Birthday bash for Pope's brother sparks funding row
BERLIN (Reuters) - Religious groups in Germany have attacked the diocese of the Pope's hometown for planning to use taxpayer's money to fund a birthday party for his brother.
To celebrate Georg Ratzinger's 85th birthday, a party, which German media say will cost around 100,000 euros ($124,400), will be held at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City -- the official residence of his younger brother, Pope Benedict XVI.
A spokesman for the diocese of Regensburg in Bavaria confirmed the money would cover the cost of flying 90 vocalists from the city's liturgical choir, and 37 baroque musicians to Rome to perform Mozart's Mass in C-Major....
Dr. Alan Cairns | 8/3/2009
