But behind it lies an important contact point for victims of abuse and sexualised violence by priests and church employees. Those affected are involved in the advisory board for those affected.
For example, they provide information about church and external contact centres. Or advise on applications for compensation payments.
Three years after the foundation of the Freiburg Advisory Board for Victims - similar committees now exist in all German dioceses - the first personnel change is now imminent. The four founding members are stepping down and handing over responsibility.
So far, there are only a few candidates for the succession. Other dioceses are also finding it difficult to find people to take on this role.
The Archdiocese of Freiburg has now published a call for applications. If everything goes well, the new advisory board is due to start work in the autumn.
Taking the subject of abuse out of the taboo zone
Just a few years ago, hardly anyone would have expected that the advisory councils for those affected would have established themselves as an important point of contact in the church.
It was only in 2010 that the full extent of the horror of sexual abuse by priests and church employees was slowly uncovered, initially against great resistance from church leaders. There were thousands of victims nationwide who no one believed or helped for decades. Instead, the bishops and church personnel managers protected the perpetrators. The suffering of those affected is documented in abuse reports.
At the same time, it has now been possible to bring the subject of abuse out of the taboo zone.
Today, all dioceses are facing up to their responsibility and investing heavily in reappraisal, support and prevention.
The outgoing Freiburg Advisory Council for Victims of Abuse also recognises the Catholic Church's efforts to come to terms with the past and the current offers of help and support for victims in the south-west.
"The protection concepts work to prevent abuse and border crossings as far as possible and to enable those affected to get help quickly," says the outgoing advisory board. The members want to strictly maintain their anonymity and therefore do not want to appear in public with their names.
Compensation payments remain a contentious issue. The Catholic bishops have set up an independent body through which those affected by abuse can apply for payments as "recognition for the suffering they have endured".
Initially, these were mostly low five-figure sums, but now it is not uncommon for those severely affected to be awarded more than 50,000 or 100,000 euros. The Archdiocese of Freiburg alone has paid out a total of 5.15 million euros to those affected in this context since 2021.
A special feature of Freiburg that goes beyond what has been agreed nationwide by the Catholic bishops is the possibility for those affected by social hardship to receive a monthly support payment. Around 40 people currently benefit from this, receiving up to 800 euros per month.
Council of affected persons criticises church leadership
The church leadership has just adopted a new statute for this: According to this, the monthly support is automatically cancelled if the Independent Church Commission awards the affected person a one-off payment of at least 50,000 euros.
A new application for monthly support is then possible after five years at the earliest.
The Advisory Council for Victims does not agree with these changes. "The limit is too low. What is 50,000 euros, spread over five years, if you are incapacitated and scarred for life because of the abuse you suffered?" asks the advisory board.
The church leadership, in turn, points out that the "vast majority of the adjustments in the new regulations are based on suggestions made by the advisory board for those affected during the early consultation phase", a spokesperson for the diocese told the Catholic News Agency (KNA). "This concerns the recognition of therapists from different professions, the financing of therapy options for parents and children of those affected as well as the inclusion of counselling on social law issues."