By Laura Donaldson
Indiana's News Center
March 31, 2010
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/89637167.html
[with video]
FORT WAYNE (IN) -- New information could support the claim that Pope Benedict XVI may have not removed a priest who allegedly sexually abused children.
Reverend Lawrence Murphy is accused of sexually abusing up to 200 deaf boys between the 1950s and 1970s.
A Vatican spokesperson says the church only learned of the allegations recently. But a new letter sent in 1996 directly ties Murphy to the Holy Father.
Records show the letter was sent from Murphy to then cardinal Joseph Ratzinger regarding this issue.
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Two Wisconsin bishops reportedly urged Ratzinger to allow them to have a church trial. But that trial never happened.
Murphy appealed directly to Ratzinger for clemency in 1998, but died later that year.
In an exclusive interview with Indiana's NewsCenter, Bishop Emeritus John D'Arcy says he believes the Pope would never lie about this.
"Joesph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XIV, is totally incapable of lying or dissembling," D'Arcy said. "I think he has always been a person of the highest truth, and a person of great integrity. I would take his word, whatever he said about this. I think anything that he has said is absolutely truthful. I don't know about that particular case in Milwaukee, I'm not privy to all that. But I would absolutely trust his judgment and trust what he says as being above reproach. He's a person of integrity."
He says it's painful but when the church learns about it, a situation can be addressed.
"It's a terrible thing, but you can't address it until it's known," D'Arcy said. "When it's known it can be addressed. It's a purification, the church has the resilience and the grace of God, and the intelligence to address it."
Pope Benedict XVI says the accusations are "false" and "unjustified".
D'Arcy says the church has advanced screenings of their priests to help ensure case like this don't arise. But he says, he doesn't feel the Pope would ever lie about this type of situation.
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