SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 22, 2012
Two years ago, Germany's Catholic Church was rocked by reports of widespread child abuse. But Stephan Ackermann, the bishop subsequently made the German Bishops' Conference's spokesman on such issues, has rattled many in his own diocese by refusing to actively pursue investigations or impose harsh penalties. By Anna Loll more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- September 23, 2011
The pope's highly anticipated speech in Germany's parliament Thursday was met with a standing ovation by politicians, who he warned not to abandon their principles for power. In Friday's newspapers, though, German commentators take the pope to task for not addressing contemporary problems within the Catholic Church in his speech. more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- September 23, 2011
It has been billed as Pope Benedict XVI's most difficult trip abroad to date. But so far in Germany, the pope has not sought to shy away from controversy. His bluntness has surprised many -- and could transform the visit into a rousing success. By SPIEGEL Staff
more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- September 22, 2011
In Germany on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI wasted no time in touching on one of the main themes of his papacy: declining religiosity. But he also chatted with Chancellor Angela Merkel about the financial crisis and said he understands the protests surrounding his visit. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- September 22, 2011
Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Berlin on Thursday morning to kick-off a four-day trip to Germany. He was welcomed by President Christian Wulff and Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of a highly anticipated speech before the German parliament. He said he was unbothered by the massive criticism which preceded the visit. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- September 20, 2011
When Joseph Ratzinger became pope in 2005, Catholics in Germany joyfully celebrated the first German pope in almost 500 years. Since then, the euphoria has turned to disappointment and disillusionment. Benedict XVI's visit to Germany this week will do little to heal the deep divide between conservatives and reformers in the German Church. By SPIEGEL Staff.
more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- July 28, 2011
Jesuit priest Klaus Mertes, the director of Berlin's Canisius College, sent shock waves through the German Catholic Church in January 2010 when he exposed systematic sexual abuse at the elite school. In a SPIEGEL interview, he talks about the Church's response to the abuse scandal and his anger at the Vatican. more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- July 11, 2011
The credibility of the Catholic Church in Germany has suffered enormously as a result of allegations of sexual abuse. Now the country's bishops have ordered investigations of an unprecedented scale in Europe. SPIEGEL has learned the church will provide external investigators with access to personnel files in all 27 dioceses. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- July 08, 2011
Following a series of abuse cases in Europe and North America, revelations have emerged of sexual abuse by priests in a number of African countries. The case of Father Renato Kizito, who is accused of raping young men in Kenya, shows how local power structures work in favor of the clerics. By Horand Knaup in Nairobi more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- November 29, 2010
New documents show how the former Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger -- now Pope Benedict XVI -- and his successor Reinhard Marx failed to properly deal with a suspected pedophile. Despite massive allegations of abuse, the archdiocese allowed the priest to continue working with children. By Conny Neumann and Peter Wensierski more...
