The flaws of the Catholic Church are not unique to it but certainly the faults of its "infallible" pope should not be ignored.
In 2001, when we still knew the Pope as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he wrote to all Catholic bishops ordering that "the church's investigations into child sex abuse claims be carried out in secret," and asserting "the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood." In other words, keep it all under wraps until the statutes of limitations expire.
In 2002, he referred to the media coverage of clergy sex abuse as a plot to discredit the Church. The Catholic Church spent more than $3 billion in the past 20 years on various sexual-abuse cases.
In 2004, he attempted to interfere in the US presidential election, instructing American bishops that any "Catholic politician" (i.e. Kerry) who did not denounce gays and abortion could not receive communion.
In 2005, as Pope, he hadto request asked the then-US President George W. Bush, immunity from prosecution for covering up clergy sex abuse allegations in a Texas diocese (Bush complied) and at a meeting with the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano on February 23 2013 he again requested immunity against prosecution for allegations of child sex crimes.
In 2009, Benedict said that said the use of condoms "increases the problem." the problem of HIV/AIDS
To his credit it should be added that the Pope did criticise the Iraq war and has offered support for the Palestinians.
In 2001, when we still knew the Pope as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he wrote to all Catholic bishops ordering that "the church's investigations into child sex abuse claims be carried out in secret," and asserting "the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached adulthood." In other words, keep it all under wraps until the statutes of limitations expire.
In 2002, he referred to the media coverage of clergy sex abuse as a plot to discredit the Church. The Catholic Church spent more than $3 billion in the past 20 years on various sexual-abuse cases.
In 2004, he attempted to interfere in the US presidential election, instructing American bishops that any "Catholic politician" (i.e. Kerry) who did not denounce gays and abortion could not receive communion.
In 2005, as Pope, he hadto request asked the then-US President George W. Bush, immunity from prosecution for covering up clergy sex abuse allegations in a Texas diocese (Bush complied) and at a meeting with the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano on February 23 2013 he again requested immunity against prosecution for allegations of child sex crimes.
In 2009, Benedict said that said the use of condoms "increases the problem." the problem of HIV/AIDS
To his credit it should be added that the Pope did criticise the Iraq war and has offered support for the Palestinians.
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