German prosecutors examined late Pope in abuse probe
Berlin, Germany AP German prosecutors looking into historical cases of sexual abuse by clergy in the Munich archdiocese said on Tuesday that they initially investigated the late Pope Benedict XVI on suspicion of being an accessory to abuse, but later dropped the probe. Munich prosecutors examined 45 cases of possible wrongdoing by church officials that […]
Believers gather at Bavarian pilgrimage town to mourn former Pope
Altoetting, GermanyAP Mourners lined up quietly in the gold-adorned Collegiate Church of Altoetting in Pope Benedict XVI’s Bavarian homeland to pay condolences to one of this German region’s most famous sons, who died on Saturday. Parents held their children’s hands tightly, older couples and nuns looked on in sorrow as they waited for their turn to […]
Papal legacy: In US, sharply contrasting views on Benedict XVI
DAVID CRARY, of Associated Press, reports…
Catholic Church in Germany: Benedict woes come as pressure grows on church reform
GEIR MOULSON, of Associated Press, reports on the ongoing push for reform in the Catholic Church amid ongoing scandal over clergy sexual abuse…
Benedict XVI takes confessional tone in response to allegations of abuse coverup
Vatican CityRNS Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI took a penitential approach in his response on Tuesday to a report on clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich, which he led from 1977 to 1982. While denying accusations that he covered up cases of abuse, he leaned heavily on the language of confession, saying he could […]
Luxembourg cardinal calls for revised Catholic teaching on gays; German archbishop backs loosening of celibacy rules
Vatican CityReuters A prominent liberal cardinal who leads a body representing European bishops has called for “fundamental revision” in Catholic teaching on homosexuality, and said it is wrong to fire Church workers for being gay. The remarks by Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich to the German Catholic news agency KNA were among the most direct calls […]
Vatican defends Benedict after report faults abuse record
Rome, ItalyAP The Vatican on Wednesday strongly defended Pope Benedict XVI’s record in fighting clergy sexual abuse and cautioned against looking for “easy scapegoats and summary judgments,” after an independent report faulted his handling of four cases of abuse when he was archbishop of Munich, Germany. The Holy See’s editorial director, Andrea Tornielli, provided the […]
Ex-Pope Benedict acknowledges faulty testimony in German abuse case
Vatican CityReuters Former Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged on Monday he had been at a 1980 meeting over a sexual abuse case when Archbishop of Munich, saying he mistakenly told German investigators he was not there. A report released last week on abuse in the archdiocese from 1945 to 2019 said then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger failed to […]
Pope vows justice for abuse victims after Ratzinger faulted
Rome, ItalyAP Pope Francis vowed Friday to provide justice to victims of clergy sexual abuse and German authorities called for further investigation after an independent audit faulted retired Pope Benedict XVI for having botched four cases of abuse when he was archbishop of Munich, Germany. The fallout from the report continued to reverberate Friday as […]
Ex-Pope Benedict accused of failing to act in Munich Church abuse report
Berlin, GermanyReuters Former Pope Benedict XVI failed to take action against clerics in four cases of alleged sexual abuse in his archdiocese when he was Archbishop of Munich, a report found on Thursday, compounding a scandal engulfing the Catholic Church. Benedict has previously denied wrongdoing over the cases. Lawyer Ulrich Wastl speaks at a news conference about a […]