This is an interesting development in the reform process of Pope Francis.
Fr. James Martin said the visitation demonstrates "that Pope Francis is prepared to take a step that has been long overdue: holding bishops accountable for their roles in the abuse crisis. It is an absolutely essential step."
Depending upon the way media 'spins' these stories, especially social media, gossip and negative reaction is inevitable, and unavoidable. It is best to take all such speculation with a grain of salt and allow the process to take place. It shouldn't be open to public speculation anyway. In former times, the reform of the hierarchy/clergy must have been equally as upsetting and disorientating - but the Church came through it.
As NCR noted, Bishop Robert Finn, (is) the first Catholic prelate to be found criminally guilty of shielding a priest in the ongoing clergy sexual abuse crisis. Readers may or may not be familiar with the unfortunate case, but Bishop Finn was never jailed (nor should he have been) for his failure to report a suspected former priest accused of producing child porn.
The Vatican investigation underway is to determine whether or not Bishop Finn is fit to be a leader. Bishop Finn has been criticized both within and outside the diocese, and his critics would be happy to see him replaced. The story here.
Perhaps the St. Paul/Minneapolis Archdiocese is next in line for a Vatican visitation? Just wondering.
"I know well I must render an account of everything - from the beginning of my life as well as this later part - unto the last penny, when God will search Jerusalem with lighted candles, and it is already late - the day far spent - to remedy so much evil and harm..." - St. John of the Cross
I'm not defending Bishop Finn. But I wish Father Martin would spend less time on Facebook and the Stephen Colbert show and spend more time, say, hearing confessions like St. John Vianney.
ReplyDeleteI hope Bishop Finn comes through this well.
DeleteBefore I quit Catholic news/blogs again (LOL), I forgot to mention that the Benedictines of Mary have been huge Bishop Finn fans over the years. They're the traditional nuns that do the CDs. They also do the best newsletter: darling photos, great watercolor art (by one of the sisters) and always upbeat news.
Delete"Depending upon the way media 'spins' these stories, especially social media, gossip and negative reaction is inevitable, and unavoidable. It is best to take all such speculation with a grain of salt and allow the process to take place. It shouldn't be open to public speculation anyway."
ReplyDeleteWe already know where this is heading...more disdain for our Holy Father with claims he's "getting rid of the more traditional prelates."
I will pray and hope it all works out according to God's will and not that of the online masses.
Even if it is a convenient purging of ideological foes by some in the Vatican, it is delusional to pin it all on Francis. He's the chief pastor of a billion member church and there are over 5,000 bishops in the world. Still, I can't stomach the move given the way Card. Daneels and Msgr. Ricca are treated since they have the right politics (though worse scandals than the Bling bishop, Finn and the guy from Paraguay). Once again I'm going to try really, really hard to limit my exposure to ecclesiastical news. Much of it is sewage, has been from the beginning.
DeleteCompletely appropriate to investigate. We should assume the Holy Spirit is involved. And maybe Finn thinks being a bishop is overrated. We don't know.
ReplyDelete