IRONIC END TO POPE FRANCIS' PASTORAL VISITATION TO CHILE

In an astonishing end to a visit meant to help heal the wounds of a sex abuse scandal that has cost the Catholic church its credibility in the country, Pope Francis has accused victims of Chile’s most notorious paedophile of slander.

The Holy Father said that until he sees proof that Bishop Juan Barros was complicit in covering up the sex crimes of the Reverend Fernando Karadima, such accusations against Barros are “all calumny”.

The Pope’s remarks drew shock from Chileans and immediate rebuke from victims and their advocates. 

Frankly, I think both the Pope is justified in his remarks.

Why?

Pope Francis noted that the accusations against Father Karadima were judged, after an extensive investigation, to be credible enough to have justified sentencing the Priest to a lifetime of “penance and prayer” for his crimes in 2011.

But, as His Holiness notes, the judgment against Father Karadima was proven on the basis of evidence presented against him.

To date, no such evidence has been put forth which establishes that Bishop Barros covered up Father Karadima’s crimes.  

Yet victims and advocacy groups already have judged the Bishop to be guilty of complicity and want him punished without any recourse to the due process to which the Bishop, as is any accused, is entitled by both Canon and civil law.

Those who continue to bellow that Bishop Barros is “guilty” of any crime are, in the absence of proof, slandering the reputation of the Bishop as Pope Francis rightfully observes.

No one of good faith or good will doubts the isolation and suffering of victims of clerical sexual abuse.  

The Priest-abusers and those who may have been complicit in protecting them should be rightfully held accountable according to Church and civil law.  

The Church itself is rightfully embarrassed and ashamed that such criminality could have occurred in the first place.


Sadly, however, when it comes to any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a Priest, victims and their advocates (who often profit from their suffering) are beyond any reasoning or reasonableness.  Any Priest accused of such horrific behavior is immediately presumed to be guilty.

Such presumptions are neither fair nor just.  They are reckless to the extent that they destroy reputations based on accusation alone.  

The Pope is right in his comments about the way Bishop Barros has been treated throughout this sordid affair.  

Let those who accuse the Bishop should bring evidence of such complicity to a proper court and prove their case.  In the absence of that evidence, the Bishop is entitled to a presumption of innocence.  

The Holy Father’s attempt to bring introduce such rationality into this dispute has and will continue to be rebuked, in Chile and elsewhere.

We are living in an era in which the loudest voices are allowed to pass judgment, an era of mob rule and hysteria.

Given this final ironic twist to the Pope’s visit to Chile, perhaps it would have been better if he had just remained at the Vatican.