Abuse scandal focuses attention on German archbishop’s talks with pope
Pope Benedict XVI is to meet with the head of the German Bishops’ Conference, Robert Zollitsch, on Friday.
Zollitsch’s audience with Pope Benedict XVI has been planned for months, but is now expected to focus on the ongoing sexual abuse scandal that has shaken in the Catholic Church in Germany.
The church has come under heavy criticism after an elite Jesuit school in Berlin admitted to the systematic sexual abuse of its pupils by two Roman Catholic priests in the 1970s and 1980s. More alleged victims have since come forward, including a former member of the prestigious all-boys choir in Regensburg led for many years by the pope’s brother, Georg Ratzinger.
Slapping choirboys
Georg Ratzinger has denied knowledge of the sexual abuse, but admitted to the newspaper Passauer Neue Presse that he did slap choirboys.
Germany’s Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger has criticized the Catholic Church’s handling of the scandal, saying the crimes where under the jurisdiction of the justice system, not the church. During a talk show on German public television, the minister said that there had been too few prosecutions in the abuse cases.
“This has to get better,” said Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger.
So far around 120 people have come forward alleging abuse by leaders of the Catholic Church.
(Source: smh/dpa/kna)
|
