1982 onwards - Conservative teachings In his Doctrine of the
Faith role, Cardinal Ratzinger was seen as a strong conservative
- defending traditional Catholic positions on birth control and
abortion, homosexuality, women priests and other controversial
social issues, in line with the equally conservative approach of
Pope John Paul II (who, in other areas was widely seen as slowly
moving the Church in a modernising direction). Being in charge
of discipline within the Church also meant that Ratzinger had to
deal with the issue of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy - an
issue which would prove controversial many years later, when it
emerged that he had written a letter opposing the sacking of a
US priest who had abused children, because it might harm the
"good of the universal Church". This was seen by many as
endorsing the cover-up of child abuse that became a major
scandal when it was uncovered years later. Latest Photo
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