Here are Jesus's words in reference to Judas... I'd like to see the Monsignor's response to them :
" Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me. They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, 'Surely, not I?' He said to them, 'It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.' "
(Mark 14:17-21)
When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."
(Matthew 26:20-25)
But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this."
(Luke 22:22-23)
Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil." He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
(John 6:70-71)
How about it Monsginor ?
This is just the London Times trying to sell newspapers.
This affected me. How could I have overlooked it? One definition of Devil is "subordinate to evil".
But now another question arises: Have we not all been, at one time, subordinate to evil? God needed Judas for His plan as I mentioned, and He also needed the King of Egypt - whose "heart He hardened".
God is truly the potter and we are all His clay, in spite of our beliefs. I feel so sorry for Judas. I wonder, does my empathy make excuses for Judas?