London Observer: Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry

[Jack Rabbit]

From the London Observer (Sunday supplement of the Guardian Unlimited)
Dated Sunday April 24

Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry
Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations secret
By Jamie Doward, religious affairs correspondent

Pope Benedict XVI faced claims last night he had 'obstructed justice' after it emerged he issued an order ensuring the church's investigations into child sex abuse claims be carried out in secret.

The order was made in a confidential letter, obtained by The Observer, which was sent to every Catholic bishop in May 2001.

It asserted the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood. The letter was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was elected as John Paul II's successor last week.

Lawyers acting for abuse victims claim it was designed to prevent the allegations from becoming public knowledge or being investigated by the police. They accuse Ratzinger of committing a 'clear obstruction of justice'.

Read more.

I don't like to get into the fray against the Pope. As a non-Catholic, I don't usually concern myself with the Pope, as he has no direct influence over me. However, in the past, when the Pope spoke, I listened to his learned council, even if, at times, I couldn't disagree with it more. I may not be Catholic and I may not agree with what he says or daoes, but the Pope is still a position of respect.

Nevertheless, this is a serious allegation. Priests were in a position of trust and it is clear that too many of them abused that trust and that too little was done about it. It saddens me to see the new Pope be charged with being a party to covering up this horrid abuse of power.

[ananda]

1. So..

Not only does Ratzy owe a complete and abject apology to all gays and Spaniards for his comments this week, he also owes every child molested by one of his priests complete restitution by immediately firing every last one of the pedophile buggers and making sure they are all prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

This "rat" is no pope in my eyes and never will be...


Sue

[seventythree]

2. obstruction of justice?

if he sets foot in this country can we indict him?

[Scairp]

15. One thing is for certain

With a pope like this, scandals like the priest sex abuse cases and the Magdalene slave asylums for women in Ireland will never be fully investigated, nor amends made to the victims. In my opinion, the church has done far more harm than good over the centuries, and doesn't deserve any reverence or respect unless and until it does something to right the wrongs done by it's representatives.

[seventythree]

21. I saw the video on the Magdelene slaves,

very disturbing. Hubby is Catholic, but not practicing, and we had a similar discussion a few days ago. It was my opinion as well that if you add up all the harm thoughout history, the weight is on the harm side. Of course, he didn't agree, but, then, he is the most accepting and forgiving person I have ever known.

[wildmanj]

8. no pope and never will be

what your saying sounds great to my ears but are all the other religious people to share the same fate as you would place on the pope---probably the truth be known most all faiths have the same problem of protecting pedophiles

[Toots]

13. You offer nothing but conjecture

If in fact any religious figure is guilty of child abuse or covering up such abuse then they belong behind bars. We need solid evidence and conviction of such though. You can't just smear all religions because of not just a few Catholic Priests. I don't recall hearing any such aligations about any Muslims or Bhuddists. Maybe you could enlighten us?

[Zorra]

3. A conservative obstructing an investigation?

I'm shocked.

[MollyStark]

4. and the morning that JP II was dying Ratzinger reopened the investigation.

I heard it on one of the new magazines last week. If true it looks like he was protecting a sick Pope with the intention of taking up the issue when he was gone.

[Zynx]

11. It seems that way.

[redqueen]

22. Is there any other source that says he re-opened the investigation?

You're saying he re-opened the internal investigations of these claims of abuse? That the church is now again going over the cases? Is that what's happening?

[MichiganVote]

5. And we wonder why Jeb Bush and the Rat are such good buddies

Our Justice System knew. It wasn't just the RCC. People knew kids were getting buggered by priests. They all looked the other way. Every last damn one of them.

[Frances]

6. And will our MSM cover this?

No, we'll just hear about how the Pope and the Bushes are creating a more moral world! Shame!

[no_to_war_economy]

7. and my wife wonders why I want to leave the Catholic church

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. More info in today's Guardian

The Pope, the letter and the child sex claim

A series of paedophile allegations against a senior papal confidant are haunting Benedict XVI. How he deals with them will be his first major test, writes Jamie Doward

Sunday April 24, 2005
The Observer

Of all the matters lurking in the overflowing in-tray of the new Pope Benedict XVI, the long-running and emotive issue of paedophile priests is the most damaging - not just to the church, but to his own personal standing.

The new pontiff has been accused of failing to investigate a series of abuse claims made against one of his predecessor's closest supporters - a failure which has come to be seen as typical of the Catholic Church's determination to keep a lid on the scandal of priests who breach their position of trust.

more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1469125,00.html

[emad]

10. Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry: The Observer

Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry

Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations secret

Jamie Doward, religious affairs correspondent
Sunday April 24, 2005
The Observer

Pope Benedict XVI faced claims last night he had 'obstructed justice' after it emerged he issued an order ensuring the church's investigations into child sex abuse claims be carried out in secret.
The order was made in a confidential letter, obtained by The Observer, which was sent to every Catholic bishop in May 2001.

It asserted the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood. The letter was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was elected as John Paul II's successor last week.

Lawyers acting for abuse victims claim it was designed to prevent the allegations from becoming public knowledge or being investigated by the police. They accuse Ratzinger of committing a 'clear obstruction of justice'.

The letter, 'concerning very grave sins', was sent from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that once presided over the Inquisition and was overseen by Ratzinger.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1469055,00.html

[emad]

12. 'Cases of this kind are subject to the pontifical secret,'

Other Vatican pontifical secrets:

"As evidence mounts of the Vatican's Nazi collusion, the Hitler Youth connection is not exactly great PR. And contrary to Germanic grumbles, the British media have been puffing with endless Catholic white smoke: Henry VIII would be twitching for his axe. Even The Sun was more delicate than it might have been. For it eschewed the headling: "It was the Hun wot won it." "
- Jasper Gerard, Sunday Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1582458,00.html

[Voltaire99]

14. Resign, Ratzinger

Rome has long been tired of paying the pederasty bills while suffering the judgments of a modernity it openly despises.

Ratzinger's four year old letter shows how the Vatican tried to stem its legendary problems: not necessarily by stopping abuse, but by seeking to hide its child-abusers from the light of justice.

Ratzinger should apologize to the victims, their families, and the bishops he has so shamefully forced into conspiracy.

Then the church must cough up its secret abuse records. And find itself a new pope, swiftly.

[daleo]

16. Exactly where do they get this 'right' from?

"It asserted the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood."

The article doesn't say - it seems to be a self-declared right of the Church hierarchy.

On edit - Those people who want a closer association between church and state should ponder this situation.

[Garbo 2004]

18. Seems like the church still holds that in matters of clerical criminality

the church's authority supercedes that of the state. That the church has the right to investigate and decide such cases without involving the civil authorities.

This is somewhat reminiscent of the dispute between the Church and England's Henry II where the church held that clerics were immune from state prosecution and only the church had the authority and right to deal with its own malefactors.

[daleo]

20. Interesting historical parallel.

It seems clear that they are obstructing the civil law, and aiding and abetting criminal behavior by covering this up.

[FlemingsGhost]

17. Sweeping reformation, or the Catholic Church will die.

The hypocrisy, and criminal intent, is far too transparent.

[Demeter]

19. Justice Is Not A Catholic Concept

If you are looking for people looking for justice, go talk to the Unitarian-Universalists.