Bishops reject Vatican abuse cover-up report (BBC alleges BXVI of secret oath)

MSNBC ^ | October 2, 2006

[NYer]

LONDON - Roman Catholic bishops in England and Wales rejected as “false and entirely misleading” a BBC documentary about what it said was a cover-up of child sexual abuse under a system enforced by Pope Benedict XVI in his previous job.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, head of the Catholic Church in the two countries, plans to write to Mark Thompson, director general of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) this week to protest about the program, aired late on Sunday.

The documentary, by “Panorama”, the BBC’s flagship current affairs show, examined what it described as a secret document written in 1962 that sets out a procedure for dealing with child sex abuse within the Catholic Church.

The document, called “Crimen Sollicitationis”, imposes an oath of secrecy on the child victim, the priest dealing with the allegation and any witness. Breaking that oath would result in excommunication, the BBC said.

“The procedure was intended to protect a priest’s reputation until the church had investigated, but in practice it can offer a blueprint for cover-up,” the BBC documentary said.

“The man in charge of enforcing it for 20 years was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the man made Pope last year,” reporter Colm O’Gorman said in the program “Sex Crimes and the Vatican”.

Ratzinger was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department that enforces doctrine, from 1981 until his election as Pope in April, 2005. The Vatican said on Monday it was studying the transcript of the show but had no immediate comment.

[NYer]

This story is breaking on various fronts.

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From This London

Pope 'led cover-up of child abuse by priests'

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And from American Papist

The BBC tries to dig up dirt on the pope, ends up flinging it on itself...

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And from Edward N. Peters, JD, JCD, a Canon lawyer ...

Does the BBC enjoy being so far behind the fact curve?

Apparently the BBC thinks that if the Vatican publishes a document in 2001, (which the Catholic press reported on in early 2002), but the BBC only notices it five years later, the document must have been a deep dark Vatican secret till then. Quick, what's British English for "Get real"?

Britain's Evening Standard reports that the BBC just aired a "Panorama" story about how Pope Benedict XVI, as head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, sent a "secret Vatican edict" to bishops around the world (right, like that's a group that could keep a secret if it tried), an edict so secret "that bishops had to keep it locked in a safe at all times", which ordered a massive cover-up of clergy sexual misconduct. Besides narrating the usual litany of "worst-possible-interpretations" of various statements in the document, the Standard couldn't resist piling on with "The [BBC] investigation could not come at a worse time for Pope Benedict, who is desperately trying to mend the Church's relations with the Muslim world..." What the Standard thinks ecclesiastical relations with Muslims have to do with clergy sex abuse is anybody's guess. Maybe it's British humor, you know, like the Standard asserting that Ratzinger's first name is "Thomas". (I don't get it; I mean, the man is only the pope, for crying out loud. Can't the Standard get his name right?)

Anyway, more than a year ago, when another British press organ, The Observer, tried to hype the alleged cover-up angle of this very same story, I blogged on it (27 April 2005), pointing out that Cdl. Joseph Ratzinger's so-called secret document was published in the official journal of the Holy See, the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, vol. 93 (2001) on pp. 785-788; for that matter, it was available on the Vatican website for at least several months before The Observer thought it broke the story in April of 2005. Now c'mon: it's bad enough the BBC and the Standard don't read the Acta Apostolicae Sedis; don't they even read The Observer?

Anyway, as I said back then, apparently Pope Benedict has a lot to learn about how to keep documents secret: like not publishing them in journals distributed around the world. What surprises me (though only mildly; this is main-line British journalism we're dealing with) is that I get to say it all again.

Discuss the CDF document, if you wish, O Media Elites; debate it even; but don't pretend that it was some sort of dark secret all this time, or portray yourself as valiant crusaders in search of the hidden truths, braving Vatican fury to inform the ignorant masses. Cuz it wasn't, and you're not.

Resources: John Paul II's enabling legislation (AAS 93: 737-739); Cdl. Joseph Ratzinger's implementing letter (English translations are widely available). Follow-up on British hierarchy replies.

Ah, the original "Panorama" segment is now on-line here (it runs a little under 40 minutes). It contains its own share of serious mistakes and misunderstandings (which I will address), but the sloppy Evening Standard report on the BBC program, critiqued above, has certainly compounded the confusion for everyone.

[RobbyS]

The "BEEB" is simply letting out its unreasoning anti-papalism. streak. It's a follow up on the Regensburg speech, which it managed to tunr inot Muslim rage. Maybe we should dig up Guy Fawkes and have him blow up their GHQ.

How does one spell bigot? BBC.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I don't get what all the hubbub is about.

Here is the 1962 document "Crimen Sollicitationis" referenced by the BBC Panorama documentary. It's clear that this refers to the crime of soliciting sex in the course of a sacramental Confession. Nothing new here, as far as I can see: the Catholic Church maintains the confidentiality of the accuser, the accused, and the Sacrament of Confession itself (which it is has always been canonically obliged to do.)

Far from contituting a cover-up, it actually requires investigation and prosecution.

Looks like BBC is just trying to put a hit on Pope Benedict XVI. Dumb twits.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I don't get what all the hubbub is about.

Here is the 1962 document "Crimen Sollicitationis" referenced by the BBC Panorama documentary. It's clear that this refers to the crime of soliciting sex in the course of a sacramental Confession. Nothing new here, as far as I can see: the Catholic Church maintains the confidentiality of the accuser, the accused, and the Sacrament of Confession itself (which it is has always been canonically obliged to do.)

Far from contituting a cover-up, it actually requires investigation and prosecution.

Looks like BBC is just trying to put a hit on Pope Benedict XVI. Dumb twits.

[Scotswife]

As usual...when you try to get to heart of "serious charges" made by liberals, you find misrepresentations, quotes out of context, innuendo, and plain 'ole falsehoods.
They really need some new plays in their playbook.

[Jaded]

That's true about the liberal MO. However there are those, even on this forum, who would believe it.

[Scotswife]

"That's true about the liberal MO. However there are those, even on this forum, who would believe it."

Well..anyone who has a personal dislike for the pope will welcome this misinterpretation. How do you tell people they really need to read the WHOLE DOCUMENT and that they need to learn the HISTORY of the document and the SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES the document it addresses?
All they hear is "coverup" and start nodding their heads in agreement.

[FourtySeven]

Good resource thread.

[marshmallow]

The Panorama program will simply reinforce currently existing prejudices among the uninformed and anti-Catholic and have little or no effect on faithful Catholics.

However, it is one more piece of evidence of the growing hostility and antagonism towards the Church, which seems to be growing exponentially. The enemies of religion have really got their knives out since Benedict XVI ascended to the papacy.

Intellectually rigorous, outspokenly Catholic, thoughtful and understated, lacking John Paul II's charismatic body language and German to boot he makes the perfect hate figure for the British chattering classes and secular humanists.

The original sex scandal failed to have the desired effect for which the enemies of the Church were hoping. On the contrary, it has emerged stronger and more vital. The last resort is to try the "cover-up" angle in the hopes that this will help to weaken Benedict XVI and the Church. When attempting to bring the Church into disrepute, it's usually sufficient to say that magic word..."secret"...to convince the hoi polloi that the Pope is up to no good.

[trisham]

Oy vey. Another manufactured "crisis".

[trisham]

However, it is one more piece of evidence of the growing hostility and antagonism towards the Church, which seems to be growing exponentially. The enemies of religion have really got their knives out since Benedict XVI ascended to the papacy.

Intellectually rigorous, outspokenly Catholic, thoughtful and understated, lacking John Paul II's charismatic body language and German to boot he makes the perfect hate figure for the British chattering classes and secular humanists.

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Agreed. Excellent post.

[Nihil Obstat]

Papal Prayer Intentions for September

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 31, 2006 (Zenit.org).- During the month of September, Benedict XVI will pray especially for responsible use of the means of social communication.

Specifically, the Pope's general intention for September is: "That those who use the means of social communication may always do so consciously and responsibly."

The Apostleship of Prayer announced the general and missionary prayer intentions chosen by the Holy Father.

The Pontiff, along with thousands of faithful worldwide, offers his prayers and sacrifices for the intentions.

The Pope's missionary prayer intention for the month is: "For the People of God in mission lands: may they realize their right and duty to keep up-to-date with developments in the faith and the Church."
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He prays for them, and they attack him all the more.

[ducdriver]

He prays for them, and they attack him all the more.

Proof of his holiness.