Regensburg

 The Cathedral of Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany.

The "Cathedral's Sparrows"

They sing like a jubilation of nightingales.

Their voices had been filling the cavernous expansion of the Cathedral of Regensburg, in Bavaria since 975 A.D.

They are called the “Sparrows of the Cathedral of Regensburg.” The "Regensburger Domspatzen."

Some people insisted that they are as good as, or better than the “Vienna Sängerknaben”, the singing boys of Vienna.

When the “Sparrows” had completed their part of the High Mass on Sunday morning, they, however, returned to their quarters with trepidation.

Because there hell awaited them.

It is now documented that sexual molestation, rape and physical beatings for the slightest transgression awaited them. The Priests, assigned to the young boys, knew no love, nor mercy. They did know brutal repression.

The first revelations appeared in 2010 with accusations going back to 1958.

Who knows what happened between 975 and 1958.

It is most interesting to note that between 1964 and 1994, Georg Ratzinger, the older brother of Pope Benedict XVI, was the famed “Kapellmeister” of Regensburg and in charge of the Choir.

He admitted to have known about the physical beatings, but denied any knowledge of sexual transgressions. 

To accept that within the space of 30 years he knew nothing of the multiple sexual transgressions is, to say the least, stretching the belief system to bursting.

He also admitted to have remained silent in spite of his knowledge of violence and asked for forgiveness from the victims.

This is the beauty about the Roman Catholic church. You may do as you like, as long as afterwards you ask for forgiveness and go to confession. Then all is well.

Except for the victims of these crimes, who likely remain traumatized for the rest of their lives.

Can we truly say that we are surprised ? Of course not !

After the drive to survive, the sexual drive is the second most firmly embedded drive in the human mind and body. When this second most important drive is suppressed, and is classified as sinful, it is no wonder that feelings of blame, shame and fear beset the victims of such suppression.

Priests of the R.C. Church are, indeed, challenged and ordered to suppress all such impulses, which seems inevitably to lead to sexual excesses, including pedophilia. It is, of course, difficult to say which came first: The chicken or the egg.

I wonder whether George told his younger brother about all of this and whether this or the knowledge of similar transgressions lead to the Pope's instructions that such abuse is not to be reported to the authorities ( police ) but is to be dealt with within the administration of the church.

This usually resulted in the transfer of an offending priest to a new parish, where he could find new victims.

Apologists for the RC Church will say, that there are pedophiles in all walks of life.

True ! These are, however, not protected by their association, but are, in most cases, dealt with by the courts. Furthermore the percentage of pedophiles and other sexual transgressors are considerably higher within the Priesthood than in any other profession.

By the constant protection of priests, bishops and other members of the clergy in regard of sexual transgressions, by the demonstrated practice of “money laundering” through the Vatican Bank, by the avoidance of payment of various taxes, the Church, as a total administrative body, is guilty of serious criminal activities, no different from the Mafia and should under the law be treated like the “Cosa Nostra”.

Instead we sign and continue to respect “Concordats” and behave as if the Church were man's best friend.