Replies

The other reason BXVI would have resigned would have been to protect - or at least protect the memory of - JPII. The one who was worst about ignoring or possibly even tolerating the cover up of sexual abuse and homosexuality was JPII. The Maciel case was the worst example of this, although all of the other high-level cover-ups occurred while JPII was Pope.

It’s never been clear to me why JPII took no action. As soon as BXVI became Pope, Maciel was a goner and there were also a couple of bishops in certain places (Ireland was one, I believe) whose “resignations were accepted.” The resignation of Danneels - whose behavior, known to JPII and all the world, was utterly scandalous and illegal - was accepted immediately and BXVI replaced him with somebody decent, who was then forced out under Francis. And of course, under Francis, Danneels - now over 80 - has become a very important and even crucial part of the Vatican gang.

So I would say that the threat may have been to JPII, not necessarily for any personal misbehavior, but because he had obviously knowingly tolerated serious and even criminal offenses among the higher clergy. There was probably a smoking gun somewhere in those documents.

And I do think there was probably some strange financial connection in there, too.