And wouldn't object to a federal investigation?
Who is Austin Ruse to make a claim like that? What Catholics are saying that? What do these people believe? Are they really Catholic? Or do they worship Trump and the U.S. Government?
It’s possible the president does not know what the Vatican is really doing to handle the crisis. Someone should tell Trump that Pope Francis and his men have been content to remain silent and allow media cutouts to slander the accuser, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who released his j’accuse two weeks ago.
President Trump should understand that Catholics are fed up and would not object to federal intervention into this crisis. Consider that high-ranking officials of a foreign government have covered up the criminal sexual assault of American men and boys. This is how this crisis should be viewed by the U.S. government.
The U.S. government should request that the Vatican release all documents related to McCarrick’s sexual assaults. There are files in the Vatican embassy in Washington DC and in various offices in Rome. Again, the President should act as if that criminal behavior against Americans was covered up by officials of a foreign government. - RuseBringing it on themselves.
These people believe Government can fix everything, that Trump can make the Church great again. They are willing to surrender their religious freedom to the Government. They don't know what they are asking, they don't know of what spirit they are.
Mr. Ruse and his fellow ideologues have lost any shred of credibility they maybe once had. This proposal is sheer demagoguery. You cannot serve God and mammon. History demonstrates the lunacy of government intervention in the Church. Be careful what you wish for and the precedent you are willing to sell Peter for.
NB: To be sure, criminal acts should be prosecuted, and victims should be free to alert the police when crimes are committed, as in the case of sexual abuse of minors and rape. Mistakes were made when victims appealed to chanceries and bishops in the past. However, sexual misconduct with adults, as in McCarrick's case is probably not a criminal offense. It's sexual harassment most likely, but if victims did not report, or were ignored, and a culture of abuse ensued, I'm not sure it is a criminal offense in the same way as abuse of minors. I'm not a lawyer.
It should be noted that as in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report, several priests who were listed for 'credible charges of abuse' were either found innocent or their cases dismissed - nevertheless, their names remain on the list of priests with credible allegations. This is how it works in every diocese. It's one thing to have a DA or Grand Jury to review records, it's quite another to call on the Trump Administration to intervene.
"When we try to use the federal government to intercede in religious affairs, it inherently weakens the unique character of Christ's kingdom." - Jimmy Carter
Mexico
Spain
Amen, brother! If these people get what they want, they will destroy the Catholic Church. And maybe it will be destroyed in the United States, just as it was in England under King Henry VIII and as you show in Mexico. We may very well see priests in front of firing squads.
ReplyDeleteOnce you separate from the Pope, you are no longer Catholic.
Unless the Pope separates himself from being Catholic. Just sayin
DeleteI have come to the conclusion that this crisis was allowed to be revealed so that the rot from both sides of the pews could be laid bare. Those who claim to be in one camp or the other have sure revealed their true colors by the way they have been expressing their opinions, mudslinging, pope bashing ... complete disrespect for the Chair of Peter, especially for Pope Francis. I believe as time wears on, they will continue to strip themselves of any decency, charity, and credibility.
ReplyDeleteThe simple folk, the backbone of the Church, will continue to work, to pray, and to help out in the parish kitchen as they have always done.
I still give our Holy Father the benefit of doubt and pray he will speak of this crisis.
But as we all know, even if he does say something concrete, many in the clamoring crowd will still not be satisfied. Sad ...
I actually go further than you. The Holy Father sits in the Chair of Peter. The power and authority conferred upon the Chair of Peter comes from the Holy Spirit, not from any man. Only the Holy Spirit can take that authority away. These people are not fighting Pope Francis. They are at war with the Holy Spirit. And I believe for that reason, the Pope should just stand back as he is doing and let the Holy Spirit fight this war.
DeleteAnd may God have mercy on their souls.
Not only on their souls but on ours as well.
DeleteWhen it comes down to it ... personal conversion, personal conversion, personal conversion.
Trump can make the Church great again...LOL!
ReplyDeleteI had asked my spiritual director a question this spring, he forwarded it to some priest friends. One replied he didn't know the answer but "we're Making the Vatican Great Again." Fr had no idea what that meant. It was the day Trump has visited the Vatican so I understood immediately.
DeleteThe funny thing is that President Trump pretty much gave the Pope a mulligan on this issue.
ReplyDeleteWhen Trump is the voice of sanity, you know the laity are the ones in the wrong.
A fine point to remember is that attorneys in the US and in Europe have long wanted to indict the Pope and the Cardinals for Crimes Against Humanity.
ReplyDeleteAll evidentiary trails lead to Rome." In 2010, Anderson won a major victory when the U.S. Supreme Court gave the green light to a case that seeks to hold the Vatican financially responsible for the abuse carried out by pedophile priests. In effect, the court rejected the Holy See's claim to immunity as a foreign state. The case, which had initially been seen as a publicity stunt, is now in discovery."
As Pope Benedict told us, there is a lot of filth in the Church, and it needs to be cleaned out. Maybe this is a way of doing that. But also remember, the gates of hell shall never prevail.
DeleteWhen co workers were unhappy about some directive or new reorganization it was common to hear, “I never signed up for this.” That is the way I feel these days. I want off this crazy train. Then I remember many have and continue to suffer and die for their faith. I have it pretty easy. Still it is not easy.
ReplyDeleteRemember wh, that Christians in Syria and Iraq, many parts of Africa and India and elsewhere, like China and the Ukraine, do not have the luxury of sitting in front of their computers passing the time (or wasting time) safe in a comfortable house, with a full belly, engaging others on the Internet to see who can best who with insults, smears and papal bashing.
DeleteThey are praying, enduring to the end, holding up the banner of Christ Crucified reminding my full-of-myself self what truly matters.
No, it is not easy and yes, it needs investigating in a very detailed way but the best way to get the ball rolling is prayer, penance and trust in Jesus.
I'm just repeating what's already being repeated on a daily basis.
Yaya - this wins comment of the week!
DeleteGet the government to intervene in the name of disclosure and watch the government in the name of disclosure go after the Seal of Confession. Big time.
ReplyDeleteAre these people freaking stupid?
The government has every right to investigate crimes. This opens the door for those anti-catholic forces, which are out there, who want to destroy, restriction even kill the Church for theological and sociological reasons. I am confident they will fail, but it will be an ugly bloodbath not unlike England under the reign of Henry VIII. Expose the criminals and their accompliences but leave the rest of us to practice our faith freely.
ReplyDelete