Investigation finds abuse of at least 547 boys in German Catholic music school

Berlin [Germany], July 19 (ANI): A report of investigation into child abuse at a Catholic music school in Germany has revealed 547 abuse cases that took place over the decades.

What is further shocking is that the brother of a future pope-directed renowned boys' choir - the Regensburg Domspatzen - dates to the 10th century and continues to perform at Sunday Mass in Regensburg's 16th-century Gothic cathedral, according to the New York Times.

The choir's music director from 1964 to 1994 was the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, whose younger brother, Joseph Ratzinger, reigned as Pope Benedict XVI from 2005 to 2013.

Father Ratzinger has denied knowledge of any sexual abuse taking place, and the new investigation does not implicate him in it.

The abuse came to light in 2010 after facing intense pressure from the victims, the diocese called an outside lawyer, Ulrich Weber, to conduct an independent inquiry. The report of the inquiry was made public on Tuesday.

According to the report, the most severe abuse took place among primary-school students in the 1960s and '70s, mostly boys 9 to 11 living away from home.

The inquiry found the abuse was perpetrated by 49 people, most of them priests, who served as teachers and administrators and performed other jobs in the school. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI