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German church leader apologises for abuse - Vatican

Other News Materials 13 March 2010 07:30 (UTC +04:00)
The leader of Germany's 26-million member Roman Catholic church apologised to victims of sexual abuse by priests after a Friday meeting with Pope Benedict VXI, who encouraged him to deal with the problem.
German church leader apologises for abuse - Vatican

The leader of Germany's 26-million member Roman Catholic church apologised to victims of sexual abuse by priests after a Friday meeting with Pope Benedict VXI, who encouraged him to deal with the problem.

Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, head of the German Bishops' Conference, said the German Church was moving to investigate accusations of abuse in Catholic institutions and implementing measures to prevent a repeat of the occurrences, AKI reported.

"The German bishops are dismayed by what has happened and the acts of violence against children," Zollitsch said after the 45-minute private audience.

"A few weeks ago I asked forgiveness from the victims, something which I must repeat today in Rome."

German justice minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger has criticised the Vatican for what she called a "wall of silence" over widening sex abuse allegations at 18 of the country's 27 Roman Catholic dioceses.

Georg Ratzinger, pope's brother, on Tuesday asked for forgiveness from the victims of an unfolding sex abuse scandal in the Regensburg boys' choir which he directed for 30 years that has rocked the Catholic church in Germany.

Zollitsch said he had briefed Benedict about the situation in the pope's native Germany, where more than 100 reports have emerged of abuse at Catholic institutions. He said the Regensburg choir case was not discussed.

"With great shock, keen interest and deep sadness, the Holy Father took note of what I had to say," Zollitsch told a press conference, adding that he had not specifically discussed the Regensburg choir with the pope.

"I informed the Holy Father of the measures which we are adopting and I am grateful to him for encouraging me to continue with the adoption of these measures in a decisive and courageous manner," he said. "We want to bring the truth to light."

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