After the scandals of pedophilia in the clergy that have erupted in recent years in many countries, from the United States to Ireland, the Church faces new abuses, including a famous choir headed by the brother of Pope Benedict XVI.The scandal began in Germany in late January at the prestigious Jesuit Canisius College in Berlin.
Its president had acknowledged that many former students had been sexually abused in the 1970s and 1980s, involving at least two former Jesuit teachers.
It has spread to other schools, including the Ettal, Bavaria, and has already led to several resignations of clergymen.
Friday is the chorus of young singers of Regensburg in Bavaria, directed from 1964 to 1993 by Bishop Georg Ratzinger, brother of Benedict XVI, who was affected in his turn.
The diocese of Regensburg has recognized a case of sexual abuse dating back to the early 1950s but have added "information on several cases of alleged abuse between 1958 and 1973.
Ratzinger assured a local radio station he had not been aware of anything.
The Vatican "takes very seriously any case of pedophilia scandal in Germany," said Father Ciro Benedettini, deputy director of the press room of the Vatican.
He however refused to comment on the specific case of Regensburg.
The German bishops' conference commissioned the Bishop of Treves, Bishop Stephan Ackermann, shed light on this vast scandal.
The President of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Robert Zollitsch, should be on March 12 at a Vatican meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, who since the beginning of his pontificate, has strongly condemned such behavior, repeatedly expressing his "shame" and ensuring that those responsible "have no place in the Church".
Until the late twentieth century, the Church, to preserve its image cultivated secrecy and contented to quietly transfer the defendant, with the risk they continue their crimes in their new assignment.
Cases of child abuse are devastating to an institution very active with youth in particular through the catechism and schools.
In addition, compensation of victims are very expensive to the Church.
While the Pope must address soon the Irish, through a pastoral letter after a sensational case of pedophilia, the bishop of Ferns (southeast), Bishop Denis Brennan, has even called for help Tuesday his parishioners to compensate victims.
In Dublin area, priests, covered by their superiors, have sexually abused hundreds of children over several decades.
Another scandal erupted Monday in the Netherlands where the order of Salesians of Don Bosco announced that an inquest would be opened on alleged sexual abuse committed by clergy on a student in the region of Arnhem (east) in the 60s.
Another result of a case of pedophilia, the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in Mexico called "forgiveness" on Thursday children of its founder, Father Marcial Maciel, victims of sexual abuses of the Mexican religious, died at the age of 87 in January 2008 in the United States.
In recent years, cases of child abuse have rocked the Church in many countries around the world including the United States and Australia, where the Pope met with victims, but also in Canada and Austria, where the bishop has said Friday want to take action against the criminals. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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