Church inquiries into choir abuse

CATHOLIC authorities in Germany announced two major abuse investigations – one into the renowned choir once led by Pope Benedict XVI’s brother and another into what everyone, including the Pope, knew about the sexual and physical abuse of students.

The Roman Catholic diocese of Regensburg in southern Germany said it appointed an independent investigator to examine the allegations of physical and sexual abuse that have engulfed the prestigious Regensburger Domspatzen boys choir, which was led by the Rev Georg Ratzinger, the pope’s older brother, from 1964 until 1994. So far, the sexual abuse allegations predate Ratzinger’s term.

Diocese spokesman Jacob Schoetz said Nuremberg lawyer Andreas Scheulen was named to lead the inquiry and all charges will be investigated thoroughly.