Friday, March 26, 2010

Pope Faces Claims He Covered up German Sex Abuse Case While Munich Cardinal in 1980s

The Telegraph (British) website reports today (March 26, 2010) that Pope Benedict XVI allegedly covered up a German sex abuse case -- dating back to his time as Archbishop of Munich -- as it emerged that he was present at a meeting where Church officials decided to allow a pedophile priest to continue working.

As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the 1980s, he led a meeting that approved the transfer of Father Peter Hullermann to a new diocese, despite the fact that he was known to be a pedophile.

His office also received a copy of a memo explaining that Hullermann would return to pastoral work days after starting therapy. Hullermann went on to attack more children and was convicted of sexual abuse in 1986.

Church officials transferred Father Hullermann to new parishes and allowed him to work with children -- even after his 1986 conviction. He was finally suspended earlier this month (March 2010), when sex abuse allegations surfaced in Germany.

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