Town Mayor Urges People Not to Forget the Abuse Perpetrated by Cults

Here's what it's all about

• In his cult, Methernitha, Paul “Vatti” Baumann abused minors in the 1950s and 1960s, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison in 1976.

• An SRF series has brought the case back into the public eye, prompting the mayor of Linden, Bern, to speak out.

• Ignaz Margelisch speaks out against forgetting and calls for people to take responsibility.

The mayor of Linden, Bern, responds to various media reports and the TV series “Der Engelmacher” about the Methernitha cult and its controversial founder, Paul Baumann.

In the latest issue of the village newspaper, he calls on the community to come to terms with the past. “What happened to the girls and young women back then weighs heavily on us and must not be forgotten,” writes independent Ignaz Margelisch in the *Lindenblatt*.

Simply remaining silent and hoping that the matter would eventually resolve itself could not be a solution, the mayor of Linden continued. There is “no question” that the municipality bore responsibility at the time.

However, it is important to understand that decisions made at that time are “often judged in light of what we know today.” And that an honest assessment must also take into account the role of the Canton of Bern and the Bern judicial system.

The abuse is said to have continued

The Keystone-SDA news agency has obtained the article that was cited on Saturday by the “Berner Zeitung” and “Der Bund” were the first to report on it on Saturday.

Filmmaker Marina Klauser dedicated a documentary series to the “Methernitha” religious community and its founder, Paul Baumann; the series was screened at the Locarno Film Festival and aired on Swiss television (SRF) in August.

Founder Paul Baumann, known as “Vatti,” was sentenced to seven years in prison in the 1970s for sexual abuse of underage girls. In her documentary series, Klauser gave a voice to the victims.

According to an interpellation submitted to the Bern Grand Council and reports in the Bern media, the series also revealed that the abuses within the Methernitha sect continued even after Baumann’s release from prison.

Initial Statement in August

In early November, *Der Bund* and the *Berner Zeitung* reported that the municipality was shirking its responsibility. The Bern cantonal government will still have to respond to the interpellation submitted in September.

In August, the municipality of Linden had already briefly addressed Klauser’s documentary in a written statement. At the time, it stated, among other things, that it condemned any behavior that violated applicable law or infringed upon people’s dignity and rights.

At the same time, it is important to distinguish between the events of that time and the current situation. She does not comment on specific historical allegations, statements, or personal fates.