EVERY CATHOLIC BISHOP IN CHILE HAS OFFERED HIS RESIGNATION TO POPE FRANCIS THIS WEEK.
Protest at Bishop Barrow installation Mass.
Background to the story:
Protest at Bishop Barrow installation Mass.
Background to the story:
More Chilean sex abuse victims speak up
VATICAN CITY — Another group of Chilean church sex abuse victims is making its voice heard as the country’s Catholic leadership meets with Pope Francis, demanding that the Vatican recognize crimes, cover-ups and the need for reparation.
A statement from six named victims of the Marist Brothers religious community - and other unnamed survivors of Marist assaults - was issued Wednesday on the second day of the emergency summit Francis convened with 34 Chilean bishops.
The scandal within the Marists, who operate schools in 79 countries, exploded in August when the community in Chile revealed that at least 14 minors had been abused by a brother. Another brother abused at least five more.
In their statement, the victims said the Marists were still covering up the crimes, and attacking the credibility of survivors. They vowed to speak out so that parents with children in Marist schools would know what happened to them.
“We insist that the Vatican modify its discourse and rather than talk about pain, forgiveness and sin, it must urgently recognize crimes, misdeeds and reparation, and put all the information it has in the hands of the civilian justice system,” they said.
In a statement to The Associated Press late Wednesday, the Marists said that as soon as they received the accusations, superiors immediately removed the brothers from contact with minors, alerted Chilean prosecutors and offered victims psychological, legal and spiritual help. The community also launched a church investigation and asked the Vatican to remove the two brothers; a decision is pending.
Francis convened the Chilean church hierarchy in Rome after admitting he made “grave errors in judgment” about the case of a bishop, Juan Barros, accused by victims of Chile’s most well-known predator priest of witnessing and ignoring their abuse.
Francis had strongly defended Barros during his January trip to Chile, and sent in two Vatican experts to investigate after realizing something was amiss.
The investigators took testimony from the main victims of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, who was Barros’ superior. But the investigators also met with Marist victims and abuse victims of other priests in Chile, producing a 2,300-page dossier that is at the heart of this week’s meetings in the Vatican.
It’s unclear why Francis restricted the summit to Chilean bishops, since religious orders such as the Franciscans and Salesians, and communities such as the Marists operate somewhat independently of the diocesan bishop system, with their own superiors.
But in the case of the Marists, diocesan priests have also been implicated in the scandal, which involves allegations of abuse from decades ago through at least 2008. The victims have filed a criminal complaint against three Catholic priests, a Capuchin brother and six Marists. The allegations involve rape during camping trips and in the school locker rooms and showers.
In their Wednesday night statement, the Marists said they fully supported the legal action taken by victims, including the lifting of the statute of limitations.
“There is a total determination to apply the relative sanctions to those who are responsible,” the statement said.
It didn’t refer to the fact that many Chileans were outraged when the Marists admitted that the main brother accused had confessed in 2010, seven years before the community revealed the abuse.
“The actions that Pope Francis will take will be the only way to know if the times of cover-up inside the institution are over,” the victims wrote. “We’re concerned that the requests for forgiveness be translated into concrete and exemplary action.”
The bishops offered their resignation by letter after three days of crisis talks at the Vatican, during which the Pope handed them a 10-page document accusing Chile's Church hierarchy of negligence in sex abuse cases.
"That's why they all deserve to go."
PAT SAYS:
While we are struggling with problems like Maynooth and Magherafelt we need to remember that Catholics in other countries are having major problems with bishops and clergy too.
In the past few days when Pope Francis called the Chilean bishops to Rome over widespread abuse in Chile all the Chilean bishops offered their resignation to the pope.
This is the first time in history anything like this happened.
When you consider the scandals we are coping with in Ireland, maybe all our bishops should go too!
People like Eamon Martin, Ray Browne etc have shown that they are totally incompetent.
And they are also unintelligent fools when it comes to handling things like Maynooth and Magherafelt.
Why did all the bishops offer to quit?
BBC
The bishops offered their resignation by letter after three days of crisis talks at the Vatican, during which the Pope handed them a 10-page document accusing Chile's Church hierarchy of negligence in sex abuse cases.
Some of the Vatican investigator's findings were included in the report, according to Chile's T13 television, which acquired a leaked copy.
In it, the Pope said he felt ashamed that people had been pressured not to fully investigate abuse allegations.
"We are all involved, myself in first place, and no one can be exempted by looking to shift the problem onto the backs of others," the Pope reportedly wrote.
In their letter, the bishops wrote that their individual futures were in the Pope's hands, and if he did not accept their resignations, they would "continue doing our pastoral work".
"In communion with [the Pope] we want to re-establish justice and contribute to repairing the damage caused," they wrote.
How have victims responded?
"This will change things forever," tweeted Juan Carlos Cruz, who was abused by Fr Karadima in the 1980s.
JosΓ© AndrΓ©s Murillo, another victim, said Pope Francis should accept the mass resignation offer.
"They did not know how to protect the weakest, exposed them to abuses, and then prevented justice," he wrote on Twitter.
JosΓ© AndrΓ©s Murillo, another victim, said Pope Francis should accept the mass resignation offer.
"They did not know how to protect the weakest, exposed them to abuses, and then prevented justice," he wrote on Twitter.
"That's why they all deserve to go."
PAT SAYS:
While we are struggling with problems like Maynooth and Magherafelt we need to remember that Catholics in other countries are having major problems with bishops and clergy too.
In the past few days when Pope Francis called the Chilean bishops to Rome over widespread abuse in Chile all the Chilean bishops offered their resignation to the pope.
This is the first time in history anything like this happened.
When you consider the scandals we are coping with in Ireland, maybe all our bishops should go too!
People like Eamon Martin, Ray Browne etc have shown that they are totally incompetent.
And they are also unintelligent fools when it comes to handling things like Maynooth and Magherafelt.
Marshall and McHugh are good 'friends' :-)
ReplyDeleteLet the Irish bishops resign en masse too.
ReplyDelete8.37 They wouldn't have the balls
DeleteMarshall and Fr Gates are good friends and FB buddies.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell a lot about people by looking at their friends and photos on social media.
DeleteHad they done so the Church in Ireland wouldn't be in such a bad state today.
ReplyDelete@08.37 I agree that some Irish Bishops should do the same, however, you need balls, courage and backbone to do that. The Irish Bishops are only interested in protecting themselves and would sell their clergy and laity down the river in an instant. They couldn’t care less.
ReplyDeleteUnlike Benedict, who laicised 800 priests for the usual, Francis has reduced penalties, including in the notorious Fr Mauro Inzoli case.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/98399022
Pat, are you watching the Royal Wedding today? I’m sure the celebrations are in full swing in Larne.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the Fermanagh Lakes today to celebrate a same sex wedding.
DeleteLarne is gripped by Royal Wedding fever.
DeleteIt's remarkable that a king had to abdicate for wishing to marry a divorced American woman and now an "archbishop" will preside over a similar wedding without batting an eyelid.
It's also remarkable that in this age of equality the Royals cannot stay in the line of succession if they marry a Catholic.
And how valid is Megan Sparkle's baptism? She'd shown no interest in it previously and is only doing it at the Queen's request.
Enjoy +Pat. Will the couple share in the joy of biblical marriage ?
DeleteThe two young men are having a Catholic Wedding Mass and I will have the help of a religious sister giving out Communion to the 180 guests.
DeletePS: And another priest will concelebrat.
DeleteThis “Mass” is a sacrilege and a travesty. You will all pay dearly for it after your deaths.
DeleteLet’s hope you have Monsignor McGuinness’ permission to be in Fermanagh.
Delete@12.29 I will pray for you at the Mass beside beautiful Lough Erne. May the Lord turn your heart of pure stone into a heart of flesh and love, this day and always, Pax.
Delete12.29 Get a life No wonder the church is in the state it is.
DeleteAnd the permission of the Mother Superior in the case of the nun.
DeleteI was disappointed that Sean Page didn't do the Royal Wedding.
DeleteThe sermon was great, even though it was done by a Protestant.
14.30 I had to decline because I am on a weekend course looking at marriage. Yes it was a good sermon. Even the Queen looked up
Delete@12:47, your degenerate “prayers” are wasted on me. You are a spiritual corpse. May God have mercy on your soul.
DeletePat, whatever ritual you are performing over those blokes - it is not a Catholic Mass.
DeleteIt is you, that other priest and that nun, acting the maggot and colluding in a delusion.
12:29 is not wholly wrong.
DeleteNO Mass is (or ever can be) a 'travesty'. What a deeply offensive thing to say!
However, marital (or sexual) relations between two members of the same sex, however loving of each other they may be, is profoundly wrong, morally speaking.
It would be irresponsible and cowardly to pretend that there are no spiritual consequences of such relationships.
@16.45 Such bitterness is in your heart! Allow the Good Lord into your heart so He can transform your bitterness
DeleteI bet that other Priest is gay too and was thrown out plus I’d say that nun is Lesbian and turfed out too on her ear. What a gay day!
DeleteWhy isn't Francis resigning? He forced through the appointment of Bishop Barros despite the objections of the CDF and Chilean bishops. He called victims and accusers of being slanderers and leftists. He has more than once refused to accept the resignation of Barros. And he lied and suppressed evidence when he said he had received no reports from victims even though Cardinal O'Malley had personally handed to Francis a letter from victims.
ReplyDeleteWhat a man to preside over a World Meeting of Families.
08.59
DeleteArguably the most successful pope in history is not going to be remotely affected by your narrow perspective.
22:24 How are you measuring this 'success' the pews continue to empty and we have a Pope who is a proven liar (per Cardinal O'Malley). Ask the Chinese bishops (the real ones) if he is a 'success'. He is a liar, a bully, a manipulator and an idiot. Even the secular press is beginning to see through him. He blames himself first and then demands that everyone resigns but himself, try that in a board room or any other organisation.
DeleteIn what way is he succesful? All the stats are against him. Are you an abuse denier too?
DeleteThe Acid Test now is for the Pope to accept those resignations.
ReplyDeleteAnd will he get a grip of those Religious Orders?
What is wrong with the “religious orders” ? Do you mean his own order from which he was estranged for a long time before being elected Pope?
DeleteHave the bishops offered any reason for their resignation – I can’t find one. I have a feeling that this act is belligerent one – a throwing down of the gauntlet – rather than an act of humility and contrition.
ReplyDelete09.46 - Paul, has your superior Pat allowed you out of your confinement to speak - a rather inane comment?
DeleteGreat to see Jeremy Irons saying that abortion is a sin and that it harms women mentally and physically. It harms medics too. My father-in-law was an aneasthiatist who took part in abortions and towards the end of his life he was deeply traumatised by the memory of it.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is that Francis called on the bishops to Rome. The religious Provincials, reponsible for schools and other institutions where abuse occured, were left at home in Chile. Is Francis closing ranks with the orders?
ReplyDeletePat, you should put up the YouTube video of the protests inside his cathedral when Barros was consecrated.
ReplyDeleteBuckley you are one boyo. Only if it's on your side off the fence do you post.
ReplyDeleteI'm gone for good you tosser!
Thing is Anon@11:30: we won't miss an Anon.
DeleteBut if you were, or have been, in the habit of commenting with an identifiable name or pseudonym then we might note and regret your absence.
MMM
Over an hour since my last post and you haven't responded, Anon@ 11:30. Great... Like I said, we won't miss you.
DeleteMMM
12.26: MMM - What a contradiction! You are also anonymous under MMM - Who the he'll knows your true identity and incidentally, your comments are passed over by many contributors. You're not so important, like all of us, in the scheme of things or opinion! Just because you use MMM doesn't give you any more credence than all the anon comments. You are fallible...
DeleteMichael Curry preached beautifully at the royal wedding. An African American, educated at Yale, full of the Holy Spirit...and he does LGBT weddings.
DeleteThat was not me at 13:56.
DeleteI posted at 12:26. I would ask the other MourneManMichael to choose a different name because this is MY name.
MMM
Yes, someone keeps stealing my name, too.
DeleteThat was not me at 15:57. The style is different and it was four paragraphs too short.
DeleteMMM
There's nothing Anon about Melancholic Mick. LOL
ReplyDeletePat did you watch the royal wedding? The black bishop preaching on Love was fantastic I wish we had a few preachers in our church like that instead of the snooze fest we usually have to put up with
ReplyDeleteTo gay man Juan Carlos Pope Francis said: "God made you gay. Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like that and he loves you like that and I do not care. The Pope wants you like that, you have to be happy with who you are."
ReplyDeleteThe popes words are a waste of time when no effort is being made to repudiate the Bible teaching that homosexuality as in sex acts is a sin. I accept that it does teach that and have no time for revisionist lies that it doesn't for the lies are so hollow and really just fuel opposition to LGBT rights. We need a direct formal declaration that that teaching is rubbish. The veneration of homohobes such as Moses, St Dominic, St Thomas and St Augustine needs to be dropped. It is no excuse that they were men of their time for we would not be saying that if they wrote against people of colour the way they did gay men. If somebody reads Leviticus and imagines God once commanded for gay men to be stoned to death the Church is responsible if that person then feels entitled to hate gays or be suspicious of them for it is the one saying the text is from God and the Bible is his word. Same sex marriage is a fundamental human right and its high time priests started performing it without a mandate from the Church. We know the Church is unlikely to stop them or to try to anyway so we need change from the bottom up.
"We need change from the bottom up". Tops have rights too.
DeleteSo you think the regnant Pope is superior to Holy Writ? No surprise that the Protestants and Orthodox are wary of ecumenism from Rome.
ReplyDeleteMMM
I don't believe 'regnant' is an appropriate or an apt term to define Francis' ministry. He's not reigning like a king or a queen. He's serving like Jesus.
DeleteHe's dictating like Juan Peron.
DeleteGreat same sex wedding today Pat, best wedding I’ve been to in ages and a great laugh, wonderful setting and beautiful weather. It was great that you along with the other priest celebrated the Mass with the two nuns present. The two lads were so happy and thank you again for a wonderful day. Only downfall Mum wasn’t feeling her best so we came home early.
ReplyDeleteWe were told at Mass tonight in Magherafelt that Fr. Gates is hopefully returning by the 10th June to celebrate Mass in Glenshane Forest. This bully must not be allowed to return. We need people to join us in telling Archbishop Martin this face to face on 3rd June. Enough is enough. The little bully must GO.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm certain the 'men' of Magherafelt will sort out this, er, very little bully. Hah! Hah! Hah! π
Delete@18.35 Can you tell us where in Fermanagh this obscenity of a Marriage took place so we can go to the spot ASAP and bless it with holy water and claim the space back for God. Gays are an abomination and to actually try and marry two of these people makes my skin crawl. Everyone who attended this must get on their knees and beg forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteBea, Co. Tyrone.
Jesus Christ was powerfully prese t today - both in his Body and Blood and in the love and joy of the occasion.
DeleteWere any Maynooth concers raised in the lakeland county?
ReplyDelete@19.17 Better to inform the Bishop of where this Mass and Wedding took place, the Bishop of Kilmore. It’s also best to copy it to the Papal Nuncio and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. That Priest who concelebrated the Mass with the two nuns and the Larne Bishop need to be removed quickly. We are entitled to know their identities.
Delete@19.59 Love is Love. Write as many letters as you want sweetheart but you can never take away from the fact that Love is indeed Love, no matter who it’s between.
DeleteDear Pat, I have to agree with a previous comment made by Paul. When I saw this in the news yesterday I immediately saw it as a protest on the part of the Chilean bishops. I think it was basically saying to pope Francis 'ok you have publicly reprimanded us so now you can find 34 new bishops'. If he doesn't accept their resignation he will look weak. If he does accept them then there is the nightmare situation of trying to replace them all at once. You know how long it takes to replace one bishop here.
ReplyDeleteOh, grow the Hell up! These bishops are not indispensible and could be replaced as effortlessly as breaking persistent wind.
Delete@19.53 Magna would know all about breaking persistent wind as he is not only a gasbag but a big fart too. Ha ha ha ha ha. ��
Delete20:02, did anyone ever tell you that you are clever? Well, they lied! π π π π π π
DeleteIt’s well that homosexuality is being celebrated. It’s also well that Pat was kicked out of the true church.
ReplyDeleteThe true church is the Body of Christ.
DeleteThe RC institution, I'm afraid the product of very dark places.
You keep telling yourself that pat. You will have to justify this to your maker some day. You know you’re in the wrong and you know you’ll meet your judge. Homosexual wedding are inherently wrong. They are evil and take away from what God wants.
Delete@20.15 You really are protesting too much. You are probably the biggest fag around, most people who shout the loudest about it often are.
Delete@20:23
DeleteNo better example than KOB. Evil queen.
@20:23 This argument is pretty poor, logically then Hitler was a secret Jew, the KKK are all really black and those shouting loudly for 'gay rights' are closet heterosexuals. I am not alone in regarding the practices of homosexuals as foul and evil, it definitely does not mean that we want to take part in them.
DeleteDromore is in the shit again this evening according to BBC NI. Will they wheel out Boyce to explain this one?
ReplyDeleteWhat’s going in Dromore? Not another scandal? Didn’t think they had enough Priests left to cause any more trouble.
DeleteIs it not just an empty gesture knowing full well he won't accept their resignations?
ReplyDeleteThe National Catholic Register has a good article in the crisis in Chile. They think the bishops were pushed and it is a statement of Papal power.
ReplyDeleteThe Register? Enough said.
ReplyDeleteMy last comment was on 19th May @ 12:26 when I pointed out to an Anon announcing his/her withdrawal that an 'Anons withdrawal will not be missed'.
ReplyDeleteSince then, I note that some other 'clever mischief-maker' has adopted my pseudonym/tag, and commented further, impersonating myself, at 13:56, 15:57, 18:21 and 18;27.
Magna Carta comments too that someone also keeps stealing his name too.
+Pat: Is there any way your blogsite can discriminate sufficiently to block such impersonations?
I have no wish to get involved in defending or explaining myself in relation to comments made to the site by others impersonating my name. As the site stands, such impersonation is relatively easy to do.
While today's impersonations are relatively innocuous I can forsee certain mischievious abusive types seeking in future, to create misunderstandings. Were that to become prevalent I would simply withdraw from further comment.
Please advise if there is any way to safeguard comments as originating from their true authentic commentator.
Thanks.
MMM
The Tablet? Enough said.
ReplyDelete