Some in the Roman Catholic hierarchy want to take child abuse seriously. Others, not so much. Via LifeSite:
Pope Francis sidestepped questions today about explosive allegations that he knew of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s abuse, and nevertheless lifted sanctions that Pope Benedict XVI had imposed against the cardinal.
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who served as apostolic nuncio in Washington D.C. from 2011-2016, wrote in a letter published last night that, after Pope Francis’ election, he had communicated the problems about McCarrick to the Pope, but rather than continue the sanctions, Pope Francis made McCarrick “his trusted counsellor.”
Read the full text of Archbishop Viganò’s explosive letter here.
The Pope was questioned about the allegation aboard the papal plane this evening on the way back to Rome after his visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families.
“Read the statement carefully yourselves and make your own judgment. I am not going to say a word about this,” Pope Francis said.
“I believe that the statement speaks for itself, and you all have sufficient journalistic ability to draw conclusions. It is an act of trust. When a little time goes by, and you have drawn conclusions, perhaps I will speak about it, but I would like your professional maturity to do this work. It will do you all good, really.”
In comments to LifeSite today, Cardinal Raymond Burke insistedVigano’s charges must be taken seriously and also called for a thorough investigation of every allegation.
“The corruption and filth which have entered into the life of the Church must be purified at their roots,” Burke said.
“The declarations made by a prelate of the authority of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò must be totally taken to heart by those responsible in the Church. Each declaration must be subject to investigation, according to the Church’s time-tried procedural law.”
Cardinal Burke called on “all good Catholics” to “insist upon knowing the truth” and added that they “must pray and sacrifice for the Church at this tumultous time.”
A purification, he said, “can only take place with the full and uncompromised respect for the truth.”