The response to the testimony offered by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, 77, who served as apostolic nuncio in Washington D.C., that accused several senior church officials of complicity in covering up allegations of sexual abuse of minors and young men by former Archbishop of Washington D.C., Theodore McCarrick, has been nothing short of astonishing.
The first response from the Vatican in the wake of the wide release of Viganò’s letter was accurately predicted by satire site, The Babylon Bee.
While the papal message may not have been “climate change” per se, it certainly dealt with the environment.
Pope Francis on Saturday called for concrete action to combat the “emergency” of plastics littering seas and oceans, lamenting the lack of effective regulation to protect the world’s waters.Building on his papacy’s concern for the environment, Francis issued a message aimed at galvanizing Christians and others to commit to saving what he hails as the “impressive and marvelous,” God-given gift of the “great waters and all they contain.”
When this announcement failed to sufficiently deflect attention from the growing anger at the #MeToo-style treatment of young Catholic men, Pope Francis’ homily clearly intimated that the testimonial and those who were responding to it were scandal-mongers…so the response to this faith-based catastrophe should be “prayer and silence“.
People who seek only scandal and division must be answered with silence and prayer, Pope Francis said Monday as the Catholic Church continued to grapple with controversy surrounding allegations of sexual abuse.Francis, in a homily during Mass in Vatican City, did not specifically address the growing scandal. But he said even families can have division over topics such as politics, sports and money.”With people lacking good will, with people who only seek scandal, who seek only division, who seek only destruction, even within the family — (respond with) silence, prayer,” the pope said.
It may come as no surprise to the Legal Insurrection’s Catholics, or even those who are not, that the tone deaf response isn’t being terribly well received by the laity. For example, one archbishop thought it was proper to ask for loyalty to the Pope.
Tensions erupted during a Catholic mass as the Archbishop of Washington, D.C. addressed the clergy sex abuse scandal. A protester interrupted Cardinal Donald Wuerl Sunday as he pleaded for loyalty to Pope Francis.Wuerl has been facing calls to resign since a scathing grand jury report revealed abuses that occurred during his time as head of the Pittsburgh diocese. The heckler was reportedly upset with the Catholic Church’s lack of transparency throughout decades of alleged sexual abuse. The disruption came when Cardinal Wuerl asked the congregation to keep Pope Francis in their prayers.”Shame on you!” the protester yelled.
Additionally, in a newly issued press release, Cardinal Wuerl said: “Increasingly it is clear that he, the pope, is the object of concentrated attack.”
Helpful hint from a Catholic who joined in 2010: Asking for loyalty for the flawed man instead of the Holy Church, which should have been protected by its leadership, is not useful. Furthermore, making Pope Francis out to be the victim is highly inappropriate, especially in light of the allegations.
I have found much solace in the Catholic Church since I joined, as I had stresses and challenges that were difficult to endure without more faith in my life. My local parish has amazing priests and deacons, and fortunately none of them are ignoring Viganò’s allegations. They are planning “townhalls” to take the laity’s message to the leadership, in a quest to prevent future abuses.
During the meetings that will be held, I will specifically be asking that McCarrick be defrocked and that all the church appointments made under his influence be revoked, and the properly designated personnel who normally make these appointments name new leadership. I would also welcome fellow Catholics among our readers to chime in about we in the laity can do specifically, which might be considered reasonably achievable.
So, while I am not planning to leave the Church, I am praying for some inspiration to show my anger and the treatment of young Catholic men by those who were suppose to be their mentors, teachers, and protectors…as well as the improper focus on political priorities. I have already halted donating to the Catholic Church beyond the parish level, which happened when progressive San Diego’s Bishop Robert McElroy decided to slam President Donald Trump in public remarks.
As of now, I am wearing black for mourning to each Mass. I am also saying the Prayer to St. Michael daily, which seems appropriate based on the thoughts of Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, Robert Barron (hat-tip, the Anchoress):
Being Bishop Barron, he doesn’t mince his words; he outright identifies a “diabolical masterpiece” at work in the midst of all of this. Further, that the actions detailed in the Grand Jury report contain a “demonic element”. He also decries the euphemistic language that contributed to the obfuscation and cover-ups, and is still being used, today. “We shouldn’t play word games” he said regarding the crimes committed. “We should say what they are…Lives were shattered and broken by these acts…if we don’t understand that by now, we are deaf, dumb, and stupid.”
I will also pray the Rosary daily, praying for the Church leadership to stop deflecting and to start genuflecting.
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