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PDF versionWhat to do about Sodano?
by John L Allen Jr on May. 06, 2011
Cardinal Angelo Sodano (CNS photo/Paul Haring)In Rome and in Catholic circles around the world, a question is quietly circulating which only Pope Benedict XVI can answer: What to do about Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Pope John Paul II's former Secretary of State, who still holds the post of Dean of the College of Cardinals?
Were Benedict to die today, it would be Sodano, 83, who presides over the daily General Congregation meetings of the cardinals, which shape the discussions leading into the election of the next pope. It would also be Sodano who would preside over the funeral Mass for the deceased pope, and who would celebrate the Mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice, the "Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff," which is the final public act before the conclave.
Sodano, in other words, would be the face of the Catholic church during the papal interregnum -- a time when the eyes of the entire world are squarely upon Rome.
What's the problem with that? In a nutshell, Sodano has a troubling record of both words and deeds on the sexual abuse crisis. Granted, he's not generated the public backlash that, say, Cardinal Bernard Law faced in Boston. Yet if Sodano is front and center during the interregnum, his history could easily be spun into a cause célèbre.
In some ways, of course, it's unfair to reduce Sodano's legacy entirely to his profile on the crisis. He had a long, albeit controversial, diplomatic career (his role vis-à-vis the Pinochet regime in Chile as nuncio from 1978 to 1988 is still debated), and he served John Paul II for 15 years in one of the Vatican's most complex posts.
In the eyes of the people most scandalized by the sexual abuse crisis, however, Sodano has become a symbol of the ambivalence and denial they still associate with the Vatican's response.
First, Sodano is known as perhaps the most stalwart defender in the Vatican of the late Mexican Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ. The Legionaries have acknowledged that Maciel was guilty of a wide range of misconduct, including the sexual abuse of former members. As late as 2005, while the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was reaching the conclusion that Maciel was guilty, the Secretariat of State under Sodano issued a public statement denying there was any case against him.
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Second, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna charged in May 2010 that it was Sodano who blocked an investigation against Schönborn's predecessor, Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër, when Groër faced charges of sexual abuse in the 1990s. (At the time, Schönborn and other Austrian bishops announced they were "morally convinced" of Groër's guilt.) Although Schönborn later apologized for publicly reprimanding a fellow cardinal, he never retracted the substance of the charge.
Third, it was Sodano who sparked international outrage last year by using a platform during Pope Benedict's Easter Mass to compare criticism of the church on the sexual abuse crisis to "petty gossip."
That dismissal seemed at odds with Benedict's own commentary, including his famous reference on Good Friday in 2005 to "filth" in the church. In fact, the furor over Sodano's "petty gossip" line didn't really die down until Benedict fielded a question en route to Fatima, Portugal, and replied that the real problem is not attacks from the outside but "the reality of sin inside the church."
Fourth, Sodano recently roiled the waters again with his response to a question about Maciel during the run-up to John Paul's beatification.
"How can you, in such a great moment, get into such peripheral issues when the world is applauding the pope?" Sodano said on the sidelines of a Vatican exhibit honoring the late pope. "I'm stunned."
Whatever Sodano may have meant, the take-away for many people was that Sodano had called the suffering of sexual abuse victims a "peripheral" concern.
Beyond those points, there's also the whiff of financial scandal. In 2008, an Italian businessman Raffaello Follieri was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in New York for cheating investors out of millions of dollars. He built the scheme by playing off Vatican ties, in particular to Sodano.
No doubt, those inclined to give Sodano the benefit of the doubt could argue that there are ways to explain all this. The fact remains, however, that in terms of public perceptions, having Cardinal Angelo Sodano front and center whenever the pope dies would be counter-productive for a church trying to convince the world that it's turned a corner.
What could Benedict XVI do? In theory there are at least three possibilities, though one is fairly far-fetched.
First, Benedict could revoke Sodano's status as a cardinal. That's an extreme step, but there is precedent for it. (As Cardinal Francis George of Chicago recently said in an NCR interview, "Everything has happened in the church at least once.")
Back in September 1927, Pope Pius XI took away the red hat from Cardinal Louis Billot of France, who had balked at Pius' decree to withdraw Catholic support from the right-wing monarchist Action Française movement. (Pius felt some of the leaders of the movement were manipulating the church to score political points.)
Such a step with Sodano, however, is deeply improbable. For one thing, he and Ratzinger served together under John Paul, and Sodano was actually Benedict's Secretary of State in the early part of his papacy. Further, it's not clear that Sodano is guilty of direct defiance of papal authority so much as suspect judgment.
Second, Benedict XVI could quietly ask Sodano to resign as Dean of the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Bernard Gantin did that back in November 2002, returning to his native Benin, where he died in 2008.
Should Sodano step aside, the five remaining cardinal-bishops would elect one of their number to take over. The most likely choice would be French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 88, currently the vice-dean. Despite his age, Etchegaray is in good health. Moreover, he's a veteran goodwill ambassador for the Vatican, with a gracious and affable personality and no troubling history on the sexual abuse crisis.
The other cardinal-bishops are Giovanni Battista Re, Francis Arinze, Tarcisio Bertone and José Saraiva Martins. Frankly, none of them would bring quite the baggage on the sex abuse crisis as Sodano.
Third, Benedict could do what his predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II each did, which is to issue his own document updating the procedures for the next conclave. Benedict issued a motu proprio in June 2007 restoring the absolute requirement for a two-thirds vote to be elected pope, but otherwise left John Paul's 1996 document Universi Dominici gregis untouched.
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Were Benedict to issue such a document, he could modify the role of the Dean of the College of Cardinals, perhaps specifying that the cardinals can elect whoever they like to celebrate the public Masses and to chair the General Congregation meetings. That way, Benedict could make the move seem less like a personal indictment of Sodano and more like a general shift in favor of collegiality.
Whatever happens, many Catholic insiders are hoping Benedict does something.
By definition, the death of a pope and the election of another is a time of intense public scrutiny for the church. The last thing most Catholic leaders want to be doing when that happens is trying to put out an unnecessary, and damaging, PR fire.
[John L. Allen Jr. is NCR senior correspondent. His e-mail address is jallen@ncronline.org.]
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Whoa. Brave. Thank you.
Whoa. Brave. Thank you.
IS THERE A BORGIA BOY RAT ??
IS THERE A BORGIA BOY RAT ?? --- Not so fast, Liz! John Allen always tells us more than his informants intended and less than we need to know. Why are John's informants offering up Sodano now? In Mafia terms, who and why has Sodano been put on the top of the hit list? The only inferrable answer is Ratzinger, or one of his stooges, wants Sodano out so that Ratzinger can guarantee his own pick to be the next Don, or boss of bosses. This is classic Ratzinger behavior. He manoeuvered himself with his mediocre scholarly status as an assistant to a top Vatican II German Cardinal. He kissed to to two more prominent theologians, Rahner and Kung, only to stab them in the back on his way up the ecclesiastical ladder. He partnered in 1978 with our ruthless Instant Blessed, both of whom learned well how to survive and succeed in a totalitarian system. Ratzinger for many years kept quiet to advance his Roman career and gain favor with the Instant Blessed, Sodano and the rest of the Borgia Boys. For many years, Ratzingeer looked the other way about Groer, Maciel, et. al. Now, Ratzinger, et. al., via their dependable Vatican stenographer, John Allen, are, it appears, trying to snuff out Sodano ecclesiatically. Ratzinger is in a race with death, disability or retirement and the arrival of the sheriff with his international criminal law sword. He must be careful because he and Sodano may yet end up as cellmates, and if that is in Italy, Sodano likely has more friends there than Ratzinger. Ratzinger already knows pretty well what will be in Irish John Magee's devastating Cloyne Report soon to be released, as well as what's likely to be in Jason Berry's new (available on Amazon on June 7), "Render Under Rome:The Secret Life of Money in the Catholic Church". Ratzinger most certainly has by now read the new book on the Vatican's numerous failures and corruption in Hans Kung's new book, "Is It Too Late to Save the Church?" available in English soon. It is already available in German on Amazon entitled, "Ist Die Kirche Noch Zur Retten?". Truth and the rule of law are seeping under the Borgia Boys's mystical smokescreens faster than the Borgia Boys can stop them. It will be interesting to see how many of them jump overboard in the next few months. Reading John's artcles between the lines and critically can tell us a lot. So keep on relaying the planted stories, John. Until the sheriff arrives, the full story will continue to be difficult to discern,
Jerry- You write GREAT
Jerry-
You write GREAT fiction.
TRUTH OR FICTION-WHICH?
TRUTH OR FICTION-WHICH? --Thanks. It would be helpful if you supported your innnuendo with some facts that warrant a contrary inference. It would be so much better if our hierarchy's clear conduct supported more benign inferences. Until that happens, we are bound to follow our conscience and call it like it is. It just isn't honest to say, "fiction", without more. If children weren't still being sacrificed on the hierarchy's altar of power, your vacuous statements might be acceptable. Do you know where Bishop Vanghuluwe is tonight? Does anyone in the hierearchy? Hopefully, the good bishop is not babysitting for a relative somewhere. But with an unaccountable hierarchy, we can never know for sure. Believe me, I would much rather write fiction. Incidentally "Anonymous", you sure do write a lot of NCR comments. Please think of giving your real name once in awhile, so we can assess how much you stand behind what you say. Pax.
Oh how I wander what your
Oh how I wander what your commends on Peter or Paul would be during there developemental years, It is often good to reflect first on who the man is now and then look back to see how they got there. Obviously you do not like who he is now so you choose examples accordingly, probably like you choose which doctrine you choose to apply in your life. As a person that chose to enter the Church established by our Lord as an adult for its truth it is difficult for me to stomach those who are born into it but don't believe its teachings and choose to tear it down. I often wonder who's side your on. If you look at who the priests are that are molesting these children and how they have taught the faith I think you would have a greater insite into the matter. These men were not servants of God they are the destroys of all that is good in the Church and its not men like Pope Benedict that is to blame but look more closely at Kung and Rahner and their teachings and kind. The Rhine theologians have pretty much wiped out the Catholic Church in Europe and the society is proof of their teaching. Not only have they casused disgrace to honorable servents to our Lord but their attack was directed at the next generation of priests, our alter boys. You will know them by what they preach and the fruits that they bare. As Paul said if they do not teach what we have taught even if they are an apostle treat them as anathema. I pray for the reform of the reform and a return to authentic Catholic Teaching. This liberal mind set has killed Europe and its next victim following close behind are the Churches in the Americas. The progressive mentality and liberal philosophy is the disease not the cure. Just as Luther divided the Church so do the theological minds of Kung and Rahner. The false profits of the late 20th century. They will be right up there with Arias and the Gnostics at some point in history.
I honour your faith journey
I honour your faith journey that has brought you as an adult to find a home in this tradition. But to blame Hans Kung and Karl Rahner for abuse in the Church and for all else that you think ails the church is to deny a much broader and more generous tradition of people of faith through over two thousand years. Theological debate between leaders and among people has always been a part of our tradition, and when it has been silenced and people have made militant calls to obey authority for authority sake, these have been some of the darkest and most unhealthy times of our church. Putting priests and leaders apart from the people, allowing no real oversight, and denying healthy relationships, these are some of the conditions which allowed for such horrible abuse to happen. And please remember that those whose lives were broken by this abuse continue to live with it to this day.
ugh, Rick is another convert
ugh, Rick is another convert who forgot to leave some of the protestant fundamentalist "I know better than you" attitude behind.
Rick, it sounds like you
Rick, it sounds like you would be happier in the Society of St Pius X.
There may shortly come a time
There may shortly come a time when all of us wish this was fiction.
Good thought, colkoch.
Good thought, colkoch. Fiction or not, it's my wish that the third "option" gets more than a realistic look-see, even a go-ahead. Of course that would bring the possiblity of even more politicing and skirmishing immediately before and after the Conclave, for good or for bad....
I am not enlightened enough
I am not enlightened enough to separate the fact from the fiction, but it sounds like the outline of a thriller made to sell to Dan Brown's publisher.
Nice script! At par with Da
Nice script! At par with Da Vinci Code.
Could you please supply any
Could you please supply any proof for your claim that the then Cardinal Ratzinger was on purpose ignoring the charges against Fr Maciel? As far as I am aware, he tried to start an inquiry against him but was stopped by Cardinal Sodano.
Naturally, if for you the ultimate source of theological wisdom are the more recent books by the most self-obsessed theologian in Europe, Hans Kung, you will end up writing such hateful comments.
I certainly don't want a half
I certainly don't want a half of whatever you have been drinking, Jerry. Quoth you of the Pope: "He manoeuvered himself with his mediocre scholarly status as an assistant to a top Vatican II German Cardinal."
You would have to have a seriously warped sense of your own intellectual superiority, bordering on delusions of adequacy, to dismiss a man of Joseph Ratzinger's intelectual, academic, nay scholarly accomplishments as ever having been merely "mediocre". Indeed, Hans Kung himself doesn't even hold such a view. Else, how could he have been so entusiastic about Fr Ratzinger being appointed Professor of Dogmatic Theology in his own University? Moreover, back in the 1960s/70s Kung, Rahner, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac and all the other theological giants of their age regarded him as being of their number.
He was even quite highly thought of in the USA at that time.
In 1955 Fr John Tracy Ellis launched a devastating critique of American Catholic education, "American Catholics and the Intellectual Life". His starting point, I am proud to recall, was a quotation from my fellow West of Scotland Catholic, the great Cambridge (England, but I don't hold that against him) political scientist, Sir Denis Brogan (Jesuit educated at St Aloysius College, Glasgow). In 1941, Sir Denis had written: "In no Western society is the intellectual prestige of Catholicism lower than in the country where, in such respects as wealth, numbers, and strength of organization, it is so powerful." He was, of course, speaking of the USA.
In 1966, Fr Ellis returned to his theme in another lecture/essay, "A Commitment to Truth". In this second assessment, he quoted with approval the words of the at that time still relatively unknown German theologian, Joseph Ratzinger, to the effect that what the church needed was "not adulators to extol the status quo, but men whose humility and obedience are no less than their passion for truth."
Ah, truth! When exactly, Jerry, did Joseph Ratzinger stab Kung or Rahner in the back? I know that at various times he confronted them head on, but behind their back? Stiletto in hand? Don't think so, Jerry.
And how exactly did he in 1978 "partner" with Blessed Pope John Paul II? They were aware of one another before, and they did meet at, the two conclaves of that year. But what you suggest, or seem to be suggesting, sounds like a conspiracy too far. Even for an old West of Scotland socialist like me.
We take our cue from another famous (at least here) Brogan. Motherwell and Wishaw Burgh Councillor Bernard Brogan. Back in the 1960s, he famously threw a bit of a tantrim at a Council meeting. Thumping the table, he shouted at the Provost: "Mr Provost allegations have been made and I demand to know who the allegators are!"
But old Benny was right. It is always as well to know who, and what, the "allegators" are. What axe are you grinding, Jerry, in your snide and/or paranoid assessment of our dear old Pope Benedict?
Quoth you: "For many years, Ratzingeer looked the other way about Groer, Maciel, et. al." (By the by, it should be "et al", with no full stops. Bad form when you attack another's scholarly credentials to compromise your own.) For many years, Jerry, Cardinal Ratzinger had no authority to do anything about about Groer or Maciel and whoever the "et al" are or were. When as Prefect of the CDF he managed to get that authority -- and he made every effort to achieve that end but it came too late for him to do anything about Groer -- he acted.
And just to finish, since Hans Kung couldn't be bothered to do the job he was brought to Rome during the Second Vatican Council to do, to act as an expert theological adviser to the Council Fathers -- his commitment to self-publicity by means of incessant press briefings on proceedings he had not witnessed was total and allowed of no distractions -- how can you possibly think he now has any help to offer Holy Mother Church?
... et. al." (By the by, it
... et. al." (By the by, it should be "et al", with no full stops. ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
it should be "et al." because et is not an abbreviation and al. is an abbreviation (for "alii" or "aliae").
I think someone at NCR should
I think someone at NCR should attempt to contact this poor man (through his e-mail) and see if his delusions are dangerous. We make a great deal about intervening when people harm children. I think we should do the same for adults who ramble like this.
MORE TRUTH THAN FICTION
MORE TRUTH THAN FICTION ----With respect to several of the gratuitious and inane replies above to my comments, please see my comment entitled "Kung v. Ratzinger, Again" set forth under Tom Fox's May 7 article on Han Kung's new book. Pax
Yeah, like we're all going to
Yeah, like we're all going to run out on Mother's Day to read old comments from a rambling narcissistic conspiracy theorist. Have some cake and watch the playoffs, will you?
Allen does it again! When is
Allen does it again!
When is NCR going to fire the guy and get someone capable of some objectivity in Rome?
I can,t believe that he is even defending Sodano! according to Allen only those concerned with the send abuse scandal can have any problem with Sodano. sounds like Allen is just as unconcerned with the sex abuse scandal as the hierarchy is and just can't understand why people can' get over it already.
Seems like Allen has sold his soul in order to get papal approval.
Get rid of the bum!
From a
From a theological-epistemological point of view, these are troubling phrases indeed:
1. Sodano's history "could easily be spun into a cause célèbre:"
"Spun?" An egregious word in this context. There's a crucial difference between "easily be spun" and "truths would be told." "Cause célèbre? Again, context is all. What could it possibly signify given sex crimes, Pinochet's torture regime, and Maciel's criminal behavior?
2. In some ways, of course, it's unfair to reduce Sodano's legacy entirely to his profile on the crisis. He had a long, albeit controversial, diplomatic career:"
What are the: "some ways?" Pinochet, Maciel, and sexual crimes against children. How can it be "unfair to reduce" to such issues?
3. "In the eyes of the people most scandalized by the sexual abuse crisis, however, Sodano has become a symbol of the ambivalence and denial they still associate with the Vatican's response:"
Agree wholeheartedly with the reader's calling-out Allen on the above phrasing. The qualifier "most" scandalized implies some sort of data showing a gradations of our scandalized state?
I credit Allen with a severely flawed effort to understand what constitutes "objective" journalistic writing. It is not simply widening the lens to take in more details, it is, above all, judgments on the merit and content of each of these core -- absolutely CORE--moral issues regarding Jesus' message to us.
This anaysis is spot on.
This anaysis is spot on. Whether or not Allen tries to be objective so often he reveals the quality of his thinking to be lazy and acqiescent. Here's the problem: the Church is going through its present convulsions because it has been revealed that it is riddled with institutional enablers. Increasingly Allen's style of journalism is also untenable because it requires him to be a kind of enabler too. To cover the present crisis NCR needs someone who presents as less of an insider, someone who questions even the most basic premises on which the Catholic system is based. I for one would prefer to be reading a lot more of Jason Berry's stuff
Your remarks seem quite
Your remarks seem quite unfair to me. In my opinion, he tries to be objective and forces us to look at both sides and other possibilities on questions concerning the Vatican and the church in general.
Did you and I read the same
Did you and I read the same article? John Allen mentioned that some people might be inclined to "give Sodano the benefit of the doubt," but he wrote a lot more about the issues related to Sodano and about why people are upset with him. Allen himself seems to think it would be a really good idea for the pope to get rid of Sodano. It seems to me that Allen is pretty objective here -- and if he is not, he is anti-Sodano rather than pro-Sodano.
Did you read the
Did you read the article?
Yes, John Allen did it again: He gave an objective view of a big problem in the Church. I really admire the talent that John has to look at problems objectively. If you follow his work, you should know that he doesn't defend Sodano or anybody else in a situation similar to Sodano's and that he is concerned about the sex abuse crisis.
I really wish that the rest of NCR could be this objective.
Great job John!!!
I agree with several
I agree with several criticisms in the above letters and hope to clarify what I meant.
1. I regret having used the word "objective" which I think often generates a false and unhelpful discussion. Instead, I think Fr. Edward Schillebeeckx is correct: "[N]o one can ever think or believe from no point of view at all." No one. (1983, from "God Is New Each Moment," p. 70)
The honest road is to be explicit about our point of view. In this case, I think that it is Allen's FRAMING that matters more than the particulars which are, now, generally known. Structuring his essay as a "this view-that view" dynamic masked to a significant degree the fact the Sodano's actions are so terrible that for him to be at his present post is one more scandal.
2. Discussing Sodano in terms of the papal election is the RCC equivalent of inside the Beltwy reporters who eschew studied analysis of political substance (which will do us all in if we can't reform ourselves) in favor of who's ahead and who's up and down all all that killing distraction.
3. I didn't doubt that Allen would support ousting Sodano because the actions in question are morally indefensible.
4. I admit, though, that stories with anonymous, deep-cover sources are a flashing red-light to me.
5. What seems to me a serious distortion IS his damaging framing of the issue which Sodano presents to the RCC. That is, framing it as though how a story is "spun" or the danger of "cause celebre" deserves being structured as just one of many theoretically defensible positions. There's nothing near equivalence in content between the dangers of press coverage and the ACTUAL deeds committed by Sodano. The framing creates a moral imbalance (i.e, sex abuse, Pinochet, Maciel.)
6. Perhaps I misread Allen, maybe he thinks it is so freaking obvious that a moral, ecclesiastical, and theological catastrophe has descended on the RCC that he could safely use a phrase like people "most scandalized."
7. Finally, how can it be "unfair" to judge Sodano's clear transgressions in the context of what Jesus taught us? what cares Jesus about a diplomatic career in this context? What does Sodano's "albeit controversial" diplomatic career have to do with the judgments that we have to make? I don't mean to disparage Allen himself, I do question the judgments implicit in his misleading framing.
--
But is it really all that
But is it really all that objective? How does Sodano get where he's at while being the life long rogue prelate John would have us believe he is? Are we supposed to believe JPII didn't quite comprehend Sodano (as well as Maciel) and that Ratzinger was just as clueless? Sorry. I just can't believe men who were intelligent and astute enough to become pope were that naive. Something is very rotten in Vatican City. What was that line frequently attributed to Paul VI---something about smoke and Satan and the Vatican?
"Great job John!" I met John
"Great job John!"
I met John in person at one of the talks in Washington, DC. He is almost a single voice of Catholicism in the world of secular journalism. All my friends admire him greatly for his faith, talents and his ability to speak with honesty and sensitivity on issues. I am so glad they agree!
Pope Ratzinger (to use his
Pope Ratzinger (to use his European designation) had absolutely no problem with firing Bp. Morris in Australia who dared urging further debate on "settled matters."
Sodano who is, at best, sleazy? Fire him as well and do is sooner rather than later. Or does he have some incriminating pictures that protect him? How about financial records?
John Allen is the ONLY
John Allen is the ONLY refreshing writer at NCR. Bravo to him! And he deserves a RAISE! He should also give lessons to some of NCR's other commentators. If there were more Allen's on staff, I'd give more money! But I refuse to fund the consistently tired and consistently predictable opinions on NCR. Not enough bang for my buck yet!
I cannot agree more! I must
I cannot agree more!
I must confess that lately he is the only NCR whose articles I follow. "Bravo to him!" is right
Can't agree with you more.
Can't agree with you more. God bless you, John Allen.
I cannot but relate a few
I cannot but relate a few things happening in the universal church at this time. Fr Roy Bourgeois is under threat of excommunication if he does not retract his support for women's ordination. Bishop Robert Morris has been dismissed from his Diocese of Toowoomba for raising the 'possibility' of women ordination. On the surface it appears he has been denied natural justice in the dismissal. Canonical procedures have not been followed. Bishop Raymond Lahey has pleaded guilty of possessing child porn(more than 500 images, almost 60 videos)before a Canadian court. The Vatican has said that it is following the process and will administer whatever according to Canon Law. And Cardinal Sodano thinks that the Maciel disaster is a peripheral concern. I notice that two clerics are under dire threat for thinking it 'thinkable' to ordain women. And two clerics are still in good standing despite the public scandal they are causing. And we wonder about institutional meltdown.
Frank Regan
UK
I agee. It seems that whoever
I agee. It seems that whoever does not fit the Vatican's pretty picture of themselves are the ones who get booted! Those challenge the edicts of Rome get outsted; those who are involeved in child abuse get to stay or get promoted!
Sodano accepted money from
Sodano accepted money from Maciel and defended him. Nothing else needs to be known. He should step down.
Step down, bulloney! Fire
Step down, bulloney! Fire Him Now!!!
Austin, you may have hit upon
Austin, you may have hit upon the answer! Just buy him off! We already know he has a price....somewhere.
Before firing him, one should consider that of all the billions of men on the planet, these 2 (B16 & Sodano)surely both know what JP The Enabler knew about Maciel and when he first knew it. Now if Sodano was peaved at B16, he could spill the beans on when B16 discussed Maciel's crimes with The Enabler and how often he did so. Such a betrayal (payback if you will) would humiliate B16 given that he has just presided over the beatification of The Enabler.
Gee, and to think I was
Gee, and to think I was always under the impression cardinal Sodano simply gave the pope bad advice and nothing more. Are we dealing with a Vatican with more criminals in it than the Mafia in New Jersey?
Gives credence (along with
Gives credence (along with Law) that people do rise to the height of their incompetence...
Do you mean to say that the
Do you mean to say that the Peter Principle still applies? In our Church? (read with tongue in cheek)
Thanks for the humor. Things
Thanks for the humor. Things are getting tense around here.
For an institution that falls
For an institution that falls so heavily upon "absolutes" it is mightely curious that "pussyfooting", "waffeling" and "politics" take precedence on matters which involve the "old boys' club". What is the lesson? Maybe it is that there is one set of rules for the "intimates" and another for the great unwashed. Another? Arrogant disregard for everybody outside the inner circle.
Is Sodano any different or
Is Sodano any different or worse than any of the others? It is a tragedy what has become of our church leadership, both Roman and local.
John, you leave out the most
John, you leave out the most damning charge of all. Sodano, as well as Cardinal Castrillion Hoyos, both had their palms repeatedly greased by Fr. Maciel. The idea that these guys were lining their pockets with Maciel's ill-gotten loot and at the same time protecting him is a scandal. Both Sodano and Bernard Law need to find a prison cell, lock themselves in and have the jailer throw the key in the Tiber. They are a constant embarrassment to the all of us.
I think they should call this
I think they should call this site "The National Catholic Detractor" - it would be more accurate.
Gail Ramplen on May. 06,
Gail Ramplen on May. 06, 2011.
You stated:
"I think they should call this site "The National Catholic Detractor" - it would be more accurate."
-------------------------------------------
It is a million times better than the brain-numbing nonsense that comes out of the individual dioceses in their newspapers.
That is nothing but fodder to keep the people as docile and stupid as possible so that they can better be led by their noses,
by their bishops.
That is true in our diocese
That is true in our diocese for sure. You would never know what is really going on in the church if you only read the bishop's local paper. Accrding to it, everything is just fine in the Church and in Rome. After all, we have more saints than ever!
Cdl. Sodano's persistence
Cdl. Sodano's persistence stands as a prominent symbol of what the values at the top of the institutional Church are in the age of Benedict XVI. Whatever step Benedict XVI might take soon affecting a man he has been acquainted with for years is too little too late. If Sodano were to disappear tomorrow, the record would remain.
Sodano's ill-advised Easter Mass reference to "petty gossip" was hardly unique. Benedict XVI originated it in his Palm Sunday Mass on March 28. A loyal servant, parroting his superior's view?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8592111.stm
Suggesting that a handful of possibilities for replacement might include an 88-year old man, most likely, and Cdl. Bertone, who has established his own questionable public record, reflects a situation in need of more revitalization than the removal of one embarrassment. Anticipation of the next conclave should be raising far more profound questions than whether or not Sodano is on the scene.
Here's a quick and simple
Here's a quick and simple solution: call in the Seals.
As the sister of Lazarus said
As the sister of Lazarus said to Christ when He asked that they roll back the stone to his tomb,
" He already smells".
There are many questions
There are many questions surrounding His Eminence, Cardinal Sodano. These include concerns already cited by Mr. Allen, but even more concerning are the questions of his orthodoxy and questions surrounding his support, or lack thereof, for some of Blessed Pope John Paul II's more orthodox reforms, encyclicals, etc.
I am less concerned over some PR gaffes of His Eminence than I am over serious questions regarding his relationship with the Church's authentic teaching.
There are many questions
There are many questions surrounding His Eminence, Cardinal Sodano. These include concerns already cited by Mr. Allen, but even more concerning are the questions of his orthodoxy and questions surrounding his support, or lack thereof, for some of Blessed Pope John Paul II's more orthodox reforms, encyclicals, etc.
I am less concerned over some PR gaffes of His Eminence than I am over serious questions regarding his relationship with the Church's authentic teaching.
"...even more concerning are
"...even more concerning are the question of his orthodoxy and questions surrounding his support, or lack thereof, forsome of [the pope's} more orthox reforms."
Spell it out. Are you saying you think he is a heretic or not orthopraxic? What exactly are yu talking about. I really don't like Sodano at all especially because of the Marciel thing, but this is just smearing.
"Whatever happens, many
"Whatever happens, many Catholic insiders are hoping Benedict does something."
Maybe the Catholic 'insiders' will find out what us Catholic outsiders have seen for sometime: whatever passes for justice and accountability in this Vatican is not determined in this reality. It's all based in some sort of delusional system in which God answers to the Pope and Pope's favorites.
Personally I hope Pope Benedict does nothing about Sodano except maybe pray he outlives Sodano. It would be an absolute blogging field day if Sodano was all of a sudden front and center and the face of the Vatican. In point of fact Sodano really seems to be the true face of how the Vatican actually operates. He's earned it. Let him live with the consequence.
Fear makes us do strange
Fear makes us do strange things. Love opens up possibility.
I just shake my head for what keeps going on - defending, defense posture. And yet - Hope. I am not sure what this will look like, but if dialogue is not honest and real in the Church, where will it be?
After reading this rather
After reading this rather "FLIBBERTIGIBET, WILL O THE WISP" of an article, only one thing came to mind. Hum along if you know the chorus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3voFeMlMTtQ&feature=related
How do you solve a problem like Sodano?
How do you catch a crook and lock him up?
...
I hate to have to say it,
but I very firmly feel:
Sodano's not an asset to the CARD'NALS.
I'd like to say a word in his behalf:
Sodano makes me LAUGH!...
you get the idea...and I'm sure there are those more clever than I out there who can finish it...
A long interregnum would have
A long interregnum would have Sadano making many decisions. The Church has had several such periods, though not in recent centuries. Moreover, if a disputed election should occur again, as it did in the era just before the Reformation, there might again be two or more simultaneous crowned papal claimants, each with colleges of cardinal-supporters.
Is a long interregnum a possibility? If many cardinal-electors are prevented from attending a conclave -- a real possibility if airlines and other modes of travel are affected by terrorists or by a world health crisis -- who at the Vatican decides that "enough" cardinals have arrived to allow a conclave to proceed? Sadano?
What if the response among the locked-out cardinals (and others disappointed by the rump conclave's choice) is to call for a new conclave? That, essentially, is what happened before, and thus began the Great Papal Schism (two papacies continuing about seventy years).
When the two popes and their successors for seventy years each claimed to be the one and only true pope, which one was infallibly correct? We will never know the anser to that neat question, because, eventually, a band of cardinals from the two colleges of cardinals -- by then there were new popes on each papal throne -- relying on their belief that a council of the church has authority over the institution of the papacy, and relying on hints from both popes that they would resign in favor of a combined-conclave's choice, came together and elected a new, single pope, John XXIII [sic]. But neither of the existing popes responded with their resignations, and, voila! there were three popes. Eventually, however, two, including the consiliarists' pope, did resign, and the third lost all support in the political world and became ignored. A new (single) pope was elected, and the long era of multiple papacies ended. But the split immeasurably affected the attitudes of monarchies, nobilities and the urban classes of the 14th and 15th centuries towards the Church and the papacy, setting part of the backdrop for the spread of competing formulas among them (monarchies and nobilities, and the urban classes) for the reformation of the Church in the next (16th and 17th) centuries, in terms of theology, ecclesiastic organization, liturgy and authority.
Sadano (and possibly other cardinals who, like Sadano, are tarred by records of scandal) could work incredible damage upon the (global) Catholic Church. A long interregnum would harm the Church, and having such a person at the helm
would make it most painful.
But in Rome and in the minds of many bishops that we know of in the U.S.A., the Holy Spirit will guide everyone, and we can let things go as they are. This, however, reminds me of the story of the devout person whose neighborhood was being flooded. He prayed for God's help as the waters came to his doorstep, and when neighbors rowed a boat to his house and invited him to jump in, he said, No, I am relying on the Lord! Soon, as the waters flooded his first floor and he leaned out a second floor window and saw a motor boat come by and FEMA personnel urged him to swim over to their boat, he again said, No, I am relying on God to help! Then, hours later when he was standing on his roof with water lapping at his feet, and a Coast Guard helicopter came by, he again rejected the help, saying No, I am relying on the Holy Spirit to help! Finally, he found himself in front of St. Peter, and with confusion, he asked St. Peter Why, despite my faithfulness in prayer and devotion, did God ignore me and let me drown? St. Peter responded that God was also confused, since He had sent a rowboat, a FEMA motor boat, and finally, a helicopter.
We have to recognize God's help.
Even those who might enjoy infallibility, have to respond to the Holy Spirit and act.
Vincent
John, It is time to refocus
John,
It is time to refocus and remember to put the blame squarely where it belongs--on the perpetrators. Like we do when the megapreacher falls.
Tarcisio Bertone is up to his
Tarcisio Bertone is up to his neck in the controversy regarding the reputedly
undisclosed portion of the Third Secret of Fatima. Both he and the Catholic journalist Antonio Socci have published books which espouse different positions on the issue and both have had (oddly enough) letters from Benedict XVI commending their respective undertakings without specifically endorsing either position.
Were Benedict XVI to choose or otherwise facilitate the election of Bertone as Dean of the College of Cardinals I believe it would be widely perceived as an endorsement of the Bertone position on the Third Secret of Fatima, a position which I personally believe is unsupportable on the facts.
Do people ACTUALLY still
Do people ACTUALLY still dwell on the nonsense of "Fatima Secrets?"
This is the 21st century, for crying out loud. Get real.
That stuff is just pablum to keep the slack-jawed pew potatoes from focusing on things that are critically wrong in this church, and not getting any better.
Let them eat cake!
How sad that you dismiss so
How sad that you dismiss so casually the mystical side of our Faith. How sad that you dismiss so casually the presence and support of the Blessed Virgin in our continuing battle against the evil one and all his works. How sad that you dismiss so casually the power of God to intervene in human affairs. How sad that you dismiss the spiritual and embrace the temporal.
The Church is so much bigger, so much greater, than the petty problems of this temporary moment, as Our Blessed Mother's appearances at Fatima remind us.
God is in the moment and that
God is in the moment and that has nothing to do with Fatima. And, how do you think God intervenes in human affairs? Remember the saying, " God has no hands but your". that is god working in human affairs. Not taking Fatima seriously does not dismiss the mystical in Faith.
Even when I was a kid in
Even when I was a kid in elementary school, it was obvious to me that the Fatima stuff was a lot of superstition and really had nothing to do with Jesus, our religion, and our relationship with God.
Most Catholics don't know who
Most Catholics don't know who Sodano is and many in the media don't know either. Whether he is Dean or someone else the media, secularists, dissenters, and anti-Catholics will still bring up the sexual abuse cases. That is the template nowadays. It doesn't matter the issue or who it is they will ALWAYS bring the scandals up. That will go on at least for the next century or two. It doesn't matter how we have reformed or eliminated the problem. In fact society could legalize pedophilia, the age of consent in Holland currently is 12, and they would still bring it up when the word Catholic arose in a conversation. So, granted someone other then Sodano might be preferable, but in the end it won't matter. They hate us and "they" includes many dissenting Catholics.
A reminder to the good Father
A reminder to the good Father and this church: what you sow, so shall you reap.
The age of consent in the
The age of consent in the Vatican City State is also twelve.
Jim, that doesn't excuse the
Jim, that doesn't excuse the bigots knee jerk recourse to the scandals at every turn.
Col, you prove my point beautifully. You don't care that 12 year olds can be legally abused in Holland, you don't care about abuse at all, this is just a way to try and score points against the Church.
So what's your point Fr. J?
So what's your point Fr. J? That's it's perfectly holy that twelve year olds can be legally abused in the Vatican City States? My point was that attacking Holland is ridiculous in view of the Vatican City States. Clean the mess in your own backyard before you comment on the mess on the other side of the fence.
Col, so I am right. You don't
Col, so I am right. You don't give a damn about child abuse. Only if a priest is involved do you care and then only because it is a way to trash the Church. You don't think it is a "mess" at all in Holland or anywhere else. You use the issue as a club to beat the Church when in fact you don't think pedophilia is evil. We call that hypocrisy.
Well said, Father, and very
Well said, Father, and very true. The enemies of Christ and His Holy Church truly are legion and they will stop at nothing to bring the Church to ruin. The sexual abuse "crisis" gives those enemies ample ammunition to use against the Church.
This situation also provides those without any reasoned and rational response to the Church's teachings with a convenient excuse to give for their refusal to listen to the Church's teaching or to conform themselves to Christ. In other words, when you have nothing else to say, no rational position to defend, dredge up sexual abuse.
Nonetheless, Our Lord warned His disciples, and so He warns the faithful of the Church, "no servant is greater than his master; if they have persecuted Me, they shall persecute you, also". Even so, we know the victory shall be ours, and so during this Easter season, let us take comfort in that knowledge.
God's blessings to you, Father, and upon your ministry. Please pray for me, and I for thee.
"Please pray for me, and I
"Please pray for me, and I for thee."
but not for me?
this must be that new fangled pro multos heresy in action
the one which sticks a fork into our Holy Mother Church, once universal and Catholic.
once upon a time
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