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PDF versionThoughts on America's new whistle-blowing nuncio
by John L Allen Jr on Jan. 27, 2012
We already knew that Italian Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, named by Pope Benedict XVI in October as his new nuncio, or ambassador, to the United States, seriously rocked the boat in his brief but tumultuous run as the No. 2 official in the government of the Vatican city-state from 2009 to 2011.
What we didn't know until this week, however, was just how vigorously Viganò had campaigned to be allowed to finish the financial house-cleaning he started. As it turns out, the pope's new man in Washington is something of a whistle-blower.
Viganò, 71, who has degrees in both civil and canon law, is a veteran Vatican diplomat who took over what amounts to the chief of staff position in the Vatican city-state in July 2009. He quickly earned a reputation as a take-no-prisoners financial reformer, reportedly turning a $10.5 million deficit into a $44 million surplus in one year alone by insisting on centralized accounting procedures and strict accountability for cost overruns.
No good deed, of course, ever goes unpunished, making it natural that Viganò's efforts produced fierce backlash among some mid-level managers in the various Vatican fiefdoms. They were long accustomed to being accountable only to God and the pope -- and in both cases, that accountability was fairly nominal.
Viganò's posting to the States was widely seen at the time as a face-saving maneuver to resolve these internal tensions.
We got new details this week. On Wednesday, an Italian TV program called "The Untouchables" broadcast a special report, the centerpiece of which was a private letter Viganò reportedly addressed to Benedict in March 2011, warning the pope of how his removal would be interpreted.
"My transfer would provoke confusion among all those who've believed that it's possible to clean up so many situations of corruption and dishonesty," Viganò reportedly told the pope.
In effect, the Vatican has all but confirmed the letter. An 800-word statement released Thursday by the Vatican spokesperson, Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, expressed "bitterness" over the disclosure of private documents, but never said the letter isn't authentic.
The broadcast implied that Viganò was at odds with several key Vatican figures who pressured the secretary of state, Italian Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to send him packing. Allegedly, Viganò complained that the Vatican's committee for financial administration, which includes the head of the Vatican Bank, favored personal interests and that construction contracts were routinely awarded to outfits that overbid on the basis of personal connections.
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Let's quickly stipulate four points:
- First, it's never wise to take everything you hear in the Italian press at face value. Some of what passes for reporting in Italy would make the biggest blowhards and scandal hounds in the American media look like Edward R. Murrow.
- Second, much of what Viganò's letter refers to as "corruption" may have a relatively innocent explanation, especially by the norms of traditional Vatican culture. For instance, when bidding procedures are fudged to award contracts, it's not necessarily because somebody's been bought off, but rather to reward firms and individuals seen as loyal to the pope, to the church or to key figures in the hierarchy. That's not to defend such practices, simply to acknowledge they're not what Americans usually mean by "corrupt."
- Third, by most accounts, and despite his background in diplomacy, Viganò didn't always have a deft touch in terms of office politics. His transfer, in other words, wasn't necessarily a referendum on his financial philosophy so much as his rocky relationships with other personnel.
- Fourth, if Benedict XVI truly wanted to repudiate Viganò, there were certainly plenty of options other than naming him to arguably the most prestigious position Vatican diplomacy has to offer.
That said, three thoughts about all this nevertheless suggest themselves.
Administrative malaise
First, the Viganò situation illustrates the Vatican's ongoing administrative malaise on Bertone's watch.
In truth, money management is one of the few areas in which Benedict XVI has actually taken a strong interest in terms of internal administration. Rocked by a series of scandals, including the 2010 seizure of $30 million in Vatican Bank assets for allegedly violating European money-laundering protocols, Benedict created a new Financial Information Authority in December 2010 with the power to oversee the transactions of every department in the Vatican. Given the notoriously compartmentalized culture of the place, this amounts to a real revolution.
Benedict has also directed the Vatican to come into compliance with international norms on financial transparency. Ironically, the same day the Viganò story broke, the Vatican announced it had ratified three U.N. conventions intended to curb illegal currency flows and transactions around the globe.
In part, these efforts reflect a realization by Benedict XVI that he can't credibly preach to the outside world about the need for greater ethics in the economy, as he has repeatedly done, if the perception is that he doesn't have his own house in order.
Why, then, if Benedict is committed to glasnost, would Viganò be shipped off -- especially in light of the mixed signal it inevitably sends?
Most Vatican-watchers believe the answer lies in Bertone, whom everyone admires as a sincere and affable guy, but who's also been a decidedly mixed bag as an administrator. In this case, insiders say Bertone was persuaded that Viganò was disruptive, and thus fell back on the classic Vatican logic of "promoting to remove" without adequate consideration of how that move would look.
At a bare minimum, Bertone had to know since October that Viganò's correspondence with the pope, which was widely alluded to at the time, amounted to a ticking time-bomb. That no steps were taken to get ahead of the story thus represents yet another chapter in the checkered PR record of the last six years.
In the Middle Ages, alchemists sought to turn lead into gold. Some of Benedict's aides actually seem to have a genius for turning potential public relations gold, in this case Benedict's impressive financial reforms, into lead.
Some observers have suggested that when Bertone turns 78 in December, Benedict XVI might finally be persuaded to accept his resignation. Frankly, that seems unlikely, given the strong personal bond between the two men. Perhaps, however, the pope might consider beefing up the role of other personnel with proven administrative chops under, and alongside, the secretary of state.
Confidence-building measures
Second, this would be a good time for the Vatican to engage in some confidence-building measures with regard to financial management.
For instance, Jan. 19 marked the one-year anniversary of the appointment of Italian Cardinal Attilio Nicora as the first president of the new Financial Information Authority. It would be helpful to hear a progress report, outlining steps taken in the last 12 months to impose more effective internal controls.
Nicora is a veteran financial expert who was the architect of the 1984 revisions to the concordat between the Vatican and the Italian government. Since taking over the new financial authority he's kept a low profile, but this seems a compelling moment to break his silence.
Additionally, the Vatican has a council of 15 cardinals from various parts of the world who oversee its financial operations. (Technically, it's called the "Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See.") Each year, this group is presented with a consolidated financial statement for the previous year; in 2011, for instance, it reported that the Vatican ran a $13 million surplus in 2010.
Like clockwork, whenever this statement appears, critics charge that it's incomplete and hard to penetrate because it's not presented in accord with globally accepted accounting practices, even though a group of outside experts does review the statement before it's released. Privately, even some cardinals who sit on the council have expressed similar frustrations, especially those from major archdioceses whose books are subject to rigorous independent audits.
The financial statement usually comes out in July, which means we're about six months away from the next edition. Perhaps this time around, the cardinals who sit on the council might press for a well-known independent auditing firm to be part of the public presentation, and for the disclosure to be more thorough on the grounds that a stronger dose of transparency would be in everyone's best interests, not to mention consistent with the reforms Benedict XVI has already launched.
A Viganò effect in the States?
Third, however distasteful the recent revelations may be for the Vatican, American Catholics actually ought to feel pretty good. They offer confirmation that we've got a nuncio in Viganò who's a no-nonsense guy when it comes to financial integrity and who's not afraid to fight some internal battles to make his principles stick.
All this is especially important at a time when some observers are concerned that financial scandals could be the second round of the sexual abuse crisis in terms of damage to the church's image and moral authority. Those fears have been fueled, among other things, by a 2007 survey by Villanova concluding that 85 percent of responding dioceses in the United States had suffered some form of embezzlement.
In that light, whatever the internal Vatican logic might have been for Viganò's transfer to the United States, his arrival here comes at a great time for the American church. He may be able to encourage those American bishops who are already committed to transparency, helping them square their local systems with church law and Vatican expectations, and to ride herd on those who aren't yet up to speed.
If he applies the same tough-mindedness he showed in Rome, perhaps we'll eventually talk about a "Viganò effect" in the American church -- how the financial glasnost he wasn't able to bring to completion in the Vatican instead reached fruition on this side of the Atlantic.
[John L. Allen Jr. is NCR's senior correspondent. His email address is jallen@ncronline.org.]
One should read
One should read "Nonefeasance" by Michael W. Ryan and "Render Unto Rome" by Jason Berry and then ask one self if the contracting scandal is something one would expect to find in the Holy See. What appears to me is that the old boy system in Rome just sent a trouble maker to the hinterlands where he cannot cause problems.
There are over 5000 dioceses in the world. This pope is a frail old man who cannot personally oversee them. Even a young vigorous man would need a large bureaucracy to run the church. Don't disturb the bureaucracy because they don't like it.
Yes, there is a culture of corruption in Rome. If Christ came back physically, I am sure he would drive most them out of the Vatican just as he did to the money lenders in the Temple.
Viganò appears to be a good man that is why he does not get along with personnel who are wedded to the old corrupt ways. Fudging contracts is still corruptions which means someone is making extra money off our donations. By putting him back into the diplomatic corps, the pope has silenced him. Diplomats do not speak for themselves for the government they represent.
Sadly, I do agree that the Italian media lacks something. While the sex scandals are reported in other counties, the Italian media sweeps it under the rug.
How much unreported cash are the American bishops bringing to Rome during their visits to Rome this year? No one talks about that.
Get rid of the Vatican
Get rid of the Vatican State
Move the pope back to the Lateran Palace
Abolish the College of Cardinals
The pope to be eleced by people and clergy of Rome
Break-up the dioceses and archdioceses into more easily governed parochial units gathered within synods and councils of laity and clergy who approve all priestly and episcopal appointments
Assign 12 year terms of office to all bishops.
All priests and bishop devote at least 5 years in the foreign missions, or in the poorest regions of their own country
Junk the theatrical foppery and obsession by prelates with their silly pontifical paraphernalia, titles, honors, and other aspects of courtly ritual. The same for the Orthodox, Anglicans and Lutherans as well
Start moving parishes and dioceses out of the Roman communion and placed under nation governing synods
Reorganize the entire collection of national synods around a central governing Patriarchy with the pope as ex officio head. A foundation for the future reunited Church
Yes, let's also get rid of
Yes, let's also get rid of the President.
Move the capital back to Philadelphia.
Abolish Congress.
The President to be elected by the people of Philadelphia.
Break up the country.....
This makes a lot of sense, no?
Last time I looked,Steven,
Last time I looked,Steven, the USA did not purport to be the bride of Christ, the community of believers following the humble Nazarene rabbi.
Your analogy therefore is somewhat amiss
The Vatican City State was
The Vatican City State was established in 1929 and is distinct from The Holy See.
What? Jesus was a Jewish
What? Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi? Our good holy nuns NEVER taught me that in my entire 9 years of Parochial School! I always was told when he was rejected by the Jews that He became a CATHOLIC! Now you tell me He was JEWISH!!!!!!!!!!!
You have to be kidding
You have to be kidding us......
I can not help but wonder who
I can not help but wonder who misinformed you about the ethnicity and religion of Jesus. Certainly if a teacher at your Catholic School told you this, she/he was very wrong. Jesus was a Jew. My teachers taught me that the Messiah was to come from the Jewish people and He did in the person of Jesus.
I was also taught that Jesus never meant to start a new religion, (Christianity) but came to fulfill the promises of the Jewish Scriptures thereby completing the promises of His father and completing Judiasm. Jesus came to teach us who His Father was; how to live and love and showed us that now because of His death and Resurrection He was teaching us that we like Him would rise again and live forever....hence the name Saviour who saved us from eternal death by carrying our sins as a sacrifice on the cross. He offered Himself as a sacrifice to the Father to save us so that we would live forever in a new life. Jesus was a Jew, He died a Jew and those who follow Him are called Christians, Catholics, Protestants or whatever Christian denomination you call yourself. If we believe that, we too will live forever....though we must die in this world to get there. Amen
Steven Benvenuto on Jan. 27,
Steven Benvenuto on Jan. 27, 2012.
You stated:
"Yes, let's also get rid of the President.
Move the capital back to Philadelphia.
Abolish Congress.
The President to be elected by the people of Philadelphia.
Break up the country.....
This makes a lot of sense, no?"
------------------------------------------------------
If you believe that Christ founded a Church filled with
corrupt 'dandies'---that's your business. The United
States government does not claim to be founded by Christ.
But the Church claims that a simple carpenter from Nazareth,
walked the roads of Palestine, cured the sick, fed the people
who followed him, and died on the Cross to redeem the human race.
And they claim that this God-Man founded them. They hardly
reflect in any way, shape or form---Jesus Christ, his words or
actions.
Steven: Jesus gave the "Keys
Steven: Jesus gave the "Keys to His kingdom," to a simple, stinky fisherman, who smelled of fish and a genuine hard-day's work. St. Peter wouldn't have been caught dead in Belgium Lace, the High-hatted Miters, and the ridiculous vestments that Cardinals of the Church now wear. As far as a "hard-day's work" is concerned, from the sound of Vigano's observations and financial savings to the Church, the only "work" that most cardinals did was to line their pockets and bank accounts, with not just "shekels" but rather with hundreds of thousands if not millions of Euros! The "Princes of the Church" need to keep up their lifestyles now, don't they?
Absolutely fantastic
Absolutely fantastic suggestions Fr.Dunstan! Proactive and forward looking. I sincerely hope you forwarded these comments to catholic leaders.
I would add one more...a public audit of all documents regarding sexual assaults of minors. Get in front of this mess for once.
Well done Good Shepherd.
Couldn't agree more - here's
Couldn't agree more - here's to Christianity united - then we can get on with what we are supposed to be doing - transcending ego and loving people into the kin-dom of God.
Excellent ideas! You're on
Excellent ideas! You're on the right track.
Oh, my goodness. You mean
Oh, my goodness. You mean there would actually be a Church which listened to someone other than a fellow prelate? And ear to hear. That is a dream.
If indeed you are a priest,
If indeed you are a priest, shame on you! If and when you face our Lord, I wonder if you will ever have the chance to tell Him how you have treated His Vicar! Shame shame!
I AM SORRY TO DISAGREE WITH
I AM SORRY TO DISAGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THE VICAR OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH HIERARCHY WILL HAVE TO TELL JESUS HOW THEY TREATED THE BODY OF CHRIST WHILE THEY WERE ON EARTH (HIS BODY) AS WILL WE ALL. LET US ALL NOT BE MORE CATHOLIC THAN CHRISTIAN, I.E. FOLLOWERS OF THE CHURCH HIERARCHY AS OPPOSED TO FOLLOWERS OF THE HEART AND MIND OF CHRIST HIMSELF.
Great ideas Father.
Great ideas Father. Corruption finds a breeding ground whenever power is too centralized.
The over all theme of all the global protests that have occurred are about desire of the masses for democratic rather than pateralistic, top down, type of governing, which has been the norm for centuries. Of course undoing this in the Church would rob many of the power they now enjoy, but it is that very culture that is causing the some people to leave the Church.
Sounds good to me.
Sounds good to me.
Father Dunstan: National
Father Dunstan:
National synods to run the church? You've got to be kidding. The state will soon co-opt them. Just look at how it's worked for the Orthodox Churches in the last ten centuries. The Orthodox allow Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinians to have a veto over who gets to be Patriarch of Jerusalem, because in past centuries, the Byzatine Emperor who used to rule that territory had that power. The Turks get to veto who becomes the Patriarch of Constantinople for the same reason. Sure, the Catholic Church had long problems with that kind of interference, but the point is, gradually Rome was able to become independent of national vetoes over who becomes the Bishop of Rome. There are Orthodox commentators who lament the internal feuds in the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church of America, because they hoped it would succeed as the only Orthodox Church that is completely independent of its home country's government. The Orthodox can't even get a pan-Orthodox Council put together because the Greeks and the Russians have resumed the infighting that the Communists in the 20th century interrupted for 70 years. National synods to run the Church would be a gigantic step backward.
Jim Cole
Jim Cole on Jan. 28, 2012.
Jim Cole on Jan. 28, 2012.
You stated:
"Father Dunstan:
National synods to run the church? You've got to be kidding. The state will soon co-opt them. Just look at how it's worked for the Orthodox Churches in the last ten centuries. The Orthodox allow Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinians to have a veto over who gets to be Patriarch of Jerusalem, because in past centuries, the Byzatine Emperor who used to rule that territory had that power. The Turks get to veto who becomes the Patriarch of Constantinople for the same reason. Sure, the Catholic Church had long problems with that kind of interference, but the point is, gradually Rome was able to become independent of national vetoes over who becomes the Bishop of Rome. There are Orthodox commentators who lament the internal feuds in the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church of America, because they hoped it would succeed as the only Orthodox Church that is completely independent of its home country's government. The Orthodox can't even get a pan-Orthodox Council put together because the Greeks and the Russians have resumed the infighting that the Communists in the 20th century interrupted for 70 years. National synods to run the Church would be a gigantic step backward.
Jim Cole"
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Hello, Jim Cole----Fr. Dunstan was talking about Catholic Churches, not Orthodox Churches. Secondly in most of the pluralistic Western nations TODAY, the churches are free from governmental interference. So your commentaries about the Orthodox Christian faith have no relevance.
In the history of the Catholic Church, it DID have a time when civil authority attempted to control the Church. But events in the Middle Ages
changed that.
1) Reforms of Cluny, France 910 CE (Benedictines given not only property as their own, but the right to select their own abbot without secular interference). These reforms spread throughout all of Europe by 994 CE.
2) Gregorian Reforms led by Pope Gregory VII (the Great)pope from 1073-85 CE.
Pope Gregory battled for the right of the Church to be independent of imperial and secular controls. Finally in 1122 CE, Holy Roman Emperor Henry V signed "The Concordat of Worms" in which he pledged that no secular powers would interfer with the Church's selection of bishops, and he swore to eliminate simony.
In 1965, the documents of Vatican Council II sought to give National Conferences of Bishops more freedom to deal with issues that are significant to their own nation or to a section of their country. That would occur with the Bishops free to hold national synods.
Unfortunately, pushing to centralize papal authority, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have greatly weakened this true recognition of the bishops as successors of the Apostles---and are more than just puppets of the Pope.
LittleBear, I agree with
LittleBear, I agree with Jim's comments about the Orthodox churches. In fact that is immediately what leaped to mind as I was reading the article. Not all Orthodox churches, but I think most Ukrainians, (as opposed to Russian residents of Ukraine that Stalin shipped in) view the Russian Orthodox Church as another arm of Putin's personal propaganda machine.
I completely agree that some issues are better dealt with by local authorities familiar with local conditions. I also agree that the last two popes have moved to usurp powers beyond what is necessary for the governance of the faithful. Your point about all the bishops being successors to the Apostles is spot-on.
But I think that we need the external church, a church with an independent perspective that can veto the national synods. One that is resistant to marrying of not just church and state, but more dangerously state and church.
But I think that we need the
But I think that we need the external church, a church with an independent perspective that can veto the national synods. One that is resistant to marrying of not just church and state, but more dangerously state and church.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
That "perspective" is exactly what a world synod of patriarchs would accomplish. The pope alone is no guarantee of a check on nationalism, Caesaro-papism, or extreme conciliarism. History is replete with examples of where a monarchical papacy has failed to prevent the rise of over-arching national authority. Orthodoxy until the demise of the Ottoman Empire following World War I managed to preserve eccelsial governmental models despite hostile rule from a non-Christian overlord. The bishop of Rome was unable to prevent such overlordship and in some instances, particularly during the crusades, collaborated with it.
I don't think Father Dunstan is speaking of a new world model applicable solely to the Russian and Ukrainian experience, but world synod for all bishops under the historic patriarchs. A consultative body called for mutual support of all churches under the presidency of the bishop of Rome. An idea which already gaining some currency in Orthodox circles today.
Rome needs to get off the pot and boldly embrace this or a similar set of ideas in order to save the Church and make its message a united one. A clear and unmistakable voice possessing an authoritative clarity which these churches lack on their own today.
I misunderstood. What you
I misunderstood. What you describe sound very much like what was adopted at Nicea. I whole-heartedly support this idea. It does indeed allow for both independent perspective and cooperative support. Sign me up. Who do I write the check to. What time are we meeting and who is bringing the Tim Horton's doughnuts? ;)
Actually, the structure you
Actually, the structure you propose is very similar to that of the Anglican Communion. The Problem: It just does not work. The Anglican Communion is about to break apart.
But isn't the Catholic Church
But isn't the Catholic Church also experiencing some breaking apart, with the number of members leaving the church, the shortage of priests, the various disagreements between bishops and the faithful laity? But I would be most interested in hearing if you have any thoughts on how the Church can begin to unite itself in more substantial ways to stem the losses, engage young Catholics, and so on.
Actually, the structure you
Actually, the structure you propose is very similar to that of the Anglican Communion. The Problem: It just does not work. The Anglican Communion is about to break apart.
---------------------------------------------------------------
An interesting idea. Let's explore this in the broadest historical terms.
The Anglican Communion isn't anything close to what Father Dunstan is talking about. Anglicans have no central teaching authority other than what is loosely demanded of them in the 39 Articles of Religion and the Nicene Creed. Together with the subsequent dogmatic pronouncements emanating from the first four ecumenical councils. These teachings are in no way binding upon Anglicans and never were.
Nothing could be more removed from the Orthodox experience than Anglican praxis and this absence of any real central teaching authority. Anglicanism is essentially a collection of rationalist free thinkers who see themselves as either Protestants or Catholics, or a combination of the two. Depending upon how the spirit moves them. What unites them is faith and culture and not doctrine.
The Lutheran model of synods is more democratic and much more closely aligned with early Christian synodical/conciliar structures for arriving at the sensus fidelium. Luther demanded tests of "orthodoxy" and adherence to scripture and Lutheran teaching. Anglicanism has never demanded such rigorous adherence of its members.
The Roman "monarchical" model of the papacy is a creature of history and the exigencies of European history. It too has departed from scripture and early Church tradition to create an "imperial" model of model based upon imperial Rome and built upon a theology of autocracy and personal rule. A confusion of secular and hierarchical roles more often with vague delineations. Catholics are not bound in conscience to support the papacy of history. They are bound to the teachings of the universal church. There's a very big difference.
Catholics are divided over this and becoming even more divided. We can't afford the luxury of wringing our hands at what is happening in the Anglican Church after having lost 25,000,000 Catholics since the late 1960s. The Anglican loss isn't anything approaching these figures.
The Catholic Church, like the Anglican Church, is plunging into a type of anarchy. Where rejection of the ancient shell of the Church and the authority of thee pope and hierarchy now defines Catholicism in ways unthinkable 50 years ago. It defines worldwide Catholicism more so than the definition Pope John Paul's Cathechism of the Catholic Church could ever do. Catholics are rapidly becoming very much like their Anglican brethren, "free thinking" and dismissive of highly centralized authority or a body of teachings imposed from above. This has earth-shaking repercussions for the Church not seen in almost 500 years.
The Orthodox model of governance remains the pristine model. It has retained despite persecution an unchanging formula for all Christians to determine the true mind of the Church. It has adhered closely to the conciliar and synodical exposition of teaching authority more and more clearly representing the basis for reconciling and reuniting the historic patriarchates. Without Rome's presence, the ideal can't be achieved. Hence, no body of Orthodox bishops can call an ecumenical council without Rome's participation in the decision. This is something of a Catch 22 situation.
Anglicans have never shared this experience. A loosely defined faith held together by language, a bible, and a prayer book. The EPUSA comes closest to an early Christian mode of decision-making and governance with its House of Clerical and Lay Deputies and the House of Bishops. Other branches of Anglicanism also more closely resemble this early Christian model than anything found in the CofEngland or Catholic Church today.
Orthodox christians realize the papacy cannot function apart from or over the college of bishops as a stand alone institution. Peter cannot speak apart from his fellow bishops. For 1000 years Rome has attempted to do so with no success beyond having created a purely western church experience. Never accepted by the east and it never will be. There is virtually no place for lower clergy of the laity in the Roman model.
Primacy is meaningless if it isn't in perfect communion with the rest of the Church. Peter was not made a king or an emperor. He confirms the brethren. He doesn't rule them. Peter can't confirm, if the bishops aren't in communion with him. This reconciliation should be Benedict XVI's highest priority and nothing else. Then and only then can it be said Peter strengthens his fellow bishops through Benedict and his successors.
No Catholic is bound in conscience to accept any teaching as infallible or as the express authoritative statement of the Church's will unless and until the See of Rome is in perfect communion with the divinely founded college of bishops--all bishops. Only through the reunion of the historic patriarchates operating through and with the universal episcopate can it be said that Peter speaks through the bishop of Rome. That hasn't happened since the 11th century.
Monsignor Fenton, A
Monsignor Fenton,
A magnificent and authoritative explanation of what is.
May the Holy Spirit continue to work through you and your gift of teaching.
Amen!
Amen!
Father Dunstan, Thank you
Father Dunstan, Thank you for your courage in laying out what the ideal Catholic Church of the future should be. You could add to your list ending mandatory celibacy. Then calling for the laity to put pressure of their bishops by INSISTING the ordinary of the diocese use religious order priests more than many do to assist aged parish priests who are expected to maintain full-time schedules while in their 70s. A time when most of these holy and dedicated men should be enjoying retirement with only the lightest pastoral duties expected of them.
These criminals in Rome continue to abuse and overwork diocesan priests by insisting upon celibacy at a time of plunging admissions to the seminaries. While so many ordained monks and friars are never used for parish work. That has to change to address the worsening state of priestly shortages.
The People of God should be demanding relief for aged priests, or just file out the door. Rome and the bishop will get the message load and clear.
Father, you amuse me. You
Father, you amuse me. You know there's lots of options in the world: lots of denominations that don't have any of the 'superfluous' structures you are riling against. But before you join one of them, make sure you pay for all the education you received gratis from the Church (i.e. your order), all those good meals you did not have to pay for with a minimum wage job, etc. It's easy being a critic isn't it.
Why does this newspaper exist? Is it about giving a certain generation of folks a cranky outlet? I never come across anything in this paper that justifies its use of the word 'Catholic.'
Here's something to try: love and honour the Church!
Are we not the Church, Colin?
Are we not the Church, Colin? Jesus called us to love God and one another. Do that any you love his 'church'.
It's easy being a critic
It's easy being a critic isn't it.
Evidently.
Could you go a little farther
Could you go a little farther and invite ALL people to be included- "homosexuals", eg- and real, total equality of women, without prejudice?
Other than that, I like how you think!
Haven't they already done
Haven't they already done most all of that in the various Protestant churches? How's that working out, Father? "Foundation for the future reunited Church" my behind!
Father Dunstan: That's
Father Dunstan:
That's sooooo 1970s!
Father Dunstan: That's sooooo
Father Dunstan:
That's sooooo 1970s!
-------------------------
Perhaps, Brother Andre Marie, but we're talking about radically changing a dying Church in the hands of prelatical bureaucrats with 20th century bodies and minds entertaining ideas which haven't developed much beyond the 970s!!
I don't know which to think:
I don't know which to think: 1) That you are you a fraud; or 2) The Benedictine Order has become insane.
Shame on you either way. If you are not a Benedictine Father, you're a liar. If you are a Benedictine Father, you are a Protestant mole.
Lets look at Mr Allen’ s
Lets look at Mr Allen’ s statements
1) “First, it's never wise to take everything you hear in the Italian press at face value.”
The authenticity of the documents were not denied by that Vatican. Why then say this? This is a cheap shot against the well respected Italian colleague of Allen, Mr. Gianlugi Nuzzi. Nuzzi wrote the best seller, Vatican SpA, that exposed a treasure trove of Vatican Bank documents, leaked by a disgruntled Opus Dei worker. This book documented wide spread money laundering.
2) “Viganò didn't always have a deft touch in terms of office politics.”
Again, what is the evidence? Mr. Allen has no problems smearing the names of people that try to expose corruption.
What Mr. Allen does not say, is that the Italian press also mentioned the names of a cadre of bankers involved in this scandal. This included the current Opus Dei head of the Vatican Bank, Mr. Ettore Gotti Tedeschi.
Also what the long verbiage of Mr. Allen does not say, is that the recently resigned Number 1 Vatican money man, Cardinal DePaolis, tried to down play this scandal in an interview with AP’s Nicole Winfield. DePaolis just days ago was mentioned in the respected religious Spanish blog, El Trastavere, as actively working with Legionnaire of Christ leaders to hide crimes committed by this group, to help them survive without changes (the fact that they control 25 billion euros, that is billions with a b, may be a contributing factor).
So there seems to be some rot in Rome these days. But uncovering this will not come from Mr Allen, it seems. We have to rely on people like Berry, Renner (RIP), Magister, Tornielli or Winfield. Nowdays Allen seems to say what he is rewarded to say.
Thanks for the verifiable
Thanks for the verifiable primary source data.
The only problem (and I emphasize "only") I have with your comment, Tom, is its last sentence. Being "rewarded" for essay writing seems to connote compensation other than what's contractual or having been contracted to write only biased articles which amounts to being corrupted. Very often I read Mr. Allen's pieces tongue-in-cheek and in strong disagreement for a variety of reasons (including this one), but never because I feel he's being a toady of any kind. It's my opinion he believes what he says and selects sources as any reporter does. It's up to us readers to assess what we read for the truth we can find, to do our own critical thinking.
You may be right, Sister, I
You may be right, Sister, I may be hard on Mr Allen. John these days writes 3 types of articles. Most often he takes things that his colleagues worked hard at and gives it a spin in a few hours, which is the case with article, imo. The other types of articles are interviews (generally good), or reports on meetings (where he tends to report the official spin). There is little hard investigative reporting. When he does, its superficial, like his book on Opus Dei. For example:
1) Regarding finances, contrary to John’s reporting, it does not take a forensic accounting genius to figure out that a human money farm with a herd of 10,000 lay that were made to sign “spiritual contracts” to give 90% of their salary to the “movement” so they be really "holy", can easily generate annual revenues of over $0.5 billion to $1 billion per year (all this outside of Canon Law, of course). And this is a conservative estimate. What happens to this money? How is it used? What about the $30 billion stashed away by the Legionaries (according to Magister)? Where did that come from? and how is that used?
2) In a related way, regarding “sainthood”, the Office of the Promoter of Faith (devils advocate) was removed in 1983, under the watch of OD Cardinal Herranz, just as the cause of Escriva cause was being examined. Thanks to this sabotaging of checks and balances in place for centuries, for a mere $1 million, anyone can get ones pet “holy guru” canonized, to promote ones favorite new form of “holiness”. OD has at least 6 people lined up for “sainthood”, including the person that introduced OD to North America, and with it, the Hanssen debacle, that cost the lives to two covert agents that worked for the US (not to mention distracted the FBI counter terrosim unit just before 9/11). The Legionnaires have Maciel’s mother up for beatification. Sainthood is made into a free for all joke, yet, like the OD prelate reminded SSPX in his recent OR article, because the “communion of saints” is part of our creed, we all have to now swallow things likes Escriva’s pantheistic theology of cheating, and the resulting Vatican shenanigans. Did the Dominican “cause of sainthood” postulator, that was recently conned out off $2 millions, take the money from such an account? It sure sounds like it. If not, where did a he get $2 million? That’s the type of reporting that is needed.
Mr. Allen, if I hadn't been
Mr. Allen, if I hadn't been reading you this long I would think you're out to embarass the Vatican with this blog post.
"Second, much of what Viganò's letter refers to as "corruption" may have a relatively innocent explanation, especially by the norms of traditional Vatican culture."
Wow, Mr. Allen, you could possibly qualify that statement any more? "MAY have a RELATIVELY INNOCENT explanation", "especially by the NORMS OF TRADITION VATICAN CULTURE"?
Are these the same norms that obtain in the "various Vatican fiefdoms...long accustomed to being accountable only to God and the pope -- and in both cases, that accountability was fairly nominal."
So, these overpriced contracts aren't corruption by the poorly enforced rules and standards of the fractious Vatican. Whew! I *feel* so much better!
"For instance, when bidding procedures are FUDGED [emphasis mine] to award contracts, it's not necessarily because somebody's been bought off, but rather to reward firms and individuals seen as loyal to the pope, to the church or to key figures in the hierarchy."
Oh, so when a prince of the church, one called by the holy spirit to serve in the one true church--when this person is being dishonest and wasteful he's just trying to help the Vatican's friends out.
"That's not to defend such practices, simply to acknowledge they're not what Americans usually mean by "corrupt."
Can't speak for all Americans but this one maintains that ANY contract awarded for ANY work should be given to the bidder who A) has a track record of doing quality work and B) has submitted the lowest bid.
Anything else, Mr. Allen, is corruption. Period. End of Story. Fin. Finito.
Honesty and integrity are
Honesty and integrity are whats needed all over the world. I say THANKS for your Honesty!!!!
Sex scandals, financial
Sex scandals, financial scandals...terms not usually associated with Jesus Christ. Time to look for another Church. Perhaps
In response to your
In response to your statement: Jesus taught, "The Kingdom of God is WITHIN!" That is the ONLY kingdom that the Gates of Hell can't come against. Unfortunately, there have been layoff lately and transfers at "Gates of Hell, Inc.", because the Church is doing such a good job destroying Herself, that minions of demons are currently on the unemployment lists, and they are having "a devil of a time" finding new jobs.
There are several independent
There are several independent Catholic churches worth considering before deciding on our brothers and sisters in other Christian denominations or simply dropping out. Contact me and I'll put you in touch with them.
Hard to credit. Basically, we
Hard to credit. Basically, we now have a Nuncio in Washington who doesn't want to be there, and the man is seventy-one at that. His letter of 7 July to the Pope in which he begs to stay in Rome is very telling.
The bishops in the US have never looked to the Nuncio for financial advice. Why would they change now? That's a most implausible "protecting the Vatican" explanation.
The solution: a "diplomatic illness," announced in a few months, and Archbishop Vigano' will go back to Rome or his native Varese, in exile. One senses that he would prefer that rather than trying to cope with the enormous job, including extensive travel, of being Apostolic Nuncio to the US. To use this role as a "kick upstairs" promotion is shockingly cynical. The American bishops should, rightly, feel insulted. As should all US Catholics.
Great comments here. I
Great comments here. I couldn't agree more.
Recall the nuncio now. His effectiveness as a diplomat and as a representative of the Holy See is over.
John, stop defending the
John, stop defending the Vatican with the "4 points" in your article and using what is becoming a pejorative term in the good ol' USA, i.e., whistleblower. Take a look at the Hoffington Post Religion section online and read an objective report on the situation with the nuncio. joe yankech
Whistle-blower or "Whistling
Whistle-blower or "Whistling Dixie" Just as John Allan said, "No good deed goes unpunished!" Think of how "The Princes of the Church in the Vatican must have felt when our new Papal Nuncio tried to take their personal Piggy banks, worth $44 MILLION dollars, away! There was probably justifiable outrage! Since when do princes need to be accountable to the public or to the Church for that matter. Unthinkable!!!!! Instead of being given the Vatican equivalent of a Medal of Honor, this cardinal is sent to the United States! What a letdown! Maybe he should have been sent to Philly to replace Archbishop Chaput. They really need some help there, because Chaput's legal team is so expensive that parochial schools need to be closed! Philly really needs this Cardinal's financial erudition!
Jeannie that was the
Jeannie that was the statistic I kept coming back to as well....44 million in one year. How much of that represents kickbacks to the Cardinals and Archbishops etc who let out these contracts? Personally I'm glad Archbishop Vigano has been assigned to the US.
Maybe he can put an end to the same shenanigans in the US which may very well have played a part in Cardinal Law being given his cushy assignment in Rome.
I was thinking of the massive
I was thinking of the massive Catholic school closings myself while I was reading this. Especially interesting is the fact that the we just completed a massive archdiocese capital campaign in Philadelphia. How much archdiocese money goes to the Vatican? Right now it is sounding like the answer is too much.
When the Archdiocese of
When the Archdiocese of Philly is more concerned with paying high-priced Denver attorneys big $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to protect Monsignor Lynn, rather than spending that money to keep parochial schools open, the good Catholics of Philly should be outraged. They should tell Archbishop Chaput to accept the blame, himself, rather than to say that the Priests of the Archdiocese suggested that he should close schools, because, "The archdiocese can't afford to keep them open!" Why can't Chaput afford to keep them open? Find out what the price tag is for the attorneys, who he brought from Denver to "Protect the Archdiocese of Philly from SCANDAL," in the current trials of Pedophile Priests and Monsignor Lynn, who allegedly covered up for many pedophiles, who were knowingly shuffled from parish to parish.
Could the nuncio help to
Could the nuncio help to clean the mess in Wall Sreet? It would be a great service to the US, the World - and the social teaching of the Church.
Outsider, Our problem with
Outsider, Our problem with Wall Street is the need for the U.S. Justice Department to conduct a raid on Lower Manhattan to round up the thieves who dwell there and call themselves "investment bankers". The Attorney General knows who they are, but to date has done nothing.
It will take a lot more than a savy nuncio in Washington with all of his considerable skills to end the stench and rot in our financial services industry.
John: Re Point #2 - Really?
John: Re Point #2 - Really? Awarding overpriced contracts on the basis of "loyalty" is certainly a valid description of corruption to me.
One route to success is for the Vatican to start promoting the "Brightest and the Best," and not the "Orthodox and the Loyal."
An excellent article. More
An excellent article. More might have been said about the Italian nature of the Vatican. Many practices common in Italian business find there was into Vatican finances. I look forward to our new nuncio.
It may be selfish of me, but
It may be selfish of me, but I want him to stop pouting about getting moved to the US and get me a bishop! We've been without for more than a year now and it's frustrating that Archbishop Vigano seems to be spending time focusing on things at the Vatican and neglecting his responsibilities here.
Anonymous it appears you read
Anonymous it appears you read innuendos and supposed realities into the article that weren't there. You might do better a second time around.
Essentially this was a good,
Essentially this was a good, informative article.
I agree with the interesting pointing-out earlier of the pejorative nature we U.S. citizens have sometimes assigned to "whistleblower." Although my feelings re that conscience-following are far from negative, I don't think the term characterizes the nature of this Nuncio as depicted in the article. Rather I was enabled to see him as a "call-a-spade-a-spade" kind of guy who then acts accordingly - at least in the financial realm. Sometimes some toes will get stepped on.
As for everything else, who knows?
Now to find that Huffington post that was recommended....
As the father of a friend
As the father of a friend used to say, "Keep your toes out of the street and they won't be stepped on." They just might want to adopt the statement that "Honesty is the best policy."
Thanks for two good thoughts!
Thanks for two good thoughts!
What Archbishop Vigano'
What Archbishop Vigano' discovered and tried to rectify needs serious, continuing attention at the highest levels. But all the big surprise at mutual back-scratching? The Vatican's in Italy, isn't it? If you've ever lived there, I'd bet you loved the people, the language, the cuisine---but I'd also bet you'd view the shenanigans as "business as usual".
I've often wondered if our
I've often wondered if our current Vatican financial structures weren't formed by the Mafia-like Popes during the Medici and Borgia reigns.
One see's the issues
One see's the issues associated with power, prestige and authority. We cannot forget that the church is a business and the people who operate within the Vatican are human beings who are tempted by greed such as we all are sadly.
so if I am so human, why
so if I am so human, why ain't I rich as a bishop?
ratzo like wojo has always
ratzo like wojo has always been a mercenary run by the monied; see Marciel, and the escrivistas.
ratzo also recalls with fear and trembling how Albino Luciani was murdered a month into his pontificate for drafting plans to reform the Vatican Bank and clean up the corruption, the same corruption cited here.
The "church" after wojo is a brood of vipers, a mass of incurable corruption, far far far from the Gospel, the Good NEws to the Poor People of God.
Time to hit reset.
And to read once more NCR's Penny Lernoux's prophetic reporting: In Banks We Trust
I have always believed that
I have always believed that JOHN PAUL One was indeed murdered==that wasn't the Imitation of Christ in his
hands--the spread sheets (not of the bed) nearby were all print-outs to show the financial tangles which
the poor innocent man that read Pinnochio was about to unfurl. Papa Luciano had to go--the book
THEIF IN THE NIGHT is an excellent exploration by the guy who wrote HITLER'S POPE--one can construct a marvelou
scenario that the Vatican wanted HITLER'S POPE as a smear against Pius XII so conceded all the necessary
access to the book's author in exchange for a rather mild but revealing "revealing" in THEIF IN THE NIGHT.
THE books basically concludes, as the TABLET has observed, that the
"clean-up" in John Paul's bed-room before the dawn and its discovery was just too neat and too "arranged"--and
dear God--a copy of the Imitation forced into the stiffened hands. Where is Roderigo Borgia when we need him??
James McCormick, mere human
Actually he was abducted by
Actually he was abducted by space aliens. I read it in National Enquirer. Conspiracy nuts are always amusing.
After reading your response I
After reading your response I have even more admiration for Vigano, who could have easily ended up in an early tomb like Pope John Paul I. For centuries, Vatican culture has been known to be absolutely ruthless. If Vigano was successful in taking any portion of the 44 million saved out of the hands of fat cardinals, it's a MIRACLE that he's still alive. Maybe the Pope sent Vigano to the USA to protect him from an unsavory end?
Time to reconstruct the
Time to reconstruct the Church of the Gospels and the Patristic Fathers. Throw off Kapitain Ratzinger's Ship of Fools.
We should forget about how to acquire or restore "a Catholic identity". Something which seems to drive this nest of vipers in Rome, second only to an insatiable desire for power and money, and concentrate on: How do we restore a Christ-like identity?
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