Papal Priestly Pedophilia Protection

Pope Benedict XVI has a serious problem... and it seems to be growing. Once seen as an American problem, the media has taken notice of new stories of child sexual abuse in the Catholic church in Western Europe. This isn't about randomly attacking the Catholic church, an organization I openly view with much disdain. This isn't about attacking whoever happens to be the leader of the organization at the time the story breaks.


To be clear... this is about the man, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, BEFORE HE BECAME Pope Benedict XVI... and his PERSONAL role in various cases of alleged child molestation... what he knew... when he knew it... and what he chose to do, or not do... and why. Were decisions made for the good of the rank-and-file Catholic... or for the protection of the institution that is: the Catholic Church? While Cardinal in Germany in 1980, Ratzinger was involved in the decision to send (then accused sex offender) Reverend Peter Hullermann to therapy. He was relieved of priestly duties, but immediately reinstated as he BEGAN his therapy. Pope Benedict claims he was unaware of the reinstatement. Hullermann would later be convicted of child molestation in 1986.


But the most damaging problem is Pope Benedict's time as head of the Vatican's doctrinal and disciplinary office. At the time, Pope Benedict XVI was THE guy in charge of (among other things) investigating allegations against priests and determining whether or not a priest should be "defrocked." So, this entire discussion is about HIS decisions. Not a predecessor. Not a different organization within the Catholic church. The office he led, and while he was leading it. When complaints are made against a priest, they went to his department. In many cases, priests wound up relocated. Just moved from one parish to another, with no information or warning to those new members, even though Cardinal Ratzinger was well-aware of the charges of child molestation raised against the incoming priests. In the example of some of the worst offenders, the "punishments" were leading a retired life of prayer and only being allowed to accept Mass in private. Is this how the Catholic church treats pedophilia? In the Wisconsin deaf children abuse case, the accused priest sent a plea directly to Ratzinger and the investigation was halted. His punishments were restrictions on Mass and being told to stay away from the deaf.


"Go somewhere private and pray." Is this how Catholicism views justice? Or do the rules of justice differ when pertaining to a priest. Have they been in favor or jail? Or do priests who commit the same actions as other men not deserve prison? A regular man sexually assaults one boy... one time... and he's going to do multiple years in prison. A priest... who acknowledges it... with many boys... on many occasions... over decades? The future Pope tells him to go pray?


And finally... what does this say about the position of Pope? how does it affect your view? The Vicar of Christ? He who binds and looses on Earth? He who has "the keys of Peter"? The person who controls the "treasury of the merits of the Saints"... dispensing grace on those who fulfill the Holy Sacraments? Did God appoint a man who sided with repeat sex offenders over children? A man that put the protection of the legacy of the institution of his church... over the safety of his parishioners?