When Pope Francis was asked by a reporter what he thought about Archbishop Vigano's letter, he refused to comment. Rather, he encouraged the media to dig for the truth. According to Catholic News Agency:
In his letter, Archbishop Vigano accused Pope Francis of covering up the sexual misconduct of Cardinal McCarrick. He claimed that the cardinal was sanctioned by Pope Benedict XVI due to sexual abuse, and Pope Francis uplifted the sanctions. Archbishop Vigano claimed the sanctions imposed on the cardinal was that he was removed from ministry, cannot celebrate Mass, and was given a life of prayer and penance in which he could not travel.“I read the statement this morning, and I must tell you sincerely that, I must say this, to you and all those who are interested: Read the statement carefully and make your own judgment,” he answered. “I will not say a single word on this.”
Some of the news media took the pope's advice and did their own investigation. Since the letter came out, many photos of Cardinal McCarrick were collected, contradicting Archbishop Vigano's allegation against the Pope. Below is a photo that has been circulating the Internet. It is a photo of Archbishop Vigano together with Cardinal McCarrick (who was supposed to be sanctioned):
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2 May 2012, during Benedict XVI’s Pontificate, the nuncio Viganò participates to the awarding of the “sanctioned” Cardinal McCarrick (photo taken from Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s blog)
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The Vatican Insider was one of the news media who took the pope's advice; thereby uncovering many things about the Archbishop's allegation against Pope Francis. According to the Vatican Insider:
The Viganò dossier suggests that in the last three or four years of Ratzinger’s pontificate McCarrick lived as a hermit or a cloistered monk and that only after the election of Francis was his cage opened. Once again, we must stick to the documented facts, and that is not the case at all. The reality is different, documented and documentable. At everyone’s fingertips, just a click on the web away. During Ratzinger’s last years of pontificate, McCarrick’s did not change his way of life: it is true that he left the seminary where he resided, but he celebrated diaconal and priestly ordinations alongside important cardinals of the Roman Curia close collaborators of Pope Ratzinger, he gave lectures. On 16 January 2012, he participated together with other US bishops in an audience with Benedict XVI in the Vatican and his name among the participants was indicated in the bulletin of the Holy See’s Press Office. On 16 April 2012, he met Benedict again at the audience of the Papal Foundation and celebrated the Pontiff’s birthday together with all those present. He traveled and returned to Rome in February 2013 to bid farewell to the Pope who had resigned and shook his hand with a smile (all immortalized by the cameras of Vatican TV). It is clear that his position was not considered so serious, that the indications of guilt were not considered so obvious and that the sanctions should not be so restrictive.You can read the full story of Vatican Insider here.
I stand behind and beside Pope Francis. He is the Pope and our Pope. If there is a lesson to be learned from this terrible event, which is dividing the Catholic Church, it is the fact that investigations need to be called in for every allegation. If the Church had done its duty DECADES ago, we would not be where we are at today. The Catholic Church should always stand by and represent the truth.
ReplyDeleteAll allegations of child sex abuse should have been investigated DECADES ago so that the truth could come out and those clergy members found guilty of child sexual abuse would be punished by the civil authorities rather than moved around from parish to parish. A decade later is too late. The same thing holds true today. Investigations should be conducted today on all allegations against priests who are alive because it is possible that they may be falsely accused. The dead, on the other hand, cannot speak and defend themselves.
No wonder the pope said don't be right wing or left wing. The left wing infiltrated the Church to change church doctrines on sexuality. The right wing make false accusations against an innocent man (The pope) and get people to pressure him to resign. Then, the right wing bishops will vote a right wing pope to wipe out all clergy suspected of being gay.
ReplyDeleteI also stand by the Pope.
ReplyDeleteSame here. I stand by the Pope. The letter and the timing of its publication looks like it’s been orchestrated by radical right-wing conservatives who has gone out of control.
DeleteArchbishop Viganó has already commented on this photo and event, among other things. Personally, the Pope cannot remain silent about any of this. Serious allegations call for serious answers and solutions. I don't believe Archbishop Viganó has any malicious intent in publishing his 11-page letter. Some call this a persecution, others call it a purification. I'm inclined to see these events as a moment of purification. Mercy and compassion is not only about excusing the other, it's also speaking the truth, even if it hurts, as we have witnessed in these days.
ReplyDeleteArchbishop Viganó has shed light on issues which need to be scrutinized and corrected. More importantly, let us invoke the Holy Spirit to shed light on these events and to cast out the demons which are vigorously attacking Holy Mother Church and the People of God. As Bill Donahue from the Catholic League said in an email I read: "Demands for accountability matter, but without prayer, this crisis will not be resolved."
Dear Matlock,
DeleteYes, I have read Archbishop Vigano's response to this photo and many other photos. His response is found in the weblink below:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/vigano-doubles-down-mccarrick-was-restricted-under-benedict-but-he-didnt-ob
His response only brings more questions and even doubt. There are the problems with the Archbishop's response, and that will be in my next post.
Dear Matlock,
DeleteYou can read my response in the weblink below:
https://neocatechemunal.blogspot.com/2018/09/archbishop-viganos-response.html