The sordid stories seem to just keep on coming and continue to underscore the Catholic Church's utter disregard for the safety of children and youths. Time Magazine has another story that looks at among others, the infamous "Father H" who under Pope Benedict XVI's watch as an archbishop was allowed to continue to prey on children even though an attending psychiatrist had given dire warnings to diocese officials (including in all likelihood Benedict XVI). Indeed, as Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Ratzinger approved the transfer from Essen to Munich and the decision to give Father H. housing in the Munich diocese to undertake therapy. Adding to the growing scandal is an admission by the head of the German Roman Catholic Church that cover ups of abuse went on for decades as reported in Deutsche Welle. First, here are story highlights from Time as to what Church officials were told by Father H's treating therapist:*
In an interview with TIME, Dr. Huth paints a portrait of the priest known as Father H., accused of sexually abusing boys in the archdiocese of Munich and Freising, then run by Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI. Father H., says the psychiatrist, "was narcissistic, like other pedophiles, and I repeatedly warned church officials in the 1980s that he shouldn't be allowed to work with children or young people." Dr. Huth says the priest came to him in 1980 after he was transferred to Munich to undergo therapy.
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Such were his concerns about the priest's pedophilic tendencies that Dr Huth said he set three conditions when he started treating Father H: that he shouldn't be allowed to work with children, he should give up alcohol, (because he allegedly committed the acts of abuse when he was drunk), and that he needed a mentor, someone who could supervise him at all times. The doctor said he made these requirements clear to church officials during a number of conversations, including an auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese of Munich and Freising. "Father H. never fulfilled these conditions," says Huth
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"Senior figures in the Catholic Church covered up the allegations of abuse in order to protect Father H and the church's image," Dr. Huth says. "The Church has an idealised, 'unworldly' attitude towards issues of sexuality."
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As I have previously remarked, the total lack of concern for the safety of children is mind numbing. One thing that Dr. Huth mentioned that would seem to Benedict XVI and most of the Church hierarchy is the term "narcissistic." With the hierarchy, it's all about them and the lives of children do not matter. Further proof of this comes from the admission by the head of the German Bishops Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, that the Roman Catholic Church consciously covered up cases of sexual abuse for decades.
Here are highlights from Deutsche Welle:
In an interview with TIME, Dr. Huth paints a portrait of the priest known as Father H., accused of sexually abusing boys in the archdiocese of Munich and Freising, then run by Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI. Father H., says the psychiatrist, "was narcissistic, like other pedophiles, and I repeatedly warned church officials in the 1980s that he shouldn't be allowed to work with children or young people." Dr. Huth says the priest came to him in 1980 after he was transferred to Munich to undergo therapy.
*
Such were his concerns about the priest's pedophilic tendencies that Dr Huth said he set three conditions when he started treating Father H: that he shouldn't be allowed to work with children, he should give up alcohol, (because he allegedly committed the acts of abuse when he was drunk), and that he needed a mentor, someone who could supervise him at all times. The doctor said he made these requirements clear to church officials during a number of conversations, including an auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese of Munich and Freising. "Father H. never fulfilled these conditions," says Huth
*
"Senior figures in the Catholic Church covered up the allegations of abuse in order to protect Father H and the church's image," Dr. Huth says. "The Church has an idealised, 'unworldly' attitude towards issues of sexuality."
*
As I have previously remarked, the total lack of concern for the safety of children is mind numbing. One thing that Dr. Huth mentioned that would seem to Benedict XVI and most of the Church hierarchy is the term "narcissistic." With the hierarchy, it's all about them and the lives of children do not matter. Further proof of this comes from the admission by the head of the German Bishops Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, that the Roman Catholic Church consciously covered up cases of sexual abuse for decades.
Here are highlights from Deutsche Welle:
*
The weekly German news magazine Focus reported on Sunday that Archbishop Zollitsch, the leader of the German Roman Catholic Church, admitted during an interview with the publication that cases of child sex abuse were known and covered up. "Yes, we did have that," he said, but denied allegations that he personally had suppressed information.
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Meanwhile, many abuse victims have expressed deep disappointment with the content of a pastoral letter published by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday. Victims in Ireland, to whom the letter was addressed, said the pontiff had not accepted the responsibility of the Vatican, nor did he recognize that there was a structural problem within the Church. "My first reaction was deep disappointment," said Maeve Lewis from the One-in-four alliance.
*
For Pope Benedict XVI to claim he knew nothing of all of this would be nothing more than an outright lie. As some have asked, when will the Pope resign?
The weekly German news magazine Focus reported on Sunday that Archbishop Zollitsch, the leader of the German Roman Catholic Church, admitted during an interview with the publication that cases of child sex abuse were known and covered up. "Yes, we did have that," he said, but denied allegations that he personally had suppressed information.
*
Meanwhile, many abuse victims have expressed deep disappointment with the content of a pastoral letter published by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday. Victims in Ireland, to whom the letter was addressed, said the pontiff had not accepted the responsibility of the Vatican, nor did he recognize that there was a structural problem within the Church. "My first reaction was deep disappointment," said Maeve Lewis from the One-in-four alliance.
*
For Pope Benedict XVI to claim he knew nothing of all of this would be nothing more than an outright lie. As some have asked, when will the Pope resign?
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