Telegraph
March 20, 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/7487756/Popes-letter-is-a-warning-to-Germany-says-Archbishop.html
GERMANY -- The leader of the Catholic Church in Germany said that Pope Benedict's letter of apology to the victims of sexual abuse in Ireland is a clear reproach to the German Church.
Pope Benedict's apology to the victims of child sexual abuse by clergy in Ireland is a censure of bishops in Germany, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch said.
"The scandal of sexual abuse is not just an Irish problem.
"It's a church scandal in many places and it is a church scandal in Germany," the leader of the Germany's Roman Catholic Church said in a statement.
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| Archbishop Zollitsch did not mention the fact the Pope's letter made no reference to the situation in Germany |
"That's why I understand the Pope's admonition to the bishops in Ireland as an admonition to us at the same time," Archbishop Zollitsch said.
"I'm grateful for these words."
More than 250 people in Germany were abused at Church-run schools in past decades.
The scandal has personally drawn in Bavarian-born Pope Benedict, whose brother ran a Regensburg choir for 30 years which has been linked to cases of abuse.
His brother, Rev. Georg Ratzinger, has admitted to slapping boys in his Regensburg choir.
Ettal Abbey, scene of brutal beatings and sexual abuse in the past, is located in the archdiocese the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger once headed.
"We know that there have also been mistakes here in Germany," Archbishop Zollitsch said.
"We, German bishops, have clearly acknowledged and admitted our mistakes.
"We cannot allow mistakes to be repeated and that's why we need complete clarification."
Archbishop Zollitsch did not mention the fact the Pope's letter made no reference to the situation in Germany, where many Catholics have asked why their countryman in Rome had no comment about the situation in his homeland.
"Pope says nothing about German abuse cases," the popular Bild daily headlined its website report on Benedict's letter.
"Pope silent on abuse in Germany," the weekly Der Spiegel's website headline read.
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