Nach Missbrauchsskandalen in der Kirche: Ruf nach Papst-Stellungnahme

Zum Missbrauchsskandal in katholischen Einrichtungen sieht die Reformbewegung «Wir sind Kirche» auch bei Papst Benedikt XVI. Klärungsbedarf.

http://www.tvaktuell.com/default.aspx?ID=846&showNews=657718

[summary]

Joseph Ratzinger's tenure as archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982 are the years that abuse was happening in the archdiocese, according to Christian Weisner of We Are Church. The question now arises whether the then-archbishop knew of the sexual attacks. If he did know, then how did he handle the allegations?

German Cardinal Walter Kasper said the church is in need of serious cleaning. Kasper said it is good that the pope has brought clarity and a zero tolerance policy toward those who abuse children and young people. The Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano on Saturday said it appears the Vatican wants clarity and justice for victims of abuse in Catholic institutions.

Weisner said total openness is the only way to restore confidence in the official church especially in the church leadership. New details of abuse emerged Friday in the Upper Bavarian monastery of Ettal and within the Regensburg cathedral choir. Ettal is located in the Munich archdiocese but is self-sufficient as a monastery.

The pope's brother, Georg Ratzinger, must also answer questions about the abuse scandal in the cathedral choir, said Weisner. He headed the choir from 1964 to 1994. Gerhard Ludwig Muller, bishop of Regensburg, emphasized on Saturday in Osservatore Roman that Georg Ratzinger does not remember cases of abuse in the choir.

Franz Wittenbrink, director and composer at the cathedral choir, said it is inexplicable to him that Georg Ratzinger knew of no abuse in the choir since he had been there since 1964. The abuse was well-known, he said.