By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

Vatican officials fear that the investigation of sexual abuse claims in the Catholic Church in Germany could create a major crisis for the Pope who was archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the Regensburg Diocese in Germany is investigating allegations of physical and sexual abuse connected with a renowned German boys’ choir once led by the pope’s brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, 86.  Thus far, all  sex abuse allegations predate his term as choir director.

Rev. Ratzinger admitted on Tuesday to nothing more than slapping a few students as punishment since taking over the choir in 1960.

However, the German Bishops Conference is calling on all parishes and church institutions in the country to examine all allegations of sexual and physical abuse.  Church officials have indicated that they intend to examine what the Pope knew about the abuse during his tenure as Munich archbishop.

“We do not know if the pope knew about the abuse cases at the time,” a church spokesman Karl Juesten, told the AP.

The Pope came to the Vatican in 1982 to head the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is also responsible for investigating abuse cases. He was criticised during that time for ordering that all cases were to be investigated internally first, even the most serious.

Thus far, there is no evidence that the Pope was involved in any wrongdoing. In recent days, the Vatican has defended the Catholic Church in Germany, saying it acting “promptly and decisively” in regard to abuse scandals. 

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