VATICAN: Spokesman dismisses recent attempts to link Pope Benedict to priestly child abuse in Germany as well as any suggestions he had tried to cover up scandals
Record ID:
334580
VATICAN: Spokesman dismisses recent attempts to link Pope Benedict to priestly child abuse in Germany as well as any suggestions he had tried to cover up scandals
- Title: VATICAN: Spokesman dismisses recent attempts to link Pope Benedict to priestly child abuse in Germany as well as any suggestions he had tried to cover up scandals
- Date: 14th March 2010
- Summary: VATICAN CITY (MARCH 13, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT OF ST PETER'S SQUARE CLOSE UP ST PETER'S DOME EXTERIOR OF VATICAN HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE VATICAN SPOKESMAN FATHER FEDERICO LOMBARDI SITTING AT HIS DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) VATICAN SPOKESMAN FATHER FEDERICO LOMBARDI, SAYING: "Regarding the accusations about a priest involved in a paedophilia case at the time when Cardinal Ratzinger was the Archbishop of Munich, well the Munich diocese issued a very clear statement about the whole episode, showing how the Pope, then archbishop, was completely uninvolved in the decision to include this priest in the diocese. There is no reason to accuse the Pope for that, he is somebody who is showing absolute transparency and decisiveness while facing these problems." VATICAN SPOKESMAN FATHER FEDERICO LOMBARDI IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) VATICAN SPOKESMAN FATHER FEDERICO LOMBARDI, SAYING: "The Pope yesterday also expressed his support to the German Bishops Conference, when he met with the president, and clearly expressed that the line chosen by the Bishops Conference, regarding their search for the truth, their support to the victims of abuse, and the prevention of it and collaboration with civil society in facing the problem of paedophilia and sexual abuse show that they have a coherent, transparent and firm line of action. They can be a model for other bishops conferences in the occurrence they might find themselves in similar situations." VATICAN CITY (MARCH 12, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ST PETER'S SQUARE
- Embargoed: 29th March 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA2GUSYP69OB1MU40R86CJDSLFD
- Story Text: The Vatican rallied around Pope Benedict on Saturday (March 13), saying attempts to link him to priestly child abuse in Germany had failed and dismissing suggestions he had tried to cover up scandals.
The Pope's former diocese in Bavaria said on Friday he was involved in a decision in 1980 to move a priest there who was suspected of child abuse.
The pontiff -- then Joseph Ratzinger -- jointly agreed to the priest undergoing therapy at a rectory in the diocese of Munich and Freising, where he was archbishop from 1977 to 1981.
However, rather than sending the priest for therapy as had been agreed, the diocese's then general vicar, Gerhard Gruber, assigned him to a Munich parish without restrictions. Gruber took full responsibility for the decision.
"The Pope, then archbishop, was completely uninvolved in the decision to include this priest in the diocese," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told Reuters.
"There is no reason to accuse the Pope for that, he is somebody who is showing absolute transparency and decisiveness while facing these problems," Lombardi said.
On Friday the head of Germany's Catholic Church briefed the Pope about the situation in Germany, where more than 100 reports have emerged of abuse at Catholic institutions, including one linked to the prestigious Regensburg choir run by the Pope's brother from 1964 to 1994.
Lombardi also remarked how the Pope expressed his support to the German Bishops Conference on Friday, praising that "they have a coherent, transparent and firm line of action. They can be a model for other bishops conferences in the occurrence they might find themselves in similar situations," Lombardi said.
The Vatican defended the pontiff vigourously on Saturday, with Lombardi's comments accompanying a separate interview by the Holy See's official prosecutor, or "promoter or justice."
Monsignor Charles. J. Scicluna told the Italian bishops' newspaper Avvenire that accusations the Pope had helped cover up abuse were "false and calumnious".
Lombardi said Canon (Church) rules for controlling and punishing abuse did not create the conditions for any cover up and were, on the contrary, vigourous and severe. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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