APNewsBreak: Vatican took 12 years to defrock pedophile priest

[Bluebear]

The future Pope Benedict XVI took over the abuse case of an Arizona priest, then let it languish at the Vatican for years despite repeated pleas from the bishop for the man to be removed from the priesthood, according to church correspondence.

Documents reviewed by The Associated Press show that in the 1990s, a church tribunal found that the Rev. Michael Teta of Tucson, Ariz., had molested children as far back as the late 1970s. The panel deemed his behavior — including allegations that he abused boys in a confessional — almost "satanic." The tribunal referred his case to then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would become pope in 2005.

But it took 12 years from the time Ratzinger assumed control of the case in a signed letter until Teta was formally removed from ministry, a step only the Vatican can take.

As abuse cases with the pontiff's fingerprints mushroom, Teta's case and that of another Arizona priest cast further doubt on the church's insistence that the future pope played no role in shielding pedophiles.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100402/ap_on_re_us/us_church_abuse_arizona

[SidDithers]

1. K&R...

Shut 'em down. Bankrupt the fuckers.

Sid

[CreekDog]

2. "Future Pope" ??? Who writes these headlines??? Sheesh

:banghead:

"Before becoming Pope, Ratzinger waited 12 years..."

[Bluebear]

3. lol

they changed the nomenclature on the latest update!

[sabrina 1]

9. That doesn't make sense either, it says 'only the Vatican'

could have signed the papers. If he needed the Vatican's signature, how is he to blame? Unless he never notified the Vatican.

Haven't read the article yet so I don't know if this is answered there.

The Catholic Church is not the only church which has had this problem. I read a report a few years ago that said that the rate of child abuse like this % wise, is pretty much equal from one church to another.

The problem with it is that people trust their churches too much. I hope all these revelations will change that. People often equate their pastors with god. It is a horrible thing when trust like that is violated, especially against children.

[JanetLovesObama]

4. Talk about SATANIC !

I took one look at this joke of a Pope the day he was voted in
and saw Satan right there and then.  Seriously.

[Bluebear]

5. Welcome to DU, Janet!

[Bluebear]

8. wrong spot

[mdmc]

11. yupyup

welcome to du..

[bigwillq]

12. Hello

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[WCGreen]

6. Jesus...

The poor guy looks like the bad guy from the first 3 episode star wars movies

[Turbineguy]

7. Dr. Strangelove moment:

"Well, I don't think it's fair to condemn a whole program because of a single slip-up!"

Only this is not at all funny.

[SpiralHawk]

10. "Off with his head." - Those who hunger & thirst for Righteousness

[Mojeoux]

13. Impeach the Pope!

That's my new motto

[get the red out]

14. That picture is tremendously unflattering

But probably accurate in portrayal. Very creepy old guy.

[Bluebear]

16. Indeed.

[defendandprotect]

15. Disgusting . . . and hope the members of this church find it so -- !!