ROME (AP) — Retired Pope Benedict XVI asked forgiveness Tuesday for any “grievous faults" in his handling of clergy sex abuse cases, but denied any personal or specific wrongdoing after an independent report criticized his actions in four cases while he was archbishop of Munich, Germany.
Highlights
- Retired Pope Benedict XVI asked forgiveness Tuesday for any “grievous faults” in his handling of clergy sex abuse cases.
- Independent report criticized his actions in four cases while he was archbishop of Munich, Germany.
- Benedict issued what he called a “confession,” though he didn’t confess to any specific sin or fault.
- Abuse survivors said his response reflected the Catholic hierarchy’s “permanent refusal to accept responsibility for the rape and sodomy of children by priests.
- The Vatican on Tuesday released a letter that Benedict wrote to respond to allegations, alongside a more technical reply from his lawyers who had provided an initial 82-page response to the law firm.