Former member of German Catholic boys’ choir alleges abuse while Pope’s brother was in charge
By APFriday, March 5, 2010
Pope’s brother’s choir faces abuse claims
BERLIN — The Regensburg Diocese says a former member claims he was abused while singing with Germany’s leading Roman Catholic boys’ choir that was led for 30 years by the brother of Pope Benedict XVI.
The Diocese said in a statement Friday that one former member of the Regensburger Domspatzen claimed priests abused him in the early 1960s. They did not elaborate on the abuse, but said more allegations were expected.
In an ever-widening scandal, at least 170 people have alleged they were sexually or physically abused by priests while students at several Catholic high schools across Germany.
The pope’s brother, Georg Ratzinger, led the choir from 1964 to 1994. He told public radio Bayerischer Rundfunk on Friday he did not know of any abuse cases at the choir.
