Honorary citizen debate in Regensburg: CSU stands behind Pope Benedict XVI.

Created: 02/17/2022, 02:19 p.m

By: Stefan Aigner

Pope Benedict during his visit to Regensburg in 2006.

© Günter Staudinger

The CSU faction in the Regensburg city council has unanimously spoken out against Pope Benedict XVI.

to revoke the honorary citizenship.

This is "not appropriate".

Regensburg - In the debate about the honorary citizenship of Pope Benedict XVI.

in Regensburg*, the CSU parliamentary group in the city council has now backed the 94-year-olds.

According to a recent press release, "a withdrawal of honorary citizenship is not considered appropriate".

Pope Benedict XVI's honorary citizenship: should it be revoked?

As reported several times, the discussion about a possible deprivation of honorary citizenship for the emeritus pope is smoldering not only in Regensburg, but also in cities such as Freising, Traunstein or in Markt am Inn.

The background to this are allegations made by Joseph Ratzinger in the recently published abuse report.

It's about his time as archbishop of Munich and Freising and the possible cover-up of acts of abuse and the protection of perpetrators.

It is particularly about the priest Peter H. Despite well-known acts of abuse in the diocese of Essen, he was almost seamlessly reinstated in the parish work in the archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

There were more attacks.

In 1986 H. was convicted of multiple sexual abuse.

Ratzinger initially denied having attended a meeting in which Peter H. was a topic.

Later, after this statement had been refuted, he admitted that he had spoken untruth and had his spokesman Georg Gänswein inform him that it was a "mistake in the editing" of his first statement.

(By the way: Our brand new Regensburg newsletter will keep you regularly informed about all the important stories from the World Heritage city and the Upper Palatinate. Register here.)

Allegations against Pope Benedict XVI: A fact check and “selfless friends”

What is certain is that Ratzinger attended a meeting dealing with H.'s placement in Munich for therapy.

However, Ratzinger denies having known anything about the background of this therapy.

He was also not responsible for Peter H.'s renewed assignment as a pastor.

In general, the emeritus pope rejects personal responsibility.

This renewed statement was flanked by a "fact check" written by several lawyers representing Benedict XVI.

referred to as "selfless friends".

Regensburg's Lord Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer had declared last week that one should not make hasty decisions when deciding on the Pope's honorary citizenship.

"You definitely need time for that." However, every group represented on the city council should think about it.

In any case, the victims of violence and abuse owe it a debate.

A two-thirds majority in the city council would be needed to remove Joseph Ratzinger from the list of honorary citizens.

CSU parliamentary group: the merits of Pope Benedict XVI.

predominate

In the case of the CSU parliamentary group, the largest political grouping in Regensburg's city council, this opinion-forming process seems to have already come to an end.

The press release speaks of "various merits" that Joseph Ratzinger earned for Regensburg.

"As a teaching professor at the university, he was groundbreaking with his scientific work and recognized worldwide as a theologian outside of the church.

His connection to Regensburg was always there during his time as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and after his election as head of the Catholic Church.

The appointment as honorary citizen was unanimous.”

It should also be mentioned that Pope Benedict XVI.

made considerable efforts during his tenure to have child abuse punished.

"He was one of the first who resolutely counteracted the abuse in the church and initiated the coming to terms with the past," said the CSU parliamentary group.

The CSU parliamentary group takes allegations "very seriously" - and unanimously supports the Pope

On the other hand, “there is participation in a meeting that took place 42 years ago,” it says.

In the opinion of the CSU parliamentary group, the Munich abuse report therefore does not allow "a conclusive assessment of the role, guilt and responsibility of Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger at the time in relation to cases of abuse".

Of course, the allegations continue to be taken "very seriously" and stand for a "comprehensive process of reappraisal, precisely in order to do justice to the suffering of the victims".

But the determination remains: a withdrawal of honorary citizenship is "not appropriate".

The CSU faction represents this position unanimously.