The mission of the Papal Foundation is to serve the Holy Father and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Foundation fulfills its mission by gathering in a corporal and cooperative collaboration of laity, clergy and hierarchy within the Church, in witness to one another of the Catholic faith, and drawing strength from the witness of the Holy Father.
The Foundation commits itself to serve those needs of the Church that are of particular significance to the Holy Father, always with a commitment to walk in union with the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Church.
Donors can be individuals, foundations or fraternal groups.
Membership starts with the pledge to give $1 million over the course of no more than ten years with a minimum donation of $100,000 per year.
Those who choose to make this commitment become Stewards of Saint Peter and join a growing network of dedicated American Catholics in service to the Successor of Peter.
Donations have resulted in a fund that has grown to over $215 million with a total of $121 million awarded in grants and scholarships.
The Foundation is governed by a board of trustees comprised of the eight Cardinals residing in the United States, who serve as ex officio members. They approve the seven Bishops and Archbishops and nine laypeople who serve as elected members.
Recently, there arose a controversy over a request from Pope Francis for a $25 million grant from to a Rome hospital.
The incident prompted the Foundation to say some claims about the request are inaccurate, but that it will review its mission and take corrective measures where necessary.
In 2017, Pope Francis asked Cardinal Donald Wuerl for a $25 million grant through the Foundation for the Church-owned hospital Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata, which specializes in researching and treating skin diseases. But then, the Holy See declined half the grant after objections from some board members.
Critics went to the media, questioning the integrity of the hospital and the wisdom of the foundation’s grant-making process.
None of the lay members of the Foundation board lay members voted in favor of the grant.
Opponents of the grant said due diligence was not followed, citing reports that the hospital leadership had been accused of embezzlement, fraud and bankruptcy. In 2013, a Priest who was its Chief Executive Officer through 2011 was arrested for allegedly taking money from the hospital and running up a massive debt.
Tens of millions of euros had allegedly been diverted from the hospital, while it allegedly evaded taxes on hundreds of millions euros. Financial police said its debt was 845 million euros, the U.K. newspaper The Guardian reported in 2013.
The foundation said it is re-evaluating its mission, its approach to grant-making, and its relationship with the Holy See.
The Holy See has expressed “full support” for the review of the foundation and is working to assist the review process.
In the meantime, Pope Francis has cancelled the annual meeting of the Papal Foundation, which includes an audience with the Pope in Rome.
Thursday, May 3, 2018
SYNOD ON YOUTH: PANDERING PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Commercials are everywhere: in print, on television, and the internet.
I especially detest any commercial in which a child is made to appear smarter or brighter than his or her parents or adults in general.
Well....
In March, 300 young people selected by their Bishops were asked to draft a working document which the Bishops will consult at the Synod on Youth in October.
Regarding the Synod, Pope Francis said he hoped the event would lead to “a church with a young face.”
On Palm Sunday, the draft document they prepared was presented to the Pope.
So what have young Catholics proposed for the benefit of the Bishops’ gathering?
Well, from what I have been able to gather in researching reports about the document, it appears that there is a prevailing attitude which strongly suggests that young people have a rather intense aversion to what the Church has consistently maintained is sacred, holy and Divine.
The writers reportedly state that young people “sometimes feel that the sacred appears to be something separated from our daily lives.”
Yet, this is precisely the meaning of the word “sacred”—that which is set apart and dedicated to the Divine Godhead.
But, in the document they presented to the Pope, these so-called youthful advisers appear to disparage sanctity itself. Their document states: “Sadly, not all of us believe sainthood is something achievable and that it is a path to happiness.”
Apparently, the youthful authors believe that “erroneous ideals of model Christians feel out of reach to the average person.”
What these youngsters want instead is “a confidant without judgement.” Erring people are to be held up as the real models of faith, as a life dedicated to the sacred and religious is something considered to be distant and cold.
Priesthood and religious life are likewise devalued: “While these are sacred calls that should be celebrated, the importance of other vocations, including “lay ministry,” marriage and family, need to be recognized as of equal dignity.”
So much then for the unique role of the Priest acting in persona Christi!
As one would expect in the moral temperament of the moment, the document asks the Church to open a discussion of homosexuality and gender, “which young people are already freely discussing without taboo.”
The youngsters also note that “there is often great disagreement among young people” about contraception, abortion, homosexuality, cohabitation, marriage, and the Priesthood. In consequence, “they may want the Church to change her teaching.”
And lastly (from my perspective), the document even manifests a strange prejudice against the consecrated space of the Sanctuary.
Its authors declare: “Above all, the place in which we wish to be met by the Church is the streets.” They further mention “bars,” “gyms,” “parks,” “coffee shops,” “stadiums,” “the workplace,” “prisons,” “orphanages,” “hospitals,” “rehabilitation centers,” “red-light districts,” “war-torn regions,” “marginal neighborhoods,” “rural areas”
Apparently the Church should be everywhere but in churches.
In a recent article I posted, I commented on Pope Francis’ recent remarks regarding the resurgence of two heretical trends of thought, Arianism and Gnosticism.
As I read this this pre-synodal document written by young people, it precisely mirrors the practical (if not formal) Arianism, a stress on the Church’s human dimension at the expense of the Divine, which the Pope decries is prevalent in the world today!
In its eagerness to embrace the world, the document laments that people perceive Christ “as distant from the human experience” and so in order to overcome this gap, the writers urges the Church to “understand more deeply the person of Christ, His life, and His humanity.”
Unfortunately, however, His divinity goes almost completely unnoticed and unmentioned.
I am always concerned when the Church feels it must consult any specific group before it is able to faithfully proclaim the truths and moral implications of the Gospel.
How easy it is to fall into the trap of preaching in a way that “tickles the ear” rather than pricks the conscience.
Do we need a Synod on Youth?
Not especially.
What we need is a resurgence of faith and a critical dialogue not with the world, but directly with Our Savior through personal prayer.
That should be the topic of the next Synod, and every other Synod thereafter.
I especially detest any commercial in which a child is made to appear smarter or brighter than his or her parents or adults in general.
Well....
In March, 300 young people selected by their Bishops were asked to draft a working document which the Bishops will consult at the Synod on Youth in October.
Regarding the Synod, Pope Francis said he hoped the event would lead to “a church with a young face.”
On Palm Sunday, the draft document they prepared was presented to the Pope.
So what have young Catholics proposed for the benefit of the Bishops’ gathering?
Well, from what I have been able to gather in researching reports about the document, it appears that there is a prevailing attitude which strongly suggests that young people have a rather intense aversion to what the Church has consistently maintained is sacred, holy and Divine.
The writers reportedly state that young people “sometimes feel that the sacred appears to be something separated from our daily lives.”
Yet, this is precisely the meaning of the word “sacred”—that which is set apart and dedicated to the Divine Godhead.
But, in the document they presented to the Pope, these so-called youthful advisers appear to disparage sanctity itself. Their document states: “Sadly, not all of us believe sainthood is something achievable and that it is a path to happiness.”
Apparently, the youthful authors believe that “erroneous ideals of model Christians feel out of reach to the average person.”
What these youngsters want instead is “a confidant without judgement.” Erring people are to be held up as the real models of faith, as a life dedicated to the sacred and religious is something considered to be distant and cold.
Priesthood and religious life are likewise devalued: “While these are sacred calls that should be celebrated, the importance of other vocations, including “lay ministry,” marriage and family, need to be recognized as of equal dignity.”
So much then for the unique role of the Priest acting in persona Christi!
As one would expect in the moral temperament of the moment, the document asks the Church to open a discussion of homosexuality and gender, “which young people are already freely discussing without taboo.”
The youngsters also note that “there is often great disagreement among young people” about contraception, abortion, homosexuality, cohabitation, marriage, and the Priesthood. In consequence, “they may want the Church to change her teaching.”
And lastly (from my perspective), the document even manifests a strange prejudice against the consecrated space of the Sanctuary.
Its authors declare: “Above all, the place in which we wish to be met by the Church is the streets.” They further mention “bars,” “gyms,” “parks,” “coffee shops,” “stadiums,” “the workplace,” “prisons,” “orphanages,” “hospitals,” “rehabilitation centers,” “red-light districts,” “war-torn regions,” “marginal neighborhoods,” “rural areas”
Apparently the Church should be everywhere but in churches.
In a recent article I posted, I commented on Pope Francis’ recent remarks regarding the resurgence of two heretical trends of thought, Arianism and Gnosticism.
As I read this this pre-synodal document written by young people, it precisely mirrors the practical (if not formal) Arianism, a stress on the Church’s human dimension at the expense of the Divine, which the Pope decries is prevalent in the world today!
In its eagerness to embrace the world, the document laments that people perceive Christ “as distant from the human experience” and so in order to overcome this gap, the writers urges the Church to “understand more deeply the person of Christ, His life, and His humanity.”
Unfortunately, however, His divinity goes almost completely unnoticed and unmentioned.
I am always concerned when the Church feels it must consult any specific group before it is able to faithfully proclaim the truths and moral implications of the Gospel.
How easy it is to fall into the trap of preaching in a way that “tickles the ear” rather than pricks the conscience.
Do we need a Synod on Youth?
Not especially.
What we need is a resurgence of faith and a critical dialogue not with the world, but directly with Our Savior through personal prayer.
That should be the topic of the next Synod, and every other Synod thereafter.
MORE NEWS ABOUT CARDINAL PELL'S TRIAL PROCEEDINGS
Attorneys for Cardinal George Pell, the former Archbishop of Sydney, were granted a request that the allegations of child sex abuse against him that date back decades be handled in two separate trials.
Cardinal Pell, 76, is the highest-ranking Vatican official to stand trial on such charges. He appeared in court on Wednesday for the second day after pleading not guilty to multiple charges involving alleged sexual offenses dating from the 1970s and 1990s when he was a Priest in the Melbourne area and later Archbishop of the southern Australian city.
The Cardinal’s attorney, Robert Richter, argued before Judge Sue Pullen that the charges from the '70s and those from the '90s were "of a completely different nature" and "separated by 20 years" and therefore should be handled discretely.
Last year, His Eminence publicly proclaimed his innocence, saying the allegations were all "false" and that "the whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me."
On Tuesday, a magistrate dismissed about half the charges against him, but concluded that he should face a jury on the remainder.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports:
"Together, the two trials would run for up to 10 weeks, including pre-trial legal argument, [prosecutor Mark] Gibson said.
He told Judge Pullen prosecutors could take up to three months to prepare for the trials, but Mr. Richter said he wanted the first trial to start sooner rather than later.
He said his client's age was a factor in wanting the trials to start soon, as was the age – 80 – and health of a key witness.
'And everyone needs to get on with their lives,' Mr Richter said."
Cardinal Pell, who was appointed by Pope Francis to be the Vatican's top financial adviser, is currently on leave from that post.
This is terrible news, of course.
The fact that there will be two separate trials increases the possibility of a conviction of the Cardinal.
The fact that this case involves one of the most prominent members of the College of Cardinals is sure to whet the appetite of eager prosecutors looking to add the conviction of a Prince of the Church to their political resumes.
There is no telling how these criminal proceedings against Cardinal Pell will encourage prosecutions of Bishops in other places around the globe.
Pope Francis, who in recent days seems to have lost his moral authority (imagine that!) regarding the matter of the sexual abuse of minors, will be powerless to get ahead of this prosecution and offer words of support for the Cardinal.
The Church continues to suffer terrible wounds resulting from the scandal of these sexual assaults upon minors by Priests, Bishops and (now allegedly) Cardinals.
Satan has unleashed perhaps what is proving to be his most powerful and effective attack against the Body of Christ.
Faith in the Lord Jesus’ promise to protect the Church and prayers to the Holy Spirit are desperately required in these days. May we, the People of God, be worthy of the moment and pray for the welfare of the Church in these days and always.
Cardinal Pell, 76, is the highest-ranking Vatican official to stand trial on such charges. He appeared in court on Wednesday for the second day after pleading not guilty to multiple charges involving alleged sexual offenses dating from the 1970s and 1990s when he was a Priest in the Melbourne area and later Archbishop of the southern Australian city.
The Cardinal’s attorney, Robert Richter, argued before Judge Sue Pullen that the charges from the '70s and those from the '90s were "of a completely different nature" and "separated by 20 years" and therefore should be handled discretely.
Last year, His Eminence publicly proclaimed his innocence, saying the allegations were all "false" and that "the whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me."
On Tuesday, a magistrate dismissed about half the charges against him, but concluded that he should face a jury on the remainder.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports:
"Together, the two trials would run for up to 10 weeks, including pre-trial legal argument, [prosecutor Mark] Gibson said.
He told Judge Pullen prosecutors could take up to three months to prepare for the trials, but Mr. Richter said he wanted the first trial to start sooner rather than later.
He said his client's age was a factor in wanting the trials to start soon, as was the age – 80 – and health of a key witness.
'And everyone needs to get on with their lives,' Mr Richter said."
Cardinal Pell, who was appointed by Pope Francis to be the Vatican's top financial adviser, is currently on leave from that post.
This is terrible news, of course.
The fact that there will be two separate trials increases the possibility of a conviction of the Cardinal.
The fact that this case involves one of the most prominent members of the College of Cardinals is sure to whet the appetite of eager prosecutors looking to add the conviction of a Prince of the Church to their political resumes.
There is no telling how these criminal proceedings against Cardinal Pell will encourage prosecutions of Bishops in other places around the globe.
Pope Francis, who in recent days seems to have lost his moral authority (imagine that!) regarding the matter of the sexual abuse of minors, will be powerless to get ahead of this prosecution and offer words of support for the Cardinal.
The Church continues to suffer terrible wounds resulting from the scandal of these sexual assaults upon minors by Priests, Bishops and (now allegedly) Cardinals.
Satan has unleashed perhaps what is proving to be his most powerful and effective attack against the Body of Christ.
Faith in the Lord Jesus’ promise to protect the Church and prayers to the Holy Spirit are desperately required in these days. May we, the People of God, be worthy of the moment and pray for the welfare of the Church in these days and always.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
KNIGHTS OF MALTA ELECT NEW GRAND MASTER
The Knights of Malta, the ancient Roman Catholic aristocratic Lay Order that weathered a governance scandal last year, has elected an Italian nobleman as its leader for life.
The 54 electors on Wednesday chose Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto as Grand Master. The 73-year-old Dalla Torre had been serving as the Lieutenant Grand Master since last year — a temporary post that now becomes a life term with his election as the 80th grand master in the Order's 900-year history.
The Knights' governance crisis was sparked by a condom distribution scandal that ended when Pope Francis intervened to oust the Knights' previous Grand Master. The Papal intervention and subsequent Vatican-accompanied reform was remarkable given the Knights have many of the trappings of a sovereign state.
The electors, who form the Council Complete of State, completed the voting in one morning. They chose their new Grand Master from among 12 eligible Knights, who have taken solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
In early 2017, Fra' Matthew Festing resigned as the order's grand master at the behest of Pope Francis, who had established a commission to investigate his removal of the Order's Grand Chancellor, Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager.
Festing refused to cooperate with the investigation and insisted the firing of von Boeselager was a sovereign act outside the Vatican's jurisdiction, although the Knights take a vow of obedience to the Pope.
Although von Boeselager was reinstated as Grand Chancellor, his firing and the Pope's intervention drew public attention to disputes within the order, which is known mainly for its massive programs around the world to provide medical care to the poor and humanitarian relief following disasters and to assist migrants and refugees.
According to a Knights' press release, "The Grand Master is elected for life by the Council Complete of State from among the professed Knights with at least 10 years in solemn vows if they are younger than 50 years of age; in the case of professed Knights who are older, but who have been members of the order for at least 10 years, three years in solemn vows are sufficient."
To be eligible for election as Grand Master, the candidate also must have demonstrated that he came from a noble family.
Newly-elected Grand Master Dalla Torre was born in Rome Dec. 9, 1944, and studied Christian archaeology and art history at the University of Rome. He taught classical Greek at Rome's Pontifical Urbanian University and served as the university's chief librarian and archivist. He has been a member of the Knights of Malta since 1985 and made his solemn profession of vows in 1993.
Perhaps, the election of a new Grand Master will end the spectacle of past scandals and allow the Knights of Malta to re-focus their efforts and energies on the noble work which has been the patrimony for centuries.
The 54 electors on Wednesday chose Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto as Grand Master. The 73-year-old Dalla Torre had been serving as the Lieutenant Grand Master since last year — a temporary post that now becomes a life term with his election as the 80th grand master in the Order's 900-year history.
The Knights' governance crisis was sparked by a condom distribution scandal that ended when Pope Francis intervened to oust the Knights' previous Grand Master. The Papal intervention and subsequent Vatican-accompanied reform was remarkable given the Knights have many of the trappings of a sovereign state.
The electors, who form the Council Complete of State, completed the voting in one morning. They chose their new Grand Master from among 12 eligible Knights, who have taken solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
In early 2017, Fra' Matthew Festing resigned as the order's grand master at the behest of Pope Francis, who had established a commission to investigate his removal of the Order's Grand Chancellor, Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager.
Festing refused to cooperate with the investigation and insisted the firing of von Boeselager was a sovereign act outside the Vatican's jurisdiction, although the Knights take a vow of obedience to the Pope.
Although von Boeselager was reinstated as Grand Chancellor, his firing and the Pope's intervention drew public attention to disputes within the order, which is known mainly for its massive programs around the world to provide medical care to the poor and humanitarian relief following disasters and to assist migrants and refugees.
According to a Knights' press release, "The Grand Master is elected for life by the Council Complete of State from among the professed Knights with at least 10 years in solemn vows if they are younger than 50 years of age; in the case of professed Knights who are older, but who have been members of the order for at least 10 years, three years in solemn vows are sufficient."
To be eligible for election as Grand Master, the candidate also must have demonstrated that he came from a noble family.
Newly-elected Grand Master Dalla Torre was born in Rome Dec. 9, 1944, and studied Christian archaeology and art history at the University of Rome. He taught classical Greek at Rome's Pontifical Urbanian University and served as the university's chief librarian and archivist. He has been a member of the Knights of Malta since 1985 and made his solemn profession of vows in 1993.
Perhaps, the election of a new Grand Master will end the spectacle of past scandals and allow the Knights of Malta to re-focus their efforts and energies on the noble work which has been the patrimony for centuries.
CNN JUST DOESN'T GET IT....BUT NEITHER DOES THE USCCB
CNN, the “fake news” network which President Trump constantly attacks, has gotten it wrong.
Again!
In an editorial column appearing on the network’s website, CNN reported that Speaker Paul Ryan had dismissed Reverend Patrick Conroy, the Jesuit priest who had been serving as House chaplain.
The day before, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had penned a letter urging Congress to restore legal protections for young immigrants who had been brought to the country illegally by their parents.
According to the editorial, while the timing of the two events appeared to be coincidental (in fact, Father Conroy had been fired by the Speaker roughly two weeks earlier but did not reveal the dismissal until his interview with the New York Times), the juxtaposition of the two events was particularly noteworthy.
According to the network, the convergence illuminated a key question: as Trump's agenda, particularly on immigration, draws more overt opposition from the leadership of the USCCB, can the GOP maintain the dominant support among white Catholics it has enjoyed since the Reagan administration?
CNN just doesn’t get it.
The real question is whether the US Bishops and the Church itself can retain support among the white Catholics who have been continually dismissed or ignored especially with regard to the USCCB's overwhelming support of illegal immigration?
White Catholics, especially men, constituted a dominant part of the electoral coalition which elected President Trump.
But, not coincidentally, recent polls show that, while the President continues to enjoy the support of white Catholics, the Republican Party has lost their support, both financial and electoral.
US Bishops frequently criticize Republican budget priorities as too harsh on the poor.
White middle-class Catholics totally disagree.
Illegal immigration continues to heighten tensions between the Bishops and the faithful. And the gap between the Bishops and their flocks is widening.
White Catholics supporting the President's immigration initiatives find themselves increasingly isolated or abandoned by their Bishops who are vociferous in their enthusiasm and encouragement of the American Church’s demographic transformation, with Hispanics (overwhelmingly present in this country illegally) represent a growing portion of the Church.
As the USCCB continues to advocate for illegal immigrants and criticize the President's agenda by way of increasingly critical documents, the Bishops are alienating white middle-class Catholics who have been the backbone of the Church’s spiritual and temporal support.
CNN simply got it wrong.
Again.
It’s not the GOP which is danger of losing white Catholics, it’s the Church itself that’s in danger.
More importantly and sadly, the USCCB membership is as clueless about this as is CNN.
Again!
In an editorial column appearing on the network’s website, CNN reported that Speaker Paul Ryan had dismissed Reverend Patrick Conroy, the Jesuit priest who had been serving as House chaplain.
The day before, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had penned a letter urging Congress to restore legal protections for young immigrants who had been brought to the country illegally by their parents.
According to the editorial, while the timing of the two events appeared to be coincidental (in fact, Father Conroy had been fired by the Speaker roughly two weeks earlier but did not reveal the dismissal until his interview with the New York Times), the juxtaposition of the two events was particularly noteworthy.
According to the network, the convergence illuminated a key question: as Trump's agenda, particularly on immigration, draws more overt opposition from the leadership of the USCCB, can the GOP maintain the dominant support among white Catholics it has enjoyed since the Reagan administration?
CNN just doesn’t get it.
The real question is whether the US Bishops and the Church itself can retain support among the white Catholics who have been continually dismissed or ignored especially with regard to the USCCB's overwhelming support of illegal immigration?
White Catholics, especially men, constituted a dominant part of the electoral coalition which elected President Trump.
But, not coincidentally, recent polls show that, while the President continues to enjoy the support of white Catholics, the Republican Party has lost their support, both financial and electoral.
US Bishops frequently criticize Republican budget priorities as too harsh on the poor.
White middle-class Catholics totally disagree.
Illegal immigration continues to heighten tensions between the Bishops and the faithful. And the gap between the Bishops and their flocks is widening.
White Catholics supporting the President's immigration initiatives find themselves increasingly isolated or abandoned by their Bishops who are vociferous in their enthusiasm and encouragement of the American Church’s demographic transformation, with Hispanics (overwhelmingly present in this country illegally) represent a growing portion of the Church.
As the USCCB continues to advocate for illegal immigrants and criticize the President's agenda by way of increasingly critical documents, the Bishops are alienating white middle-class Catholics who have been the backbone of the Church’s spiritual and temporal support.
CNN simply got it wrong.
Again.
It’s not the GOP which is danger of losing white Catholics, it’s the Church itself that’s in danger.
More importantly and sadly, the USCCB membership is as clueless about this as is CNN.
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
CARDINAL PELL TO STAND TRIAL FOR ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS
Cardinal George Pell, the most senior cleric to face criminal charges for the alleged sexual assault of a minor, will stand trial on multiple counts.
Belinda Wallington, a Melbourne Magistrate, announced her decision after a month-long hearing at which numerous witnesses testified. Half the charges were dropped, but enough evidence was presented to convince the judge to commit the Cardinal to trial.
Cardinal Pell offered no response after the decision was announced. His Eminence has long portested his innocence and had entered a plea of “not guilty".
Prosecutors confirmed that the Cardinal has surrendered his passport and will not be allowed to leave the country pending the finding of a verdict at trial.
The Cardinal has been charged with crimes related to an alleged history of sexual abuse that has spanned three decades.
Lawyers representing His Eminence issued a statement indicating that the Cardinal continues to steadfastly maintain his innocence. "He will defend the remaining charges. He would like to thank all those who have supported him from both here in Australia and overseas during this exacting time," the statement said.
The Holy See issued a brief statement which said in part that the Vaticann had "taken note" of the court's decision. "Last year, the Holy Father granted Cardinal Pell a leave of absence so he could defend himself from the accusations. The leave of absence is still in place," the statement said.
Pope Francis is now faced with having to decide what to do with Cardinal Pell's position as Finance Minister, a post left vacant since Pell was placed on a leave of absence in June 2017.
The Pope has been trying to push through financial reform at the Vatican and had hand-picked Cardinal Pell to help him do that. With Cardinal Pell's absence those reforms have effectively stalled.
But the Holy Father finds himself once again in a difficult, if not untenable, situation involving sexual abuse by a high ranking cleric. The Pope just recently was forced to apologize for defending a Chilean Bishop against accusations of cover-up and, over the weekend, hosted three Chilean sex abuse victims at the Vatican to try to make amends for ignoring and disbelieving their accusations.
When allegations of historical sexual abuse by Cardinal Pell first came to light in 2016 the Pope stressed that "we must avoid a media verdict based on gossip. It's in the hands of the justice system and one cannot judge before the justice system," His Holiness said. "After the justice system speaks, I will speak."
In a statement, the Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart declined to make any comment in relation to the decision to try Cardinal Pell, saying he had confidence in the judicial system in Australia. "Justice must now take its course," he said.
Let us pray to the Holy Spirit that truth and justice will both be served in the verdict which will be announced at the end of the forthcoming trial.
May the Lord bless His Church in Australia at this sad moment assaulted as the Church is on almost every Continent by charges of the sexual abuse of minors by Priests and, increasingly so, by Bishops.
The endless scandals are taking a toll on the confidence which the lay faithful have historically placed in those ordained to the Sacred Priesthood.
Whether or not the Church will recover, if ever, will determine what moral authority the Church commands in the future.
Hell has opened its “gates” to attack the Church. Let us pray that the Church will indeed prevail against them.
Belinda Wallington, a Melbourne Magistrate, announced her decision after a month-long hearing at which numerous witnesses testified. Half the charges were dropped, but enough evidence was presented to convince the judge to commit the Cardinal to trial.
Cardinal Pell offered no response after the decision was announced. His Eminence has long portested his innocence and had entered a plea of “not guilty".
Prosecutors confirmed that the Cardinal has surrendered his passport and will not be allowed to leave the country pending the finding of a verdict at trial.
The Cardinal has been charged with crimes related to an alleged history of sexual abuse that has spanned three decades.
Lawyers representing His Eminence issued a statement indicating that the Cardinal continues to steadfastly maintain his innocence. "He will defend the remaining charges. He would like to thank all those who have supported him from both here in Australia and overseas during this exacting time," the statement said.
The Holy See issued a brief statement which said in part that the Vaticann had "taken note" of the court's decision. "Last year, the Holy Father granted Cardinal Pell a leave of absence so he could defend himself from the accusations. The leave of absence is still in place," the statement said.
Pope Francis is now faced with having to decide what to do with Cardinal Pell's position as Finance Minister, a post left vacant since Pell was placed on a leave of absence in June 2017.
The Pope has been trying to push through financial reform at the Vatican and had hand-picked Cardinal Pell to help him do that. With Cardinal Pell's absence those reforms have effectively stalled.
But the Holy Father finds himself once again in a difficult, if not untenable, situation involving sexual abuse by a high ranking cleric. The Pope just recently was forced to apologize for defending a Chilean Bishop against accusations of cover-up and, over the weekend, hosted three Chilean sex abuse victims at the Vatican to try to make amends for ignoring and disbelieving their accusations.
When allegations of historical sexual abuse by Cardinal Pell first came to light in 2016 the Pope stressed that "we must avoid a media verdict based on gossip. It's in the hands of the justice system and one cannot judge before the justice system," His Holiness said. "After the justice system speaks, I will speak."
In a statement, the Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart declined to make any comment in relation to the decision to try Cardinal Pell, saying he had confidence in the judicial system in Australia. "Justice must now take its course," he said.
Let us pray to the Holy Spirit that truth and justice will both be served in the verdict which will be announced at the end of the forthcoming trial.
May the Lord bless His Church in Australia at this sad moment assaulted as the Church is on almost every Continent by charges of the sexual abuse of minors by Priests and, increasingly so, by Bishops.
The endless scandals are taking a toll on the confidence which the lay faithful have historically placed in those ordained to the Sacred Priesthood.
Whether or not the Church will recover, if ever, will determine what moral authority the Church commands in the future.
Hell has opened its “gates” to attack the Church. Let us pray that the Church will indeed prevail against them.
COUNCIL OF CARDINAL APPEAR READY TO PRESENT POPE FRANCIS WITH DRAFT OF NEW APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION FOR THE REFORM OF THE ROMAN CURIA
The Council of Cardinal Advisors has assembled with Pope Francis in Rome for the third and last day of their 24th session.
The primary focus of their work has been dedicated to the drafting a new Apostolic Constitution of the Roman Curia, which will be submitted to the Holy Father for his final approval.
The topics making up the new Constitution include: 1) the Curia’s service to the Holy Father and the local Churches; 2) the pastoral character of their activities; 3) the establishing and tasks of a Third Section of the Secretariat of State; and 4) the proclamation of the Gospel and the missionary spirit as guiding principles for the entire Curia’s activities.
Along with fulfilling the Apostolic ministry of the Office of Peter, Pope Francis appeared to be elected for the expressed purpose of reforming the Curia which had become moribund as a result of bureaucratic ineptitude and departmental infighting.
Whether the reforms contained in the long-awaited Apostolic Constitution will pinpoint these deficiencies and apply corrective measures is the hope of many within and without the Curial hallways.
How the Curia itself will accept and apply the remedies remains to be seen.
In a related new story, Cardinal Sean O’Malley presented to the Cardinals the efforts that have been made to protect minors and vulnerable adults in the Church.
He also made reference to the recent meeting between the Survivor Advisory Panel and the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, and stressed the importance of listening to the experiences of abuse victims and having their stories as a starting point.
Over the last days sessions have taken place in the mornings and afternoons, and the next meeting of the Council will take place from 11th to 13th of June.
The primary focus of their work has been dedicated to the drafting a new Apostolic Constitution of the Roman Curia, which will be submitted to the Holy Father for his final approval.
The topics making up the new Constitution include: 1) the Curia’s service to the Holy Father and the local Churches; 2) the pastoral character of their activities; 3) the establishing and tasks of a Third Section of the Secretariat of State; and 4) the proclamation of the Gospel and the missionary spirit as guiding principles for the entire Curia’s activities.
Along with fulfilling the Apostolic ministry of the Office of Peter, Pope Francis appeared to be elected for the expressed purpose of reforming the Curia which had become moribund as a result of bureaucratic ineptitude and departmental infighting.
Whether the reforms contained in the long-awaited Apostolic Constitution will pinpoint these deficiencies and apply corrective measures is the hope of many within and without the Curial hallways.
How the Curia itself will accept and apply the remedies remains to be seen.
In a related new story, Cardinal Sean O’Malley presented to the Cardinals the efforts that have been made to protect minors and vulnerable adults in the Church.
He also made reference to the recent meeting between the Survivor Advisory Panel and the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, and stressed the importance of listening to the experiences of abuse victims and having their stories as a starting point.
Over the last days sessions have taken place in the mornings and afternoons, and the next meeting of the Council will take place from 11th to 13th of June.
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