Did Ratzinger Help Shield Perpetrator From Prosecution?

[mgc1961]

Peter H. simply cannot understand why allegations are being made against him now -- especially after all these years. "Why me of all people?" the priest asked during a phone conversation with his friend, the mayor of Garching, a town near his own, Bad Tölz, in Bavaria.

Yes, why him of all people? Especially when there are so many priests who have committed sins against children, and so many who have been treated leniently by the church. Back in 1980, even Joseph Ratzinger -- then the archbishop of Munich, and now Pope Benedict XVI -- had played a role in the decision to handle Peter H.'s pedophiliac infractions internally. No police, no state prosecutor, no trial. Therapy and brotherly love would bring this sinner back to the fold.

Events that linked Ratzinger and Peter H. decades ago are now causing their paths to cross once again. Last week, one of these two men, Peter H., was suspended from the priesthood, while the other, Pope Benedict XVI, signed a pastoral letter on clerical sexual abuse. The pope now wants to clear up these cases and aid the victims.

Is this a long-awaited turning point?


The story continues at http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,684970,00.html

[Doctor_J]

1. Is the Pope Catholic?

No pun intended. I fear that this practice was very wide-spread amongst the bishops. Joey Ratz was likely no exception

[DrDan]

2. I am glad this is finally becoming a civil matter

the church is NOT above the state and civil laws much as they think they are. Time to bring these despicable people and their actions out into the open and dealt with according to the laws.

[GodlessBiker]

3. The Rat caused an iron curtain to descend upon allegations of child abuse.

[mgc1961]

4. A forwarded e-mail

My mother, a former life-long Catholic and active member of her church was basically harassed into leaving the church. One of the "kooks," as my Dad calls her, sent out the following letter to everyone in her address book.

Does the following letter look like a Glenn Beck production or what?

I called Mom to ask for more information about the sender before writing a Reply All response. She asked me not to do it since Dad still goes to church there and they all know their phone number and where they live. She didn't want any more conflict. I agreed to leave the response to her.


Dear Friends in Christ,

I am compelled to send this email to all in my address list. It is that important. You must begin to educate yourself about what true, Godly “social justice” means. Please, I beg you, study, meditate, and pray to understand where “social justice” truly comes from. True, honest, meaningful, unhurtful social justice must always come from the heart—not from an entity, not forced, such as from a government. The current government is using, in an evil manner, the term “social justice.” Do not allow them to twist the true meaning in your mind. Preying on people’s compassion—this is an unholy means of attaining an end result. They are using the means of forced redistribution of wealth (a marxist theorem) to provide “social justice” to all and calling it good. JESUS DID NOT TELL CAESAR TO TAKE WHAT PEOPLE OWN AND REDISTRIBUTE THIS TO THE POOR. This ONLY breeds resentment—Jesus understood this. This is divisive and will only breed contempt for one’s neighbor. I know you do not want this—you are loving people, I know that—just do not be misguided. We all want to accomplish a good---please, please, I beg you, do not act under misguided compassion and accept “forced charity.” God does not want anything that is forced; only that which comes from a “willing” heart.

In the coming months, you will hear many times a reference to our “moral” code, our “social justice” to obtain what they consider is a social good—do not allow yourselves to be deceived—those who wish to “force” love, do not really understand what love is all about.

If you love your children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, moms, dads, cousins, friends, neighbors, priests, grandparents, ministers---everytime you hear the words “moral”, “social justice”, “right thing to do” in the future bandied around by those in power, ask yourself, “ are they proposing a veiled social justice that comes from an entity or one that comes from God—from the heart!” You will miss it, for it is very subtle, unless you pay very close attention.

DO NOT BE APATHETIC IN UNDERSTANDING TRUE “SOCIAL JUSTICE”. I beg you—THINK, STUDY, MEDITATE, AND PRAY—for we are looking at a nation that may very well lose its heart and soul to an ideology instead of giving it to the omnipotent, almighty GOD - CREATOR.

REMEMBER---forced love brings divisiveness, resentment, and anger; freely given love brings togetherness, joy, and peace—DO NOT BE DECEIVED! THINK, STUDY, LEARN, MEDITATE------PRAY!!!

Peace be with you all!

(Name withheld)

[mgc1961]

5. Before I go to work,...

I'm posting two inter-family e-mails. The first one is in answer to a request from my Mother about Göring's thoughts on the political use of fear plus, some previously posted information I that she may want to use in her response.

The second letter is my sister's response to the e-mail Mom received.


Mine:

First, make a point to recognize the fact that she's either a Glenn Beck watcher or subscribes to the political outlook of one of his many fans. Then, ask her if she spoke to her priest about whether the gospels are being perverted and if so, by whom.

The Pope has said homosexuality is a disordered life. Ask her if his opinion is to be taken seriously in light of the widespread abuse of children in the Irish and German churches (I can provide links to relevant stories.)

Here's a passage from Leviticus supposedly admonishing believers to kill homosexuals:

"And if a man shall lie with mankind,
as he lieth with a woman, both of
them have committed an abomina-
tion: they shall surely be put to death;
their blood shall be upon them.
"
No where in that passage is the word "sex." Does that fact represent an abomination on the part of the people who lie with one another or a obsessive sexual disorder on the part of their judges?

Or perhaps, being that she's a woman, maybe she also subscribes to the repeated referral to her as "unclean" in another Leviticus passage:

"And if a woman have an issue
and her issue in her flesh be blood,
she shall be put apart seven days: and
whosoever toucheth her shall be un-
clean until the even.

And any thing that she lieth
upon in her separation shall be un-
clean: everyth thing also that she sitteth
upon shall be unclean.

And whosoever toucheth her
bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe
himself in water, and be unclean until
the even.

And whosoever toucheth any
thing that she sat upon shall wash his
clothes, and bathe himself in water,
and be unclean until the even.

And if it be on her bed, or on
any thing whereon she sitteth, when
he toucheth it, he shall be unclean un-
til the even.

And if any man lie with her
at all, and her flowers be upon him,
he shall be unclean seven days; and
all the bed whereon he lieth shall be
unclean."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”

Hermann Wilhelm Göring, German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some related biblical passages:

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite-fully use you, and persecute you;

Do not judge, lest you too be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Truly, I say unto you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

You cannot serve both God and Money.

Love your neighbor as yourself. .

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

***********************************************************************************************************************************************

My sister, who currently attends a Methodist church:

Tell her you pay you taxes out of love, knowing that your government is helping to make sure that poor children get a good meal even if their parents cannot provide it ... that old people get long-term-care even when they have no family ... that people who lose their jobs, don't have go begging on the street ... and that people can get health insurance and not have to worry about losing everything if they get hit by a bus. This is the kind of safety net that creates a peaceful society. This is the kind of safety net that Christians have not been able to or have not been willing to offer the least of your brothers and sisters. Even though that was what Jesus calls them to do. He didn't say how we do it; he just said do it. So there is really nothing wrong with letting government play that role, as long as we work hard to keep government fair, honest, and effective. It is a constant battle, of course. No institution is perfect ... as anyone who belong to the Catholic church knows. But government is not the enemy either.

I think what many people will not admit is that hating taxes is just the flip side of loving money -- and we all know what Jesus said about that. Money is an idol that too many Christians try to defend with Biblical rhetoric. When the love of money gets all mixed up with theology, that undermines Christ's message.

To oppose providing healthcare to your fellow citizens out of "faith" and "Christian" precepts is shameful, really.

[IndianaGreen]

6. He did as a bishop, and as cardinal...

Ratzo also wrote a letter threatening with excommunication anyone that reveal that there was a problem with priests.