As a Roman Catholic, I do not trust the bishops to investigate themselves.
The only place where the Church was investigated over the sex scandals by an independent organization, was in Ireland, in which the government appointed a judge with her committee to investigate the problem.
As a result, five bishops had to resign.
In my opinion, had the same bishops investigated themselves, I am afraid, they would not been found guilty. This was usually what has happened in any other country that I know of.
As a consequence, there would have had no upper blame and no compulsion to resign.
You can be sure that in the current sex scandal in Germany, unless the government appoints an independent organization, the results will be nicely polished for those at the top.
Seamus Cregg
Red Deer