No doubt, you have probably heard of the report coming from Germany on the more than 500 boys abused physically and sexually at the Catholic boys choir school in Regensburg. Georg Ratzinger, the brother of Pope Josef Ratzinger denies any involvement.
Do not blame the victims.
It often takes twenty, thirty even forty years for the victims of violence and sexual abuse to find within themselves, the strength to deal with the matter and confront their tormentors. You must give the benefit of the doubt to the victims. A lawyer working on these matters once told me that, at first, he did not believe these accusations, it was just too convenient. But not long after he began defending the Church in a legal sense, he realised that the victims were telling the truth. His advice was to deal with the matter properly, lovingly and effectively with openness and compassion. Believe me when I write, I am simpatico with those victims and have empathy for them for reasons that are harmonious and consistent with their own experiences.
![Image result for ratzinger brothers]()
Which brings me to the point with which I wish to get.
There has been suspicion that Josef Ratzinger knew what had happened in Regensburg and that he would be accused of being the "Pope with the abusive brother priest."
If Josef Ratzinger renounced the papacy to protect his brother, himself or the Church from scandal, then that renouncement was under duress.
Yet, the reality is, we do not know the truth. Therefore, there can be no mistaking that Jorge Bergoglio is indeed the Bishop of Rome and that makes him, the Pope. He has been accepted by the priests of Rome.
But let us be clear, there is no expanded "petrine office."
One day, the truth will be known, for now, this is all we have and we have to suffer it.
No, I am wrong, we have Our Lord Jesus Christ with whom we shall remain notwithstanding the rats and cockroaches that have overrun the sinking ship.
Do not blame the victims.
It often takes twenty, thirty even forty years for the victims of violence and sexual abuse to find within themselves, the strength to deal with the matter and confront their tormentors. You must give the benefit of the doubt to the victims. A lawyer working on these matters once told me that, at first, he did not believe these accusations, it was just too convenient. But not long after he began defending the Church in a legal sense, he realised that the victims were telling the truth. His advice was to deal with the matter properly, lovingly and effectively with openness and compassion. Believe me when I write, I am simpatico with those victims and have empathy for them for reasons that are harmonious and consistent with their own experiences.
Which brings me to the point with which I wish to get.
There has been suspicion that Josef Ratzinger knew what had happened in Regensburg and that he would be accused of being the "Pope with the abusive brother priest."
If Josef Ratzinger renounced the papacy to protect his brother, himself or the Church from scandal, then that renouncement was under duress.
Yet, the reality is, we do not know the truth. Therefore, there can be no mistaking that Jorge Bergoglio is indeed the Bishop of Rome and that makes him, the Pope. He has been accepted by the priests of Rome.
But let us be clear, there is no expanded "petrine office."
One day, the truth will be known, for now, this is all we have and we have to suffer it.
No, I am wrong, we have Our Lord Jesus Christ with whom we shall remain notwithstanding the rats and cockroaches that have overrun the sinking ship.