Papal adviser Cardinal Sean O'Malley rebukes Pope Francis for abuse comments

The Roman Catholic Church’s chief adviser on clerical sexual abuse broke ranks with Pope Francis on Saturday after the pontiff accused Chilean abuse victims of slander.

In a rare public rebuke, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston said Pope Francis’s comments during a visit to Chile were “a source of great pain for survivors of sexual abuse by clergy or any other perpetrator.”

O’Malley, appearing to engage in damage control after strong reactions in Chile, said Pope Francis “fully recognizes the egregious failures of the church and its clergy who abused children and the devastating impact those crimes have had on survivors and their loved ones.”

Pope Francis on Thursday dismissed abuse accusations against Chilean Bishop Juan Barros in response to a reporter’s question, saying: “There is not a single piece of evidence against him. It is all slander. Is that clear?”

Barros allegedly protected his former mentor, the Reverend Fernando Karadima, who stood down after an internal Vatican investigation found him guilty in 2011 of abusing teenage boys. Barros denied any knowledge of Karadima’s actions.

The Pope’s comments — made as he was leaving for Peru — sparked widespread uproar in Chile, where the Karadima-Barros case has damaged the Church’s reputation over the last few years. …

Suppose for just a moment that the abuse claims against Bishop Barros were indeed unfounded.

Note that past abuses of Catholic priests, Deacons, Bishops, are unquestionably true, egregious, and damaging.

Given all the real abuse, is it possible that there is an overreach to Barros who appeared to protect an abusing priest without knowing the claims were true, and that he is being accused unjustly because he was seen to protect an abuser?

Now here’s the real question:

Say Pope Francis has had people conduct a thorough review of the matter concerning Bishop Barros and that it is true that there is no real evidence against him, it’s all just emotional turmoil and overreacting.

Now Pope Francis knows that there has been real awful abuse inside the Church but he can’t say it applies to Barros.

He opens his mouth and sticks his foot in it. He wants to exonerate Barros but succeeds in traumatizing the victims.

Here’s the question: What should he have said?

Here’s an attempt:

“The claims of abuse against others, not Bishop Barros, in our Church have been tragic for our Church, tragic for the victims. My heart goes to them. I pray to our Almighty God that he heals us, heals our Church. I will do all that I can to restore our Church to a place of refuge, safety, worship for Our Savior. But we have looked at Bishop Barros and we cannot verify any of the accusations against him. Is it possible that he has been accused unjustly? Rest assured that I will do all that can be done to protect all members from these horrible acts but we must also be careful to protect innocent persons.”

Thank God some Cardinals are answering this imposter who wouldn’t make a good example of ANY religion. And we are stuck with him for a little while.

I always say that the Church had endured far more and survived and we shall come back stronger when he’s gone.

Please God, NEVER AGAIN GIVE US A JESUIT.

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