Vatican Backs German Efforts on Sex Scandal, Associated Press, March 6, 2010

Vatican Backs German Efforts on Sex Scandal

Associated Press
March 6, 2010

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5juMR1CosUNs-X1egBM5P3z1hGjkQD9E99F1G0

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican says it supports efforts in a German diocese to shed light on a sexual abuse scandal in a choir once led by Pope Benedict XVI's brother.

In this April 20, 2005 file photo, Georg Ratzinger, brother of Pope Benedict XVI, gives interviews in Regensburg, southern Germany.The Regensburg Diocese says a former member claims he was abused while singing with Germany's leading Roman Catholic boy' choir that was led for 30 years by the brother of Pope Benedict XVI.The Diocese said in a statement Friday March 5, 2010 that one former member of the Regensburger Domspatzen claimed priests abused him in the early 1960s.The pope's brother, Georg Ratzinger, led the choir from 1964 to 1994. He told public radio Bayerischer Rundfunk on Friday he did not know of any abuse cases at the choir.

The Vatican said Saturday that the "main reason of the church's clarification is to render justice to possible victims." It said it was backing the Regensburg Diocese in its "willingness to analyze the painful question in a decisive and open way."

In this Aug. 12, 2008 file picture the spires of the Regensburg cathedral is seen while pedestrians cross the Gothic bridge over the Danube river in Regensburg, southern Germany. The Regensburg Diocese says at least one former member claims he was abused while singing with Germany's leading Roman Catholic boys' choir that was led for 30 years by the brother of Pope Benedict XVI. The Diocese said in a statement Friday March 5, 2010 that one former member of the Regensburger Domspatzen charged priests abused him in the early 1960's.

The statement was published in the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.

The Regensburg Diocese said this week that a former member claims he was abused while singing with Germany's leading Roman Catholic boys' choir. The choir was led for 30 years by the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, the pope's brother. Ratzinger told a German public radio he did not know of any abuse cases at the choir.