Pope's old diocese suspends priest

Pope Benedict XVI's former diocese says it has suspended a priest convicted in 1986 of sexually abusing minors and accepted the resignation of his superior.

The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising said Monday it had suspended a priest identified only as Rev. H. after having found that he had violated the condition that he not work with youth. The archdiocese said they had no complaints of more offences by the priest.

It added that his superior, Prelate Josef Obermaier, had also resigned.

Joseph Ratzinger served as Archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1986 before being called to Rome.

Meanwhile, Germany's most prominent Roman Catholic youth organization said it is hoping for Pope Benedict XVI to speak out on the church's sexual abuse scandal in his home country.

The group BDKJ's head Dirk Taenzler told The Associated Press Monday he is hoping for guidance because everyone in the Catholic Church is appalled and worried about the recent surge of sex abuse cases in German church institutions.

More than 170 former students of Catholic schools have recently come forward with claims of sexual abuse. The pope has not officially commented.

Taenzler said BDKJ represents 650,000 members.