Ratzinger's apology

MANIFESTO

Needless to say, I've been following the revelations regarding the latest Roman Catholic scandal—that of priestly abuses in Ireland and Germany. The latter is of particular interest because of the nationality of the current pope.

At any rate, the erstwhile Cardinal Ratzinger released a letter yesterday concerning abuses in Ireland, where, apparently, being sodomized or shagged by the village priest was a part of growing up. The reaction to the letter has been less than enthusiastic.

Campaigners for the victims of sexual abuse in Ireland claimed the Pope's letter failed to address the "core issue" of why the perpetrators were protected.

Sexual abuse charity One in Four said the Catholic Church was "still in denial", while a survivor of abuse said the apology did not address the cover-up.

And it appears as if the pope is still not requiring

that Roman Catholic leaders be disciplined for past mistakes as some victims were hoping, nor did he clarify what critics see as contradictory Vatican rules that they fear allow abuse to continue unpunished.

I don't know if any accountability is ever going to exacted—Ratzinger certainly appears to have plenty to hide from his previous stints as a bishop and cardinal—but the fact that those who were abused blindly continue to attend the church where they were debased certainly must make the church think it has impunity in all of this.