The cleric has repeatedly referred to the city as his home – and even received a memorial. Traunstein and other municipalities are now examining whether such an appreciation is still appropriate based on the findings of the abuse report.
The city and district of Traunstein, together with several municipalities from the area, have set up a joint commission that investigates the behavior of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. to investigate and evaluate in the abuse scandal of the Catholic Church. The commission will “deal with the issue from a historical, legal and theological point of view,” said the Traunstein district office later on Friday evening.
The commission is to be made up of one “expert representative” each from the responsible district, the cities of Traunstein and Tittmoning and the municipality of Surberg. So far, all three municipalities have the Pope Emeritus in their list of honorary citizens.
Benedikt, who came from Marktl am Inn, had repeatedly referred to Traunstein as his home. He spent a few years in the city as a child and attended the archbishop’s study seminary in St. Michael, where violent attacks on pupils are said to have taken place in the past.
The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising published a report a few days ago that examines the long-standing abuse of believers and those under protection by Catholic clergy and how the church leadership has dealt with the issue. From 1977 to 1982 Benedict was archbishop responsible for the diocese of Munich and Freising. In an initial reaction to the report, he denied having taken part in a specific meeting on how to deal with the pedophile priest H. He later corrected this statement.
The contents of this report must be “taken very seriously,” according to the Traunstein District Office. The aim of the commission is “to objectively and professionally classify the allegations expressed in the report and the associated responsibilities with regard to the local culture of remembrance and appreciation and – if appropriate – to develop appropriate recommendations for action.”
Critics have already commented on the local culture of appreciation in their own way and repeatedly poured paint over the Benedict monument on Traunstein town square. The Green Youth from Traunstein has announced an event at the monument for Monday.
Elsewhere in the Free State, too, the Bavarian Pope Emeritus has lost much of his reputation. In Regensburg and Freising, for example, there are discussions about depriving him of his honorary citizenship.