A SIMPLE DEFENSE

Ever since Archbishop Vigano published his now famous or infamous (yet to be determined) letter alleging Pope Francis and other members of the hierarchy knew of ex-Cardinal McCarricks sexual misdeeds, the Vatican has been rigged for “silent running”.

Those mentioned in the Archbishop’s letter have all denied they knew anything about the sanctions on McCarrick, while the Holy Father has promised that “he will say nothing” about the matter and leave it to journalists and the media to read the allegations and “judge” themselves.

In America, most Bishops have retreated into silence as well.  "No comment," is the most repeated sentence we have heard from the Bishops.

This is all very strange.

Why wouldn’t innocent people immediately, clearly and forcefully defend themselves against allegations made against them?

Without a doubt, guilty people often deny charges.

The point isn’t that people who deny charges against them are always innocent.

The point is that innocent people usually deny charges made against them.

And how best to deny the charges?  

Why not insist that the Holy See and the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, DC release the documentation which the Archbishop himself cites?

If they are innocent, the documents should discredit the Archbishop by not supporting his allegations.

And yet, nowhere have I seen, read or heard of any of these people calling for these documents.

Instead, what I see is a propaganda campaign put together by those who are trying to cast doubt on Archbishop Vigano’s credibility because of his theological conservatism and his relationship with other Catholics of the same mindset.

It’s the classic ad hominem (personal) attack strategy to “poison the well”.

But here’s the thing.  The truth of the Archbishop’s allegations doesn’t depend upon his theological mindset or motivations.

As the old lawyer's wisdom has it, "when the facts and law are on your side, you pound those; and when they aren't, you pound the table instead".  

That’s all I’ve heard...the pounding of the table so loudly while, at the same time, showing little or no interest in establishing the facts.

I am left to conclude that the facts may not be on side of those the Archbishop has implicated in his letter.

One thing for sure, the Catholic faithful are as confused and frustrated as I am.

The only way to resolve this issue is for the relevant documents to be released and for the key figures named by ArchbishopViganò to respond directly to his charges.  

Pope Francis should order the release of the documents, and respond to the present sad state of affairs.

He owes to it faithful Catholics to do so.