MONSIGNOR GEORG RATZINGER, BAVARIA, POPE BENEDICT'S FAMILY HISTORY ETC.

These lovely images have been a surprise also for me: I found them
on Isopix, a German photographic agency.

Great photos

I love all the photos, Gabriella. I haven't seen a lot of them before either. Thanks so much.

www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/bilderserie/154216/Georg-Ratzinger-erzaehlt?bildIndex=1#/hauptnavigation/st...

Ein Hörsaal an der Regensburger Uni: Hier hat Joseph Ratzinger von 1969 bis 1977 als Dogmatik-Professor gelehrt. Im Jahr 1997 erhält er vor Honoratioren die ihm gewidmete Festschrift zum 70. Geburtstag.

Domkapellmeister Georg Ratzinger und "seine" Regensburger Domspatzen: Rund 30 Jahre leitete der Papst-Bruder den berühmten Knaben- und Männerchor. Fast jeden Sonntag stand Georg Ratzinger im Dom und dirigierte...

Die Schwester Maria hat eine besondere Bedeutung für die Brüder, vor allem für Joseph Ratzinger (M.). Die "hochintelligente Frau", so Beinert, hat sich rührend um die Brüder gekümmert: Sie leitete das Uni-Büro des Professors und führte ihm den Haushalt.

Ein weiteres Lieblingsbild des Papstes: Das Foto wurde mit dem ersten Fotoapparat geschossen, den sich die Familie Ratzinger für 1,50 Reichsmark gekauft hat. Schon damals hatte Joseph (r.) offensichtlich eine Vorliebe für Katzen.

I think I hear him, as well!!

www.kathtube.com/player.php?id=14226

the prayer starts at appr. 5 min... I think he was there!!

Wonderful!! I just love him! What a wonderful gentleman he is!

Thank you, Cowgirl - the sound on this clip is clearer on my computer and I think I can hear Bruder Georg. There is also a woman's voice today.

Gabriella: Once again, many thanks for the photos of the family, many of which I hadn't seen before.

grazie tanto gabriella per tua nouvi immagini da georg ratzinger


georg ratzinger teaching some domspatzen









concert in sistine chapel to the occassion of georg ratzinger's 85th birthday

Rome, March 5, 2010

The bishop of Regensburg admitted that they were committed sexual abuse in the environment of the world famous boys choir of Regensburg at the time it was headed by the Pope's brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger. The bishop has written a letter to parents posted on its website, stating that the Director of the interior had been removed and condemned.

Georg Ratzinger ignore cases of abuse.
The brother of Pope Benedict XVI, Georg Ratzinger's response on the radio talking "Bayerischen Rundfunk" said today that it was not aware of any cases of sexual abuse of boys in the choir of Regensburg, which was then director.

Two teachers suspected are two teachers in the school choir of "Regensburger Domspatzen" suspected of having committed, in the '50s and '60s, the sexual abuse of young students. It said the company spokesman for the diocese of Regensburg, Clemens Neck, explaining that it appeared that both men, who died in the 80s, were convicted of sexual abuse in cases unrelated to the school. One of the suspects, a former professor of religion and vice director of the school, was put away in 1958. While another was director of the school for some months and then was convicted in 1971 for sexual abuse, the spokesman said even the school.

Holy See takes seriously the German case.
"The Holy See is taking very seriously the whole story of the scandal of pedophilia in Germany" is what he said the deputy director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Ciro Benedettini, which, however, stated that the Vatican will not intervene directly on the case of choir of Regensburg.

In the Vatican came the request to send an apostolic visitor, an envoy of the Pope, in the Benedictine Abbey of Ettal in Bavaria, where - according to recent allegations of sexual abuse-would be
made between the Sixties and the Eighties.
In recent days, on "urgent request" of the Archdiocese of Munich have been discharged from their duties by the Abbot Barnabas Boegli, and Maurus Krass, director of the father prior of the abbey and monastic school. The Vatican "takes very seriously the matter," said Father Benedettini this morning, but not giving a definitive answer whether or not the sending of an "apostolic visitor". Abbey Ettal, which enjoys legal autonomy, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Munich and Freising.
Between 1979 and 1982, the archbishop of Munich was the current pope, Benedict XVI.

The direction of the choir of Regensburg said he wanted to shed full light on these facts. "We are strongly committed to clarify all possible cases of abuse" - it said in a letter published on the website of the diocese of Regensburg, led by Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller. "Therefore we intend to examine all the information, the suspects, the statements and accusations and obvious - based on the provisions of the Regulation of the German Bishops Conference - forward to the working group on sexual abuse in the diocese of Regensburg. The letter is therefore addressed to parents of children of the famous choir, directed in the past by Georg Ratzinger, brother of Pope Benedict XVI.
"Dear parents, even if the cases to which they have knowledge relating to many decades ago, we are deeply dismayed by this harassment since we are aware that children are the most precious
of all parents." "They (the parents, ndr), who have given us their children, they must be sure that we will do everything we can to respect and defend the dignity of their children with educational work seriously and responsibly. United to you (parents) in the care and welfare of your children, J greet you affectionately. "

German bishops by the Pope The President of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), Robert Zollitsch, the Pope will meet March 12 in Rome. During the meeting, as he said himself Zollitsch last month, we will also report cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Germany. "The issue is so important for me that I will speak with Pope Benedict XVI during my visit in March," he commented Zollitsch on 22 February, during the opening day of the Plenary of the Conference.

A father of the Benedictine monastery of Ettal (southern Bavaria) was suspended today for publishing on websites to homosexuals pictures of former students of the monastery portraits shirtless. Prosecutors Ettal had raided the monastery yesterday for the second time, and investigators had seized several computers. The monk in question, writes the German news agency DPA, was taking pictures of the boys during a trip to the mountains. According to the newspaper Muenchner Merkur, the monastery had already accepted at least two cases of sexual abuse. Already on Tuesday, the judiciary of Monaco of Bavaria had ordered a search of the Benedictine monastery in the light of allegations of sexual abuse committed by Catholic religious of adolescents in their care.

Gabriella, thanks for posting the articles above. Below is an article on this subject from the English-speaking media. It is not as detailed but says the same thing.

I was wondering when some sex-abuse scandal would occur involving the boys choir. A group of boys often not in the company of their parents are easy prey for a sexual predator. In U.S. schools, band or choir directors and athletic coaches are the most common sex offenders because they can be alone with kids at all hours more easily than classroom teachers. Sexual predators seek out jobs or situations where they have easy access to kids.

I just hope that nobody seeking to embarrass the pope or his brother tries to discredit George Ratzinger over these incidents. It is obvious that the man is as pure as the snow.



Abuse Cases Found At Renowned German Catholic Choir

By REUTERS
March 5, 2010

BERLIN (Reuters) - A Catholic Church choir once led by the brother of Pope Benedict has learned of several cases of priests abusing boys between 1958 and 1973, the diocese of Regensburg in southern Germany said Friday.

Rev Georg Ratzinger, who led the choir from 1964 to 1994, told Bavarian Radio he knew nothing of the cases, the latest in a series of such charges harming the Church's image in Germany.

Pope Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, taught theology at the University of Regensburg from 1969 to 1977.

The diocese said in a statement that one priest abused two boys sexually in 1958 and was sentenced to two years in jail. Another clergyman served 11 months in jail in 1971 for abuse.

It mentioned three men who claimed to have suffered sexual abuse as well as excessive beatings and humiliation in the early 1960s by several unnamed teachers while they were at boarding schools connected to the choir.

The "Regensburger Domspatzen" (Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows) is the official choir for the diocese that traces its roots back to the year 975. Apart from its work at the cathedral, it regularly performs on tours of Germany and abroad.

The diocese said several people had come forward with charges of abuse because of recent media reports about other cases elsewhere in Germany. It did not give a precise number.

It has employed a lawyer to further clarify past incidents and identify more victims. The diocese set up a five-person panel on sexual abuse in 2008 to assist victims.

"Sexual abuse is contrary to the mission of the church ... People with pedophile fixations can no longer be employed in the service of the church," it said in the statement.

Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, head of the German Bishops Conference, apologized last month for sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests after over 100 such cases were reported in Jesuit boarding schools around the country.

Okay, here we go. Another article, already starting the drumbeat to involve Brother George.


Will the Pope's brother have to be questioned as a witness?

GEORG RATZINGER LED THE WORLD-FAMOUS BOYS CHOIR FOR 30 YEARS

Bild.com
March 5, 2010

The Pope’s brother Georg Ratzinger may be questioned as a witness in the inquiry into the Regensburg Cathedral choir sex abuse scandal.

There are strong suspicions against two priests who have since died - Georg Z. and Friedrich Z. are said to have abused, beaten and humiliated schoolboys between 1958 und1973.

Ratzinger (86) led the choir for 30 years and could now be asked to help investigators.

He told BILD.de: "If the public prosecutor's office wants to question me as a witness, I would of course make myself available. I have however no knowledge of criminal actions."

The Pope's brother added: "I know of allegations against boarding school master Friedrich Z., but that was before my time. About George Z., I know of nothing untoward happening with the Cathedral choir."

Georg Z. later founded a marching band in his hometown of Vohenstrauß.

The brother of Pope Benedict XVI was the musical director at the cathedral in Regensburg between 1964 and 1994 and chorus master of the cathedral choir, called the Regensburger Domspatzen.

He said: “Things were strict, it maintained order, but the climate was humane and understanding at the same time.

“The severity was necessary because achievement was required. An almost family-like atmosphere was maintained, however.

“I hope that my choir has not been damaged by the allegations. It is in my interests however for everything to be cleared up.”

Diocese spokesman Clemens Neck confirmed the allegations.

The cases will be investigated to establish justice and assistance for the victims. The perpetrators will be persecuted under state and church law and future cases of abuse will be prevented, Neck added.

It is clear that two former leading priests were involved in it, said Neck. They were supposedly sentenced to prison for their actions.

One of the suspects is a former Religious Studies teacher and deputy head at the church choir school. He was removed from his position in 1958. He was supposedly found guilty of two counts of “immoral acts” and later sentenced to two years in prison.

The other priest was boarding school master for a few months. He was apparently sentenced to 11 months imprisonment. Both men died in 1984.

Birgit Böhm, commissioner for the Regensburg diocese looking into the sexual abuse, has asked for any victims to come forward. “I would like to encourage the distressed to name names, to work with them and in this way to ease or remove their pain or find resolve,” she said.

Members of the choir, who travel around the world to give concerts, are taught in their own music high school which includes boarding facilities.

We support him with our prayers!!!

VERY SAD! These news items make me very sad, but I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone tried to dig up something like this in connection with the Domspatzen, in order to cause even more upset to our beloved Benedict and, particularly, to his brother. Anything involving the Domspatzen, of which his brother was director for thirty years, is bound to hurt Benedict more deeply than all the other similar things he has to deal with. And how dare they get at a man of Georg Ratzinger's age and expect him to testify in any cases like this!!!!! I think it is outrageous.

I feel sure all this has been deliberately dug up by those who hate our Benedict. And I fear it may get into the tabloid press here in Britain.

I've visited the monastery and church of Ettal; it's beautiful and holy.

All very disturbing!

I fully agree: this is simply disgusting!!!

The bishop of Regensburg has admitted in a letter published on its website that have been committed sexual abuse in the famous choir of the German city. The facts date back to the years between 1958 and 1973 and, as written by the bishop, the manager - Director of Home Affairs - was convicted and later died. The letter urges all potential victims to take lives and ensures the absolute will to investigate with transparency on the matter. Just spread the news agency of the German press reported a statement by Georg Ratzinger, then director of the choir of Regensburg. The brother of Pope Benedict XVI declares that it is not aware of any cases of sexual abuse in the choir.

Msgr. Georg Ratzinger is as pure as New York snow. I haven't heard any strange comment in the media, which would even dare to make a different point.
I'm glad Bishop Müller is involved. He's not a push-over and has No problem confronting anybody, when the debate turns into a 'destroy the Catholic Church' festival.

Surely people will blame the Pope for not doing enough, or for not doing enough when he was Prefect of the CDF. In fact, I don’t think that any other high profile member of the Church has done or said half as much concerning those cases as Joseph Ratzinger. For years! He’s been horrified by ‘the filth’ inside the church for decades.
In my opinion, he’s like a saint on Earth. So amazingly forgiving and humble and sweet. He must be suffering a lot because of those scandals from his beloved Bavaria.
It’s not like he hasn’t suffered enough, lately!! Somebody above must really love him! Obviously, that somebody keeps pouring strength and serenity right into his direction!

Amazingly enough, a high profile non-religious private boarding school is now involved in an even bigger scandal - even surpassing the case of Kloster Ettal.
Child abuse in any shape and form has been practiced throughout history and all over the world.
Even though it was not entirely planned in the beginning, the Catholic Church seems to be the only institution on this planet to address this problem. Internally and externally.

Rome, March 6 (AFP)
"Are not synonymous with the term of office of the Master Prof. Georg Ratzinger (1964-1994)" the two cases of sexual abuse emerged within the structure of which is part of the Regensburg Cathedral Choir, "reported memory in recent days. " It specifies the bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Ludwig Müller, in a statement released today in "Osservatore Romano".