A victim of abuse by a Catholic priest in Germany has filed a lawsuit against the alleged perpetrator, as well as against Pope Benedict Emeritus. He was aware of the sexual abuse, but “accepted” that the priest was a repeat offender. The lawyer’s goal is to establish the guilt of the Catholic Church.
According to media reports, lawyer Andreas Schulz has filed a statement for a declaration of justice, but no criminal prosecution is possible. The reason for this is that the abuses have already largely expired under criminal law. The 38-year-old prosecutor from Bavaria is said to have been sexually abused by a priest as a child. This should have had no consequences for the alleged perpetrator. The lawsuit alleges that Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict and is now emeritus, “was aware of all the circumstances” and continued to use the priest in pastoral care. The complainant’s fate is also exemplary for a large part of the victims of sexual abuse in the church, according to the Public Prosecution Service.
Notification confirmed “inappropriate treatment”
The regional court in Traunstein confirmed receipt of the lawsuit on Wednesday, but did not give names or details. According to the German news agency, in addition to Ratzinger, the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and a former archbishop, Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, are also accused. In January, the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising presented an expert opinion from a law firm that concluded that sexual abuse cases had not been handled properly for decades. Pope emeritus Benedict has also been accused of misconduct in several cases.
No response from Ratzinger yet
He then wrote a letter in which he apologized to the victims. However, he firmly rejected concrete accusations of a cover-up. Joseph Ratzinger has not yet responded to questions about the current lawsuit. The same goes for the accused archdiocese.
The plaintiff may hope for compensation. He also wants a secular court to rule that Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. is obliged to do so because, as the Archbishop in charge, he agreed to reinstate the priest (…) in the parish work, although the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising were aware of the sexual assaults (…)”, German media reported.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
