NEW ZEALAND
Radio New Zealand
Pope Benedict XVI is to step down at the end of February as head of the Catholic Church, saying he is no longer strong enough to fulfil his duties.
The 85-year-old German-born pontiff made the announcement in Latin in a speech in the Apostolic Palace on Monday that he is resigning as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics after nearly eight years. …
Sex abuse victims welcome resignation
Survivors of sexual abuse say Pope Benedict XVI has done nothing to punish paedophile priests or church seniors who looked the other way.
In the United States, a group representing 12,000 people who say they have been abused by priests is describing his legacy as one of shame. The survivors’ network, known as SNAP, has members worldwide.
Joelle Casteix, an American spokesperson, told Radio New Zealand’s Checkpoint programme on Tuesday her first reaction to the news of the Pope’s resignation was one of shock, but now she sees that it makes sense.
“The past five years there have been child sex abuse inquiries against the Catholic Church across the globe. The sex abuse scandal has reached every level of the Catholic Church and his health has declined.
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