(Continued ...)
A pastor solicitous for his flock
Some newspapers have tried to implicate Pope Benedict XVI in the concealment of crimes, during his tenure as prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and some strident voices have gone so far as to suggest his imprisonment.
From our viewpoint, this is the greatest error of the adversary in the current campaign against the Church. Its insolence is what has most caused a generalized indignation, even helping to rouse and stimulate the fervour of sleeping Catholics.
The injustice of the accusers becomes more flagrant when facts prove that is was Benedict XVI, who, while still a Cardinal, did the most to eradicate this problem, a zeal which he has increasingly shown in his occupancy of the Chair of Peter.
The Pastoral letter which he sent to the Catholics of Ireland shortly before Easter, to be read in all the pulpits of the country, is emblematic. In an unprecedented gesture, the Holy Father apologized directly to the victims and their families, expressing his profound dismay for the sinful and criminal acts of the abusers. Addressing himself to the Bishops, he highlighted the “grave errors of judgement” and “failures of leadership” on the part of the Hierarchy. Finally, he emphasized that the Church should resolutely set to work to correct the wrong that was done.
Of equal note is a letter sent in May 2001, by the then Cardinal Ratzinger to the Bishops, ordering that they send him all new and old accusations against clerics. With this initiative, the Holy See took upon itself the investigation of abuses and the punishment of the guilty. From that point, various of the accused had to undergo a complete canonical process, many were dismissed from the clerical state, or voluntarily resigned, while others suffered administrative and disciplinary penalties, including the prohibition to celebrate Mass.
Contrary to what certain sources have rumoured, the letter in question does not prohibit anyone from communicating with the police to denounce possible abuses. In fact, Bishops the world over — including those from the United States, England and Canada — have already adopted procedures for communicating with police authorities, as soon as a case of abuse has been confirmed.
On the other hand, the Vatican has published norms for a more rigorous selection of seminary candidates. Furthermore, it has carried out initiatives such as the Year for Priests which is still in progress, and the International Theological Convention held in Rome at the close of March, with sights on a renewal of the clergy and the elimination of erroneous ideas about the priesthood, caused by a “hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture,” in face of the Second Vatican Council.
We hope that this breath of renewal will bring some consolation to the victims of these horrible offences committed by men, who, as representatives of God, should be the primary protectors of children and youth. We sympathize with them and share their suffering and frustration, offering our prayers for them. The tragedy that overshadows them has us painfully recall, once again, the countless children, who in Antiquity, were victims of cruel paganism.
From each persecution the Church emerges strengthened
Looking back at her own history, the Catholic Church can say with Cicero: “Alios vidi ventos, alias prospexi animo procellas.”
As in previous attacks, she will emerge fortified from the present melee. Countless reactions throughout the world are already anticipating this outcome. In Ireland and Spain, churches were filled during Holy Week — something that has not happened for many years. In the United States, England and other countries of the West, the number of conversions has increased. Various journalists, many of whom are non-Catholics, took up the defence of the Church. Is it necessary to point out that persecutions are indispensable for the glorification of the Spouse of Christ and essential to her renewal? Thus, St. Paul says: “Nam oportet et hereses esse ut et qui probati sunt manifesti fiant in vobis.” (“For there must be also heresies: that they also, who are approved, may be made manifest among you” 1 Cor 11:19).
To accentuate the perpetuity of the Roman, Catholic and Apostolic Church, Saint Augustine has left us this wise reflection: “The Church will totter if its foundation shakes; but how can Christ be moved? Since Christ cannot be moved, the Church will remain intact until the end of time.”
Let us remember that “God is master of the world and of its history.” It was He himself who decreed that “the gates of Hell” would not prevail against His Church (Mt 16:18).
The full document may be found here:
http://www.arautos.org/desagravo/?lang=en
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Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, EP, is Honorary Canon of the Papal Basilica Saint Mary Major in Rome, Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotary, Doctor of Canon Law from the Angelicum, Master of Educational Psychology from the Catholic University of Columbia, Doctor Honoris Causa from the Italo-Brazilian University, Member of the Thomas Aquinas International Society (SITA) and of the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculata, Founder and Superior General of three entities of Pontifical Right: International Association of the Faithful, Heralds of the Gospel; Clerical Society of Apostolic Life, Virgo Flos Carmeli; and the Society of Apostolic Life, Regina Virginum.
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