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16. 03. 10. - 14:00

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16. 03. 10. - 14:00

Popes paedo still works with kids

The paedophile priest once helped by Pope Benedict XVI is still working with children more than 25 years after he was convicted of child abuse, it emerged today (Tuesday).

The priest - identified in Germany only as Peter H - has been conducting children's services and activities at parishes in Barvaria including a youth summer camp as recently as last summer.

The Pope - then the local Catholic Archbishop in the 1980s - had approved plans to send the cleric for therapy rather than call in the police after he was accused of forcing an 11-year-old boy to give him oral sex.

But the priest was subsequently convicted of sexually abusing minors after he was moved to pastoral work in Grafing.

In 1986 he was given an 18-month suspended jail sentence and fined DM 4,000, worth GBP 1,800 today.

Now it has emerged that the shamed priest has been allowed by the church to continue working with children in a clear breach of a ban on him having any contact with youngsters.

Yesterday (Monday) Munich and Freising diocese spokesman Bernard Kellner said the priest had been suspended "with immediate effect" following the revelation in local media.

Senior minister in the district Father Josef Obermaier resigned, saying he had failed to supervise the pervert priest adequately.

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