Top Austrian newspaper: 2 former members of famed Vienna Boys Choir say they were abused
By APThursday, March 11, 2010
Report: Ex-Vienna choir boys say they were abused
VIENNA — A top Austrian newspaper cites two former members of the famed Vienna Boys Choir as saying they were sexually abused by their supervisors.
The Der Standard daily reported on its Web site Thursday that the allegation was made by two unnamed members of the group — both now adults.
One Austrian victim says supervisors pressured him to wash his genitals in the shower while they watched. Another says a choir master rested his hand on his thigh for two hours.
The Vienna Boys Choir is not church-affiliated, but many boys live in dormitories while singing away from their families.
Another boys choir, Germany’s Regensburger Domspatzen, has this week been at the center of a physical abuse scandal. The choir was run by the pope’s brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, for 30 years.
