Posted on 03/13/2010 12:00:49 PM PST by presidio9
The Vatican on Saturday fought attempts to link Pope Benedict XVI to child sex abuse in a counteroffensive against the widening paedophilia scandals. "It is clearly evident that in the past few days there are some who have sought -- with a dogged focus on Regensburg and Munich -- elements to personally implicate the Holy Father in questions of abuse," spokesman Federico Lombardi said.
"It is clear that these efforts have failed," he said on Radio Vatican.
On Friday, the pope's former diocese of Munich confirmed a report that when he was an archbishop in 1980, he approved housing for a priest who was accused of forcing an 11-year-old boy to perform oral sex.
Six years later, the priest was given a suspended prison sentence for child sex offences. The archdiocese said the priest in question still works in Bavaria, with no known repeat violations.
The disclosure added to a growing scandal in Germany that has already come close to Pope Benedict's brother Georg Ratzinger, a former choirmaster.
The first revelations emerged in January when an elite Jesuit school in Berlin admitted systematic sexual abuse of pupils by two priests in the 1970s and 1980s.
Among other boarding schools implicated is one attached to the Domspatzen ("Cathedral Sparrows"), Regensburg cathedral's thousand-year-old choir which was run for 30 years by the pope's older brother Ratzinger, who is now 86.
Earlier this week, Ratzinger said the alleged sexual abuse in the 1950s and 60s -- which was before his time -- was "never discussed".
However, in the latest revelations, former choirboy Thomas Mayer told German magazine Der Spiegel he had been raped by older members of the choir and that Ratzinger had violent fits of outrage during rehearsals.
"Ratzinger, I saw him extremely angry and irascible during rehearsals,"
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
I like Benedict a great deal, but why did he do this?
They can't get around the fact that the abuse in question allegedly took place in 1958 and that Benedict XVI was bishop of that jurisdiction from 1977 to 1981.
Additionally, from 1951-1977 he was not even involved with the administration of the diocese in any way - he was a university professor. He did not even live in Regensburg until 1969.
He was not even consecrated a bishop until 1977 at the age of 50 - his appointment as Archbishop of Germany's largest diocese was seen at the time as something that came completely out of nowhere.
So you are suggesting that he approved the housihg knowing the priest who is ACCUSED of forcing an 11 year old....
Or else
Why is there such an attack on all things Christian, and if it’s not a direct attack, it’s the ‘suspicion’ or the accusation without directly accusing. But either works, the ACCUSED is tortured in the media, found guilty ....even before guilt is proven.
Or Evil is being less restrained in the world now.
I love the highly leading title of this piece of “journalism.”
They can’t get around the fact that the abuse in question allegedly took place in 1958 and that Benedict XVI was bishop of that jurisdiction from 1977 to 1981.
Additionally, from 1951-1977 he was not even involved with the administration of the diocese in any way - he was a university professor. He did not even live in Regensburg until 1969.
He was not even consecrated a bishop until 1977 at the age of 50 - his appointment as Archbishop of Germany’s largest diocese was seen at the time as something that came completely out of nowhere.
3 posted on Saturday, March 13, 2010 3:16:50 PM by wideawake (Why is it that those who like to be called Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
Ratzinger should have tossed him out onto the street, guilty or not. Right?
*widening paedophilia scandals*
We shall know them by their fruits.
The diocesan functionary who was this particular priest's direct superior, Gerhard Gruber, has admitted to the press that he concealed the true nature of this particular priest's troubles by simply claiming that he needed to be housed in a psychiatric facility because of mental problems.
Msgr. Gruber has formally apologized for his actions.
I would also point out that in the 1970s, psychiatrists were very insistent that they were able to "cure" pedophilia and other deviant dispositions through therapy. We know a lot more today about what is and is not possible regarding these matters.
I don't think it's Msgr. Gruber's fault that he took the psychiatric profession at their word and believed and hoped that therapy would work. They were the professionals and he sought their advice.
Is anyone ELSE experiencing a Croakly-esque sense of deja vu here?? Same pattern, different decade..not Clinton now but Obama. Another concerted attack on the Catholic church. Coincidence? You decide.
So the actions of one individual are another individual's "fruits"?
There is no church, even the Reformed Church, that is free of similar scandals.
Predators - whether they are Catholic or Reformed or Jewish - seek out opportunities to prey on children. And, like most sociopaths, they are very good at deceiving normal, decent people.
When they are caught, like most sociopaths, they know exactly what to say: they express remorse and plead for forgiveness and they cite the Scriptures their superiors teach as arguments that they should be forgiven.
Predators can infiltrate the most devout communities, and they do so by depending on the Christian charity of the community's members to give them the benefit of the doubt, to avoid spreading gossip, to assume the best of all people, etc.
“Approved housing?” Hardly like putting him in charge of the youth camps. After one came forward, there were no other accusers, and no later revelations?
Seems to me that its reasonable, after one accusation, to avoid putting the guy where he’ll be in charge of minors. But you’re talking of people who often have no money of their own, and no outside line of work.
This sounds like scandal-mongering. If there’s any “there” there, I expect the author would have mentioned it.
No other church or denomination can compare in sheer number or cover ups
All men are sinners, but unlike priests we do not claim to act as Christ..
If he were an Obama supporter, it would (rightly) be called a "smear".
EXACTLY what has that statement got to do with what is an obvious setup of an innocent man??
BS. The religion of public education far exceeds the aggregate and percentage of criminals masquerading as Priests. However, that denomination; with it's capped liability limits, of atheists isn't a target of your cabal.
Speaking of scandals, has anyone looked into the way the WCC has been shilling for Obie care?? I continue to question the timing of this attack.
On Friday, the pope’s former diocese of Munich confirmed a report that when he was an archbishop in 1980, he approved housing for a priest who was accused of forcing an 11-year-old boy to perform oral sex.
I like Benedict a great deal, but why did he do this?
Thanks guys. I’m satisfied Benedict did no wrong in this.
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