The Vatican said there have been no cover-ups in a growing scandal over pedophile priests, despite new allegations that leaders have ignored claims of abuse.

The latest case involves a priest in Milwaukee accused of molesting up to 200 deaf boys.

Victims who complained in 1996 claim the Vatican did not respond to their allegations and even halted a church trial against the priest. They also charge that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger -- now Pope Benedict XVI -- was aware of the accusations, but chose not to punish the priest.

"We need to hear from him. Why he did what he did with the man who raped and molested children in our archdiocese," said Peter Isely, spokesman of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

"We need to know why he did not let us know about him and why he didn't let the police know about him," he said. "Why he did not condemn him, why he did not take his collar away from him."

Pope Benedict's supporters say he has taken a more aggressive approach than any other pope to rooting out abuse.