Posted on 08/26/2018 8:47:13 AM PDT by markomalley
Pope Francis stands accused this morning of covering up the crimes of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, one of the most senior and sinister sex abusers in the history of the Catholic Church.
The allegation comes from the Vaticans former apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, 77, who has called on the Pope to resign.
In a devastating 11-page written testament, Viganò says Francis lifted severe sanctions imposed on McCarrick for sexual wrongdoing by Pope Benedict XVI, the existence of which has not been made public until now.
Viganò writes that he told Francis in person in 2013 that McCarrick had corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance.
But, says the former nuncio, the new Pope decided instead to cover up for the retired Archbishop of Washington and made him one of his most trusted advisers.
He knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was a serial predator, writes Archbishop Viganò. He knew that he was a corrupt man, [but] he covered for him to the bitter end.
Only when the media revealed last month that McCarrick was suspected of the abuse of a minor did Francis take action to save his image in the media.
According to Viganò, at some point before 2010 Pope Benedict had ordered McCarrick to retreat to a life of prayer and penance and banned him from saying Mass publicly. Benedict had been told that McCarrick was guilty of gravely immoral behaviour with seminarians and priests.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.spectator.co.uk ...
It would fit with other things that administration did, but is there any documentation/evidence of this?
I'm sure there are other reasons as well, but that was the one given by The Guardian (LINK).
Looks like it was pretty effective.
If the laity doesn’t rise up over this, the laity is condoning institutionalized sexual predation within the Church.
In the case, multi-colored. Like a rainbow.
I lived at 54th and 1st in Manhattan when he visited (I think in ‘79? ‘78?) and remember standing on the corner waving as he drove by. Even as a non-Catholic I was inspired by him and he gave me hope.
The sorrow of my Catholic friends today is unbearable to see, and I pray the evil in all our institutions be exposed.
Boy do I miss him.
Well that’s an added wrinkle.
It seems from your article the ones “protesting” are former Catholics who’ve become disenchanted by the Church. The underlying theme seemed pro abortion and vaguely anti adoption.
Thanks for the info.
There will never be female priests.
Look for more AGS in a more states to take the lead after PA. IL and NY have started.
Bttt.
5.56mm
Pope's are called to serve at God's pleasure, and He is the only one who is supposed to end their service. If Francis is forced out (as opposed to limited in his role in the Church, in some way), the next Pope will be openly mocked from Day One and be a powerless figurehead. The Cardinals, it seems to me, would be likely to either seize power or exert their influence as strongly as possible within their own spheres, while resisting the direction of the Vatican.
tl;dr: tough times for the Church and the Papacy ahead.
You and I were up late last night. This whole string of events is shocking, incredible. Where I am, no one seems to believe we are at a crisis where the pope may actually need to step down.
Depends on who the next Pope would be. More conservative and one to attempt to transparently clean house...or another socialist man-made global warming advocate.
The alternative is Francis stays and is openly mocked as he becomes a powerless figurehead.
Pope Benedict XVI laicized 800 priests in his pontificate, from what I just read.
I’d like to see him go.. He embarrasses me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.