Clear criticism of Benedict also from German bishops

Created: 2022-01-23Updated: 2022-01-23, 12:48 p.m

“It has been covered up and covered up long enough, now is the time for truth”: Georg Bätzing.

© Fabian Sommer/dpa

The Munich abuse report has shaken the Catholic Church.

At the center of the criticism is the emeritus pope.

The chairman of the bishops' conference speaks of "disastrous behavior" right up to the top of the church.

Aachen/Trier - The Bishop of Aachen, Helmut Dern, is demanding a public admission of guilt from the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, in view of the Munich abuse report.

“It cannot remain the case that those responsible take refuge in references to their ignorance or to other circumstances or other procedures at the time.

Because that's why the perpetrators weren't stopped at the time and children continued to be abused by them!" said Dieser.

The chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Georg Bätzing, also complained about "disastrous behavior" from the leaders of the church and warned: "It has been covered up and hushed up long enough, now is the time for truth."

Benedikt's role is particularly explosive

Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, led the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982. A report commissioned by the Archdiocese itself comes to the conclusion that cases of sexual abuse in the diocese have not been dealt with appropriately for decades. Benedikt's role is particularly explosive. He is charged with four counts of misconduct. He has denied the allegations in a statement of defence. The experts assume that in all likelihood he was not telling the truth.

"Even bishops, including a former pope, can become guilty, and in certain situations they have to confess this publicly, not just in prayer before God or in the sacrament of confession," warned Peter, who belonged to the reformers' camp in the bishops' conference will, in a sermon in Aachen Cathedral.

The inability to feel his own responsibility, to admit guilt, to ask for forgiveness, or even to express regret and pain at his own part in the tragedy makes him sad and angry.

"The fact that the former Pope Benedict has not yet done so must not be his last word on this!"

This situation weighs “enormously” on believers

Bishop Bätzing of Limburg called for people to face the truth, no matter how painful that might be.

One must clearly see what "disastrous behavior" was done by the leadership and leaders of the church "up to a pope emeritus," said the chairman of the bishops' conference on Friday evening in a service in the Trier district.

He knows that this situation weighs enormously on many believers.

They would have to justify to friends and family that they still “belong to this club”.

He appealed to believers: “Don't lose heart.

We are doing what we have to do during this time.”

CDU boss also expects court proceedings

The newly elected CDU leader Friedrich Merz also expects court proceedings as a consequence of the abuse report.

When asked whether cardinals would have to resign, Merz said on ZDF on Saturday evening: “That must first be decided in the churches.

But I assume that this will also be the subject of proceedings in the regular courts in the future.” The judiciary is currently examining whether the results of the report are criminally relevant.

According to the Munich public prosecutor's office, they are currently investigating 42 cases of alleged misconduct by church officials.

more on the subject

Head of the Bishops' Conference: I'm ashamed

Abuse report: Söder calls for rapid processing

Pope critic: Ratzinger ready to “lie publicly”

The chairwoman of the council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Annette Kurschus, sees systemic reasons for the many cases of sexual abuse in the church.

"There are church patterns and structures that encourage sexualised violence," Kurschus told the "Rheinische Post" (Saturday).

"These are different in the Protestant Church than in the Catholic Church." There is also sexualized violence in Protestant communities and institutions: "This has destroyed trust." It is a long process to win this back.

dpa