Catholic scandal spreads: Former Regensburg choirboys talk of "naked beatings"

This article is about the investigation of priests at two boarding schools that are accused of abusing young boys, both sexually and physically. The schools were the homes of boys that were being recruited for the famous Regensberg choir. These cases of abuse occurred in the 1950's and 1960's. Therapists in and around Munich have treated several boys for the trauma they received while attending the schools.

Some of the boys (who are grown men now) reported that one of the priests would take eight and nine year old boys in to his private rooms and have them strip. He would then beat them and in some instances penetration occurred. One former student stated that the school had, "an elaborate system of sadistic punishments as well as sexual lust." Another former student expressed his outrage that the pope's brother, Georg Ratzinger, claims that he was not aware of the abuse.

These actions and others were well known by the students. One student actually committed suicide in relation to the abuse. In 1967, a student reports that one priest would take a few of the boys to his flat in the evenings. There, they would be given red wine. The priest would masturbate with the boys.

The Diocese states that they are going to launch a vigorous investigation. The pope's brother was headmaster from 1964-1994. He states that during those 30 years there was disciple and rigor, but not terror.

Stories of sexual abuse by priests or other male clergymen always befuddle me. I do not understand how or why these religious men are repeatedly in hot water for inappropriate actions with young boys. They make the choice to take the call from God. They understand the Bible and its teachings. They strive to live their lives according to God's instruction. Where do they read that it is okay to do things to young kids? This is a problem that is not just isolated to America or Germany. It is wide spread especially within the Catholic church. Perhaps priests should be allowed to marry. Maybe there would be less accusations of sexual abuse.

This article can be found at:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,682344,00.html

This article was written by: Spiegel with wire reports

Harrowing Memoir: German woman writes ground-breaking account of WW2 rape

This article is about a German woman who is the first woman to write about being raped using her own name. Her name is Gabriele Köpp. In 1945, she and her sister were told by her parents to leave their home because the Russians were coming. She was 15 at the time, she still referred to herself as a child. She describes how the two of them fled to a train which eventually came under fire. They escaped from the train and she found refuge at a bakery. She was discovered by the Russians when a neighbor lady revealed her location.

It was at this time that she was raped repeatedly by the Russian soldiers for 14 days. The article is somewhat vague on how she got home, but she did. Her father was dead but her mother was not. She told her mother about the horrific events and received the cold shoulder. Her mother instructed her to never speak of the incidents again. Gabriele wrote notes to herself about what happened and how she felt. She used these note to write the book.

As a result of the rape, she has had trouble forming relationships with women. She is friends with several men, but has only had feelings of love for one person. That person is her former therapist. He broke off the therapy.

Despite the emotional trauma, Gabriele became very successful as a professor of physics. She does still have trouble sleeping, and eating. She decided to write her story using her own name because she figured that time was running out. Many women who were experienced WW2 are deceased.

This article was very sad. I can't imagine going through what she did. I am happy that she was able to become successful in her career. I am sad that she has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder since 1946. I think that it is very good that she wrote her story. It takes a lot of courage. I hope that it was therapeutic for her. I wonder if she was in America if she would have told the story sooner. It was difficult for her to even go to a therapist. I am curious if some of her hesitation is because she was in Germany, then Poland. Unfortunately, I do not think that I will read her memoir. I don't enjoy reading about those topics.

This article can be found at:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,680354,00.html

This article was written by Susanne Beyer