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Benedict XVI formally rejects the accusation of having covered up a pedophile priest in Munich

2022-02-08T12:46:02.136Z


In a personal letter accompanied by a legal brief, the pope emeritus responded on Tuesday to the report on sexual abuse in the diocese of Munich, which he led from 1977 to 1982.


Benedict XVI, pope emeritus, 94, had promised a reasoned response following the publication, on January 20, in Munich of a report, commissioned by the diocese, on sexual abuse committed by priests between 1945 and 2019. He found himself implicated in his ecclesial management when he was archbishop of this diocese of Bavaria between 1977 and 1982. His response was published on Tuesday February 8 by the official services of the Vatican in two forms, a very personal, and a well-argued legal memorandum.

Read alsoSex abuse: the Vatican defends Benedict

In this memoir, written by three professors of canon law, the law of the Catholic Church, and a lawyer, all supervised by the pope emeritus, it is explained why an error was actually made by Benedict XVI regarding his presence at a meeting on January 15, 1980 deciding on the case of a priest then accused of exhibitionism.

At first, the pope emeritus - who responded to the report published on January 20, 2022 in Munich - said he was not present at this meeting which had decided to house this priest in the diocese for therapy.

But as soon as this report was published, Benedict XVI had moreover admitted that he had made a mistake and that he was indeed present at this meeting.

In the new note, published on February 8, it appears, on the form, that this "

error

 " is that of an editor who worked on the Munich report, making a mistake in his "

transcription

 " on the presence of Cardinal Ratzinger at this meeting by writing that he was absent.

But, on the merits, says the new note, the question asked about this priest at the center of the meeting of January 15, 1980 was not acts of pedophilia, then unknown to the diocese, but acts of exhibitionism for which accommodation was assigned by the diocese for him to follow care.

"

This transcription error cannot be imputed to Benedict XVI as a conscious false statement or a lie"

, assures the document,

"his presence was evident

nor that the future pope has "

minimized

" the facts of exhibitionism as he is also accused.

“Compassion” and “regret”

Another point defended by this memoir of January 8: other accusations of mismanagement by Joseph Ratzinger, relating to the files of three priests.

The report from Munich assures that the prelate Ratzinger had to be "

most probably

" informed.

The brief, with several arguments, responds: “

There is no evidence that would prove this charge of misconduct or cover-up.

Archbishop Cardinal Ratzinger was not implicated in any coverage of acts of abuse

”.

In a personal letter accompanying this memoir, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI confesses to having been "

deeply touched

" by these accusations which "

doubted my veracity in order to present me as a liar

".

He adds: "

in all my encounters, especially during so many apostolic journeys, with the victims of sexual abuse by priests, I have looked into the eyes the consequences of a very great fault and I have learned to understand that we ourselves have been drawn into this very great fault when we have neglected it or when we have not faced it with the necessary decision and responsibility, as has too often happened and is happening.

»

Read alsoSexual abuse in Germany: Benedict XVI refutes any fault

Benedict XVI then said: "

As during these meetings, I can once again express to all the victims of sexual abuse my deep shame, my great pain and my sincere request for forgiveness

."

The pope emeritus concludes: “

I have held great responsibilities in the Catholic Church.

All the greater is my pain for the abuses and errors that have occurred under my mandate in the various places.

Every single case of sexual abuse is terrible and irreparable.

I extend to the victims of sexual abuse my deepest sympathy and regret for each particular case

”.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-02-08

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