Pope Ratz says he's 'Shocked....Shocked I Tells Ya' about sex abuse allegations

[marmar]

from the Guardian UK:



Pope is 'shocked' to hear of abuse case in Munich while he was archbishop
Catholic church investigates 170 allegations in Germany; justice minister cites Vatican 'wall of silence' set up by Benedict

Anil Dawar and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 13 March 2010


Pope Benedict XVI has for the first time been drawn into the Catholic sex abuse scandal in his home country of Germany.

His former archdiocese of Munich has acknowledged that, while he was in charge, it dealt with a suspected paedophile priest by transferring him to a different parish where he went on to commit sex offences against children. The revelation has drawn attention to Benedict's handling of abuse claims, both when archbishop and later as a prefect of the Vatican office dealing with such crimes, a position he held until becoming pope in 2005.

Yesterday, the head of the German Catholic bishop's conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, revealed he was investigating more than 170 allegations of abuse in the church's institutions. The scandal broke in January when it was alleged that, over a period of 30 years, priests found to be abusing children had been redeployed to other parishes rather than dismissed.

Zollitsch reported that Benedict had expressed "great dismay and deep shock" when briefed, but had encouraged the bishops to continue searching for the truth. Hours later however, the Munich archdiocese admitted it had allowed a priest suspected of having abused a child to return to pastoral work in the 1980s, while Benedict, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was archbishop.

The archdiocese said the chaplain, identified only as H, was given therapy for suspected "sexual relations with boys" but then moved to nearby Grafing. He was suspended in 1985 following fresh accusations, and convicted of sexually abusing minors the following year. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/13/pope-abuse-case-munich-vatican

[trumad]

1. Where's Sinéad O'Connor when you need her?

[TommyO]

8. Here you go

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21p4e_sinead-oconnor-war_music

[Christa]

2. The old liar.

On what planet was he until now?

[Cass]

3. He's shocked, is he? Isn't he the one who wrote a memo saying that victims of abuse by

clergymembers should be told to be quiet about the abuse and if they refuse to be silent about it, they should be threatened with excommunication?


on edit: here's the info --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4304917&mesg_id=4304917
VATICAN CITY — Germany's sex abuse scandal has now reached Pope Benedict XVI: His former archdiocese disclosed that while he was archbishop a suspected pedophile priest was transferred to a job where he later abused children.

The pontiff is also under increasing fire for a 2001 Vatican document he later penned instructing bishops to keep such cases secret.

The revelations have put the spotlight on Benedict's handling of abuse claims both when he was archbishop of Munich from 1977-1982 and then the prefect of the Vatican office that deals with such crimes — a position he held until his 2005 election as pope.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4304917&mesg_id=4304951
post from Duer snake in the grass

The document in question is called...
...Crimen sollicitationis and I'm not surprised that Ratzinger was pissed that it became public. The document outlines the procedure of dealing with a cleric, who has been accused of pedophilia. My favourite line is found in Section 23, last sentence:

"And before he (the accuser) is dismissed, there should be presented to him, an oath of observing the secret, threatening him, if there is a need, with an excommunication reserved to the Ordinary or the Holy See."

If the victim goes public with the story of the crime, he/she can be excommunicated.

[DaveinJapan]

4. Wow...so fucking important, even now, for them to protect the identity of one of their monsters?

identified only as "H"?

:wtf:

I was born into the Catholic church, went to Catholic school, and I understand a LOT about the hell and brimstone approach for scaring people into staying, but at this point I can *not* fathom why anyone would remain a member of that church at all, simply on the grounds of morality (aren't they afraid God will be pissed for their compliance!?)...better to seek out a similar but less toxic and disgusting alternative if one really MUST have an organized religion in their life, no?

[Sienna86]

5. This is why I left the church many years ago

I refuse to have any part of an organization (and give them money) that intentionally puts children at risk. It's horrific to me.

[HereSince1628]

6. giving new meaning to the phrase

ahhh man!

Atta boy Ratzo, or maybe NOT!

[Bluenorthwest]

7. This liar travels the world in Silken robes slandering good

people and meddling in the political affairs of nations, in order to create a smokescreen for the crimes that he and his own have committed for endless years. Ratsy is the most corrupt, apostate, hypocrite on the planet.

[RainDog]

9. and thinks he has the fucking nerve to tell women what to do with their bodies

he has NO MORAL AUTHORITY.

NONE.