Pope’s brother: I slapped pupils in the face

[Bluebear]

BERLIN - The pope's brother said in a newspaper interview that he slapped pupils across the face after he took over a renowned German boys' choir in the 1960s. He also said he was aware of allegations of physical abuse at an elementary school linked to the choir, but did nothing about it.

The Rev. Georg Ratzinger, 86, said he was completely unaware of allegations of sexual abuse at the Regensburger Domspatzen boys choir, part of a string of charges of sex abuse by church employees across Europe in recent days.

Responding to accusations that its policies encouraged silence about the problem, the Vatican said that the sexual abuse scandals in Germany and other countries were cause for anguish but its response has been prompt and transparent

The scandal sweeping church institutions in many European countries kept widening Tuesday.

In Austria, the head of a Benedictine monastery in Salzburg admitted to sexually abusing a child decades ago and resigned. Dutch Catholic bishops announced an independent inquiry into more than 200 allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests at church schools and apologized to victims.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35780663/ns/world_news-europe/

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. Anyone see the documentary "deliver us from evil"? Eye opening.

[Fresh_Start]

2. Headline is wrong:

Headline should be: Pope's brother was aware of abuse allegations and did nothing about it.

The slapping isn't what should be highlighted: the admission that he was aware and did nothing is the key part of the statement.

[Renew Deal]

3. I agree

Weird headline

[Bluebear]

4. MSNBC at work :)