- BERLIN: Pope Benedict XVI's private secretary says it is not helpful for the Holy Father to comment on each case of sexual abuse, as it is the bishops' responsibility to deal with them.
Monsignore Georg Gaenswein told German daily “Bild” on Tuesday that “it is overlooked too fast that various bishops and bishops conferences carry responsibility.” Gaenswein is quoted as saying he doubts criticism of the pope's silence on abuse cases in his native Germany is helpful.
He says “no one has condemned abuse as strongly as the Holy Father and the Catholic Church.” Gaenswein also says he thinks the pope was treated unfairly last year when he lifted the ex-communication of Richard Williamson, an ultraconservative bishop who had denied the Holocaust.