Pope Benedict XVI Linked to yet Another Sex Scandal

According to an article in Time Magazine, the Catholic Church is still on the defensive over the sex scandal that was revealed earlier this year (January 2010), by the German daily, Süddeutsche Zeitung. The first case involves the revelation of approximately 50 cases of child sexual abuse during the 70's and 80's. Now, more than 200 victims have alleged sexual abuse and the vast majority of the Roman Catholic Dioceses in Germany have been indicated.

In one allegation, a Catholic priest known only as Father H was transferred out of his parish because he forced an 11 year old male child to engage in oral sex. It is indicated that Pope Benedict XVI had knowledge of the sexual abuse because in his then role as Archbishop of Munich (1977 - 1982), the Pope would have been involved in the decision to transfer Father H and allow him to simply continue his pastoral work elsewhere. Currently, the Church has passed the flame away from Pope Benedict XVI by claiming that his then deputy, Vicar General Gerhard Gruber, made the decision; Gruber is currently admitting fault.

As of March 25, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI is indicated in yet another priest sex scandal cover up - and this time it is alleged that he had full knowledge of the abuse, and he simply dismissed the accusations. This latest accusation involves a priest in a Wisconsin parish during the 1960's. At the time, the Pope was Cardinal Ratzinger when Rev. Lawrence Murphy was accused of molesting approximately 200 deaf boys. In response to the sexual abuse allegations, Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) dismissed a Church trial after Murphy wrote to him to say that he was an ill man. The Minnesota law firm of Jeff Anderson and Associates has reportedly uncovered the damning documents.

Further allegations that Pope Benedict XVI was aware of, and covered up similar sexual abuse cases may well be on the way because he was the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1981 - 2005. In that role, he would have been privy to anything that involves a deviation of moral ethics in the whole of the Catholic Church.

For the Catholic priests who are accused of such vile and perverted acts, if they are guilty, they are truly sick individuals - this is not an excuse, it is an explanation. However, there can be no excuse or explanation for any normal human being to dismiss such disgusting charges - especially if they have it within their power to initiate punishment. On Friday, March 12, 2010, the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising stated that "serious mistakes were made in the 1980s." Serious mistakes is an understatement, criminally gross incompetence is more accurate. Pope Benedict XVI has remained silent thus far.

- Sources -

Law Firm of Jeff Anderson & Associates

Moore, Tristana. "German Priests' Sex Abuse Scandalizes Church." Time.com 15 March 2010