Pope ‘ignored sex abuse claim against John Paul’s friend’
**By Peter Popham in Rome**
**23 April 2005**
Pope Benedict XVI has been accused of ignoring for seven years charges that Fr Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, had sexually abused nine teenagers in his organisation - because Fr Maciel was a close friend of Pope John Paul II.
In 1997 the then Cardinal Ratzinger was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican body which has the power to excommunicate priests guilty of sexual abuse, when Bishop John R McCann of New York forwarded him detailed charges of sexual abuse made by Fr Juan Vaca, a priest in Bishop McCann’s diocese. The charges were in the form of a 12-page letter to Fr Marcial Maciel Degollado, who founded the Legionaries of Christ, a conservative Catholic evangelical order, in Mexico in 1941.
“Everything you did contradicts the beliefs of the Church and the order,” Fr Vaca wrote in his open letter. “How many innumerable times did you wake me in the middle of the night and had me with you, abusing my innocence. Nights of fear, so many nights of absolute fear: so many nights of lost sleep, that on more than one occasion placed my own psychological health in jeopardy.”
I dont want to get into this controversy, but have no choice, why is it always so easy for us to laugh or to make fun of other beliefs???? but when it comes to anyone else saying ill of our faith we start bristling????.
Yes there are problems with the christian leadership, but please do tell me that we dont have the same problems with our mullahs, like some one smart once said, (was it Jesus) throw the first stone only if you have never sinned).
Or to say the same in a easier version, (Pehle Apne Ghireban mein jhaan ker dekho). and maybe you will realise your folly!!!!! Dont ever forget the Pope leads a Billion people at the least!!!!!!.
Come on guys please lets not stoop so low please, coz it does nothing but defame us and our faith.
