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  Readers Wonder Whether the Pope Should Step down

By Rob Turner
Deutsche Welle
March 29, 2010

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5407449,00.html

As the clergy abuse scandal has crept closer to the Vatican, some have called for the resignation of Pope Benedict. We asked our readers what they thought.

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Some think Pope Benedict should step down over the child abuse scandal

Vatican stands by pope amid calls for resignation

We asked: Should the pope step down?


No the pope should not step down. This is a time for the pope to grow in authority and take action against the rebellious bishops and priests who are teaching false doctrines and who want to see the pope removed. Hang tough Pope Benedict. -- Evelyn, Canada

Yes! -- Robin McGinty, US

As a loyal Catholic, I say he should certainly consider doing it, especially if more and more complaints implicate him in a cover up of sexual abuse in the church. Maybe he should step down now for the good of the church. Maybe some one from a new generation with a far better record on this issue could do a much more effective job. -- Anne Rice, US

The pope should not step down however many are the calls for him to do so. His holiness should instead concentrate on implementing measures to prevent sexual perverts from becoming priests. -- Kevin Ng, Philippines

I think that our pope is brilliant and he has done much to clarify the problems of the clergy. -- Lester, Cuba

The pope needs to own up to this problem and admit that he and all the hierarchy treated sexual abuse as a sin when they should have treated it as a crime. The problem boils down to fraternal organizations protecting their own: it is inherent in the structure. -- Bill MacKay, US

The public has known for a long time about the pedophilia problem affecting the Catholic priests, nothing new there. What is so surprising is how people still want to believe that priests and the pope are somehow closer to God than the rest of us. Give it a break and get a life. -- Juan E. Pena, US

Pope Benedict XVI is doing everything he can to bring justice to the world. He should not step down. He should stand strong and help to bring justice. -- [Name Redacted]

Here in Ireland the hierarchy has covered up and covered up until they could not ignore the shouts of the people hurt by this immoral and hypocritical behavior anymore. The pope is doing exactly the same - the same guy who embraced a bishop who denied the Holocaust, the same guy who preaches hatred - so why should he not step down? Actually why should people who covered up the rape of children not go to prison? -- Marlies McGuire, Ireland

 
 

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