Will the Popes Brother Have to Be Questioned As a Witness, Bild, March 5, 2010

Will the Pope's Brother Have to Be Questioned As a Witness?

Bild
March 5, 2010

http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/world-news/2010/03/05/regensburg-cathedral-sex-abuse-scandal/will-popes-brother-have-to-be-questioned-as-witness.html

Georg Ratzinger: The brother of Pope Benedict XVI was from 1964 to 1994 the Regensburg Cathedral bandmaster and the conductor of the Regensburg Cathedral Choir.

The Pope’s brother Georg Ratzinger may be questioned as a witness in the inquiry into the Regensburg Cathedral choir sex abuse scandal.

There are strong suspicions against two priests who have since died - Georg Z. and Friedrich Z. are said to have abused, beaten and humiliated schoolboys between 1958 und1973.

Ratzinger (86) led the choir for 30 years and could now be asked to help investigators.

He told BILD.de: "If the public prosecutor's office wants to question me as a witness, I would of course make myself available. I have however no knowledge of criminal actions."

The Pope's brother added: "I know of allegations against boarding school master Friedrich Z., but that was before my time. About George Z., I know of nothing untoward happening with the Cathedral choir."

Georg Z. later founded a marching band in his hometown of Vohenstrau?.

The brother of Pope Benedict XVI was the musical director at the cathedral in Regensburg between 1964 and 1994 and chorus master of the cathedral choir, called the Regensburger Domspatzen.

He said: “Things were strict, it maintained order, but the climate was humane and understanding at the same time.

“The severity was necessary because achievement was required. An almost family-like atmosphere was maintained, however.

“I hope that my choir has not been damaged by the allegations. It is in my interests however for everything to be cleared up.”

Diocese spokesman Clemens Neck confirmed the allegations.

The cases will be investigated to establish justice and assistance for the victims. The perpetrators will be persecuted under state and church law and future cases of abuse will be prevented, Neck added.

It is clear that two former leading priests were involved in it, said Neck. They were supposedly sentenced to prison for their actions.One of the suspects is a former Religious Studies teacher and deputy head at the church choir school. He was removed from his position in 1958. He was supposedly found guilty of two counts of “immoral acts” and later sentenced to two years in prison.

The other priest was boarding school master for a few months. He was apparently sentenced to 11 months imprisonment. Both men died in 1984.

Birgit Bohm, commissioner for the Regensburg diocese looking into the sexual abuse, has asked for any victims to come forward. “I would like to encourage the distressed to name names, to work with them and in this way to ease or remove their pain or find resolve,” she said.