Vienna Boys’ Choir caught up

The most famous choir in the world has been caught up in the wave of paedophile scandals sweeping Germany and Austria, with eight former choristers denouncing their teachers in the past few days. The Times

Scandal and coverup

For decades church leaders kept horrific tales of abuse out of the public eye through an elaborate culture of secrecy, decepetion, and intimidation. Victims who came forward with abuse claims were ignored or paid off, while accused priests were quietly transferred from parish to parish or sent for brief periods of psychological counseling. Boston Globe

Full disclosure

Pope Benedict should ensure that Cardinal Sean Brady, the head of the Irish Church who has refused to resign over the mishandling of a serial abuser and his attempt to enforce a secrecy agreement on child victims, should leave his post forthwith.

He should also demand that Cardinal Bernard Law, the former Archbishop of Boston, quit his haven in the Vatican and return to the United States to face legal proceedings.

The perception of ecclesiastical impunity, the drip-drip of revelations and the clumsy attempts at cover-ups are inflicting as much damage on Catholicism as the sale of indulgences and venal pursuits of the clergy in the 15th century. It must stop now. The Times