Pope Benedict 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry

Why oh why does this not surprise me, the US government is full of pedophiles but not brought to justice. Everyone has read about pedophile priests, but nothing is done. The government investigates them selves, everyone walks. The church investigates and shuffles priests around and no one is brought to justice.
Now if this report is true, the new pope Benedict XVI had obstructed justice. to protect pedophile priests.

Snip from
Guardian Unlimited
Jamie Doward, religious affairs correspondent
Sunday April 24, 2005


Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry

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 states that the church's jurisdiction 'begins to run from the day when the minor has completed the 18th year of age' and lasts for 10 years
'Cases of this kind are subject to the pontifical secret,'

Ratzinger's letter concludes. Breaching the pontifical secret at any time while the 10-year jurisdiction order is operating carries penalties, including the threat of excommunication. observer.guardian.co.uk..." target="_blank" class="postlink" rel="nofollow"> Link

Well that can not stop a family from filing charges against somebody for abuse, and at least here in the US police will be involved not matter what, I don't understand.

He can sign anything he wants and may work in more control countries by the Church like south America but is not going to overrule our laws.

I don't think so.

I always wonder how many other Catholic majority Spanish countries has been manipulated to keep quiet against allegations of abuse by members of the Church.

When I was growing up it was always the gossip that a priests have father a child somewhere.

But never something as child abuse, that was tabu.

I agree marg I have to wonder how the church could stop the police from investigating. I can see how the church moves the priests around. I don't understand how they can stop the victim from pressing charges.

I think they should bring the charges directly against Ratzinger. The charges should be Aiding and Abetting unless he can disclose the names of the child-abusing priests and prove they have been moved to some monastery where they can't possibly get close to a child.

That or charge him as a pimp.