Additional Evidence that Pope Sheiled Abusive Priests.

TPJ: Another abuse case emerges that further shows the Pope failing to stop the abuse and turn the abuser over to authorities.

"Documents reviewed by The Associated Press show that as a Vatican cardinal, the future pope took over the abuse case of the Rev. Michael Teta of Tucson, Ariz., then let it languish at the Vatican for years despite repeated pleas from the bishop for the man to be removed from the priesthood.

In another Tucson case, that of Msgr. Robert Trupia, the bishop wrote to then-Cardinal Ratzinger, who would become pope in 2005. Bishop Manuel Moreno called Trupia "a major risk factor to the children, adolescents and adults that he many have contact with." There is no indication in the case files that Ratzinger responded."

"There's no doubt that Ratzinger delayed the defrocking process of dangerous priests who were deemed 'satanic' by their own bishop," Lynne Cadigan, an attorney who represented two of Teta's victims, said Friday. It took 12 years from the time Ratzinger assumed control of the case in a signed letter until Teta was formally removed from ministry, a step only the Vatican can take.Documents reviewed by The Associated Press show that as a Vatican cardinal, the future pope took over the abuse case of the Rev. Michael Teta of Tucson, Ariz., then let it languish at the Vatican for years despite repeated pleas from the bishop for the man to be removed from the priesthood.

In another Tucson case, that of Msgr. Robert Trupia, the bishop wrote to then-Cardinal Ratzinger, who would become pope in 2005. Bishop Manuel Moreno called Trupia "a major risk factor to the children, adolescents and adults that he many have contact with." There is no indication in the case files that Ratzinger responded. The details of the two cases come as other allegations emerge that Benedict – as a Vatican cardinal – was part of a culture of cover-up and confidentiality. "There's no doubt that Ratzinger delayed the defrocking process of dangerous priests who were deemed 'satanic' by their own bishop," Lynne Cadigan, an attorney who represented two of Teta's victims, said Friday. In the 1990s, a church tribunal found that Teta had molested children as far back as the 1970s, and the panel determined "there is almost a satanic quality in his mode of acting toward young men and boys."

The tribunal referred Teta's case, which included allegations that he abused boys in a confessional, to Ratzinger. The church considers cases of abuse in confessionals more serious than other molestations because they also defile the sacrament of penance. It took 12 years from the time Ratzinger assumed control of the case in a signed letter until Teta was formally removed from ministry, a step only the Vatican can take. Teta was accused of engaging in abuse not long after his arrival to the Diocese of Tucson in 1978. Among the eventual allegations: that he molested two boys, ages 7 and 9, in the confessional as they prepared for their First Communion.

Teta was removed from ministry by the bishop, but because the church's most severe punishment – laicization – can only be handed down from Rome, he remained on the church payroll and was working with young people outside the church. In a signed letter dated June 8, 1992, Ratzinger advised Moreno he was taking control of the case, according to a copy provided to the AP from Cadigan, the victims' attorney. Five years later, no action had been taken. "This case has already gone on for seven years," Moreno wrote Ratzinger on April 28, 1997, adding, "I make this plea to you to assist me in every way you can to expedite this case." It would be another seven years before Teta was laicized.

TPJ: The Vatican can close ranks, isolate itself and pretend this scandal and lack of confidence in the church hierarchy isn't there but the reality is that the Pope has been shown on several occasions to have delayed, hidden, and in some cases flat out ignored abuse cases. He has been shown to have been an enabler of these sick priests and Catholics around the globe are paying attention to see what the Pope will do next. The very legitimacy of the church is in question, and it doesn't appear as though this scandal is going away anytime soon. This is what happens when you have one set of rules for priests and another for parishioners. Power goes to their heads to where they honestly believe that they are infallible and have the authority to pardon sex offenders who have committed very real and disturbing crimes.

So, what we have are two branches of this scandal: One obviously being the abuse itself, but two the cover-up and a culture of secrecy, obfuscation and cult-like loyalty amongst the hierarchy who value priests (even molesting ones) more than children. The authority, veneration and specialness lauded upon these priests has given them a feeling of invincibility, unaccountability and an appalling disdain for civilian authorities. If this current batch of scandals rocking the church doesn't bring it down then I wonder how long before it does collapse. That, ironically would be the best thing for them. They could start anew with a whole new crop of leaders that haven't been there for decades upon decades to where they've become out of touch with their followers and world around them.

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