Text of letter from future Pope Benedict resisting defrocking California priest

Text of 1985 letter from future Pope Benedict

Following is the text of a November 1985 letter in Latin signed by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to Oakland Bishop John S. Cummins. It was translated for The Associated Press by Thomas Habinek, chairman of the University of Southern California Classics Department.
Most Excellent Bishop
Having received your letter of …. Read the original article  : here.

Despite bishop’s scandal warning, files show future pope resisted defrocking molester priest

Files show future pope resisted defrocking priest

LOS ANGELES – Church files show that before becoming pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger resisted defrocking a California priest who molested children.
A 1985 letter signed by Ratzinger cited concerns about the effect that removing the priest would have on “the good of the universal church.”
The correspondence was obtained exclusively by … Read : Despite bishop’s scandal warning, files show future pope resisted defrocking molester priest.

APNewsBreak: Vatican to post lay guide explaining abuse norms on Web in transparency strategy

APNewsBreak: Vatican to post guide for abuse norms

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican plans to post a “lay guide” on the Web explaining its procedures to deal with accusations of sexual abuse by priests as part of a new transparency strategy.
The guide, obtained Friday by The Associated Press, outlines the canonical procedures that bishops follow when …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : APNewsBreak: Vatican to post lay guide explaining abuse norms on Web in transparency strategy.

Letter: Canadian church officials knew of abuse before priest was promoted to Vatican

Letter: Canadian church knew of abuse allegation

TORONTO – A letter written by a late Catholic bishop shows church officials in Canada knew of sexual abuse allegations against a priest who later became a top Vatican official.
Bishop Joseph Windle of Pembroke, Ontario, sent the letter to the pope’s envoy to Canada in 1993.
The letter is about …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Dutch Supreme Court: fundamentalist Christian party must allow women in leadership functions

Dutch Christian fundamentalist party blocks women

AMSTERDAM – A fundamentalist Christian political party led entirely by men was told by the Netherlands’ Supreme Court on Friday that it must accept women in leadership roles.
The Political Reformed Party, known by its Dutch acronym SGP, has consistently held two or three seats in the country’s 150-member national parliament …. Read the original article  : here.