated secular law and covered up by every means the acts of a sex offender wanted on an arrest warrant. Two victims made abuse allegations against Janssen himself; the report calls the former home resident's account coherent and plausible. See the entry Diocese of Hildesheim 1957.
   Evidence: Antje Niewisch-Lennartz und Kurt Schrimm, Expertengruppe im Auftrag des Bistums Hildesheim, S. 75

   „steht jedoch fest, dass Bischof Janssen und wohl auch sein Generalvikar Sendker massiv gegen weltliches Recht verstießen“

   Evidence: Antje Niewisch-Lennartz und Kurt Schrimm, Expertengruppe im Auftrag des Bistums Hildesheim, S. 42

   „macht auch der ehemalige Bewohner des Bernwardshofes schlüssige und nachvollziehbare Angaben“

See also

• 1957-1982 · 25 years

  Diocese of Hildesheim 1957 to 1982: According to an expert report Bishop Janssen and his vicar general covered up the acts of a priest wanted on an arrest warrant, who went on working in Paraguay under another name

  • Germany
  • Violence
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up

Original documents to read

1. Commission report
   Antje Niewisch-Lennartz und Kurt Schrimm, Expertengruppe im Auftrag des Bistums Hildesheim: Aufklärung und Aufarbeitung sexualisierter Gewalt im Bistum Hildesheim während der Amtszeit von Bischof Heinrich Maria Janssen. Abschlussbericht der Expertengruppe zum Projekt »Wissen teilen«, Band 1, 14 September 2021. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 30 Oct 2026)

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Deutsche Biographie (Historische Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek): Janssen, Heinrich Maria, 1 January 2026. Original (retrieved 30 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 30 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.