Vatican defends Pope Benedict in German abuse scandal

Pope Benedict has had to deal with sex abuse scandals in various countries

The Vatican has denounced attempts to link Pope Benedict XVI to a child abuse scandal in his native Germany.

Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said there had been "aggressive" efforts to involve the Pope, but added: "It's clear that these attempts have failed."

The Holy See's prosecutor meanwhile said that "to accuse the current Pope of hiding [cases of abuse] is false".

The Pope's former diocese earlier said he once unwittingly approved housing for a priest accused of child abuse.

The episode dates back to 1980 when he was archbishop of Munich and Freising, and known as Joseph Ratzinger.

However, a former deputy said he - not the future Pope - had made the decision to re-house the priest, who later abused other children and was convicted.

'Defamation'

Father Lombardi told Vatican Radio accusations of a Papal cover-up were "defamatory".

"There have been those who have tried, with a certain aggressive persistence, in Regensburg and Munich, to look for elements to personally involve the Holy Father in the matter of abuses," he said

I am probably going to make some people mad by saying this but it needs to be said. I think the Pope needs to be held responsible in his part of the accusations of abuse. He is the head honcho. He is in charge of all the clergy in the catholic church. He also is known for helping those who  were involved with abuse cases to move to other churches, God forbid if the priest he helped had done it again. I think the Pope should be responsible. I think he shouldn’t be Pope anymore. Think of how many victims in this world that  have lived with the repeated dreams of sexual abuse.