Documents purport to show Ratzinger’s slow response to Arizona priest abuse

According to the AP (4/3), the cases of two priests accused of abuse in Arizona are casting doubt on the Church’s affirmations that Pope Benedict played no part in shielding pedophile priests from the law before becoming pope. Documents involved in the cases show that as a Vatican cardinal, Ratzinger took over abuse cases and then essentially ignored them in spite of bishops pleading that those priests be removed. In some instances, it appeared he even failed to respond to letters from bishops naming certain priests as dangers to the community.