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Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, head of the German Bishops’ Conference, has expressed shock at a child sexual abuse scandal in the country’s Catholic schools, and asked for victims’ forgiveness.
“I am deeply shocked by the cases of abuse that have come to light,” said Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, according to the text of a speech delivered at the conference’s annual meeting, said an AFP report.
“Sexual abuse of minors is always a heinous crime,” Bloomberg cites him saying. “I support this wording by Pope Benedict out of a deep conviction and apologise to all victims of such crimes.”
Three priest have been suspended so far. All are Jesuits, according to news reports. An independent investigator hired by the Jesuit order last week said that so far around 120 people had come forward alleging abuse.
“Abuse weighs especially heavily on the church, because children and young people have a particular trust in priests. There should be no abuse - especially not in the church,” Zollitsch is quoted saying in the AFP report.
FULL STORY
Archbishop sorry for child abuse scandal (ninemsn/AFP)
German Bishops Apologize for Sex-Abuse Cases as Scandal Spreads (Business Week/Bloomberg)
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