The Swiss Bishops' Conference announced that the Vatican has ordered an investigation into high-ranking Catholic clergymen in the country concerning sexual assault allegations. The group stated in a press release that "there are numerous allegations against both active and retired bishops, as well as other clergy, regarding their handling of abuse cases. Specifically, they have faced accusations of covering up abuses. There are also allegations that some were involved in sexual assaults in the past." According to the Bishops' Conference, "the Vatican received a letter outlining the allegations in May, and subsequently appointed Swiss Bishop Joseph Bonnemain to head a preliminary investigation in June." The statement noted that "Bonnemain has a history of investigating sexual abuses related to the Church."
In turn, Father Nicholas Bechtiger, a priest at Bruder Klaus Church in the Swiss capital Bern, confirmed to the Associated Press that he had written a letter that first appeared in a report by the newspaper Blick, accusing bishops of covering up abuse cases. The newspaper stated that one bishop and three priests are accused of sexually abusing teenagers. Bechtiger told the Associated Press that "the motivation behind this is Pope Francis's call for clergy to disclose any evidence of sexual abuse or cover-ups they encounter," pointing out that the Catholic Church has declared that it is making important calculations and efforts to strengthen canon law regarding sexual abuse and harassment in recent years, but mistakes have persisted.
