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| Pope 'letter' reignites abuse row | Pope 'letter' reignites abuse row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pope Benedict XVI has become embroiled in new revelations over child sexual abuse, over a letter he is said to have signed in 1985 before becoming pontiff. | Pope Benedict XVI has become embroiled in new revelations over child sexual abuse, over a letter he is said to have signed in 1985 before becoming pontiff. |
| Associated Press said it had obtained the letter, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, resisting the defrocking of offending US priest Stephen Kiesle. | Associated Press said it had obtained the letter, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, resisting the defrocking of offending US priest Stephen Kiesle. |
| Cardinal Ratzinger said the "good of the universal Church" needed to be considered in defrocking, AP reported. | Cardinal Ratzinger said the "good of the universal Church" needed to be considered in defrocking, AP reported. |
| It said the Vatican had confirmed the cardinal's signature on the letter. | It said the Vatican had confirmed the cardinal's signature on the letter. |
| However it quoted Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi as saying it was "not strange that there are single documents which have Cardinal Ratzinger's signature". | However it quoted Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi as saying it was "not strange that there are single documents which have Cardinal Ratzinger's signature". |
| Stephen Kiesle was jailed in 2004 for molesting a young girl | Stephen Kiesle was jailed in 2004 for molesting a young girl |
| He added: "The press office doesn't believe it is necessary to respond to every single document taken out of context regarding particular legal situations." | He added: "The press office doesn't believe it is necessary to respond to every single document taken out of context regarding particular legal situations." |
| The Catholic Church has been hit by a series of child abuse scandals, including in Ireland, the US, Germany and Norway, and has faced criticism for failing to deal adequately with the problem. | The Catholic Church has been hit by a series of child abuse scandals, including in Ireland, the US, Germany and Norway, and has faced criticism for failing to deal adequately with the problem. |
| 'Grave significance' | 'Grave significance' |
| AP said the Rev Kiesle was sentenced to three years of probation in 1978 for lewd conduct with two young boys in San Francisco. It said the Oakland diocese had recommended Kiesle's removal in 1981 but that that did not happen until 1987. | AP said the Rev Kiesle was sentenced to three years of probation in 1978 for lewd conduct with two young boys in San Francisco. It said the Oakland diocese had recommended Kiesle's removal in 1981 but that that did not happen until 1987. |
| Cardinal Ratzinger took over the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which deals with sex abuse cases, in 1981. | Cardinal Ratzinger took over the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which deals with sex abuse cases, in 1981. |
| ALLEGATIONS FACING POPE In 1980 as archbishop of Munich and Freising, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger unwittingly approved housing for a priest accused of child abuse. A former deputy later said he made the decisionCardinal Ratzinger failed to act over complaints during the 1990s about US priest Lawrence Murphy, who is thought to have abused some 200 deaf boys in WisconsinCardinal Ratzinger allowed a case against Arizona priest Michael Teta to languish at the Vatican for more than a decade despite repeated pleas for his removalCardinal Ratzinger resisted the defrocking of California priest Stephen Kiesle, a convicted offender, saying "good of the universal Church" needed to be considered The Pope's supporters say he has been unfairly blamed for cases handled by junior staff, and that he has been proactive in addressing child abuse. | |
| AP says the 1985 correspondence, written in Latin, shows Cardinal Ratzinger saying that Kiesle's removal would need careful review. | AP says the 1985 correspondence, written in Latin, shows Cardinal Ratzinger saying that Kiesle's removal would need careful review. |
| Cardinal Ratzinger urged "as much paternal care as possible" for Kiesle. | Cardinal Ratzinger urged "as much paternal care as possible" for Kiesle. |
| Kiesle was sentenced to six years in prison in 2004 after admitting molesting a young girl in 1995. | Kiesle was sentenced to six years in prison in 2004 after admitting molesting a young girl in 1995. |
| Kiesle is now 63 and is on the registered sex offenders list in California. | Kiesle is now 63 and is on the registered sex offenders list in California. |
| The Vatican on Friday urged Catholic dioceses around the world to co-operate with police investigating sex abuse allegations against priests. | The Vatican on Friday urged Catholic dioceses around the world to co-operate with police investigating sex abuse allegations against priests. |
| Father Lombardi acknowledged that the Church had lost public trust and said Church law could no longer be placed above civil laws if that trust were to be recovered. | Father Lombardi acknowledged that the Church had lost public trust and said Church law could no longer be placed above civil laws if that trust were to be recovered. |
| He also said Pope Benedict was prepared to meet more victims of abuse to offer them moral support. | He also said Pope Benedict was prepared to meet more victims of abuse to offer them moral support. |
| This court... deems it necessary to consider the good of the Universal Church together with that of the petitioner Text of Pope 'letter' Pope willing to see abuse victims | This court... deems it necessary to consider the good of the Universal Church together with that of the petitioner Text of Pope 'letter' Pope willing to see abuse victims |
| BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott says this is an abrupt change of tone by the Vatican. | BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott says this is an abrupt change of tone by the Vatican. |
| He says officials had previously accused critics of trying to smear the Pope personally and only last weekend said he should ignore petty gossip directed at him. | He says officials had previously accused critics of trying to smear the Pope personally and only last weekend said he should ignore petty gossip directed at him. |
| Meanwhile Italian media have reported that the Vatican is to issue guidelines on its website on Monday on fighting paedophilia. | Meanwhile Italian media have reported that the Vatican is to issue guidelines on its website on Monday on fighting paedophilia. |
| The Vatican has ruled out any possibility of a papal resignation over the scandals. | The Vatican has ruled out any possibility of a papal resignation over the scandals. |