Posted on 04/23/2010 6:49:45 AM PDT by marshmallow
Rome, Italy, Apr 22, 2010 / 01:46 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Vatican analyst Andrea Tornielli spoke with Joseph Magro, 38, one of eight victims of clerical abuse who met with Pope Benedict XVI during his recent visit to Malta. Magro said the meeting “was truly a most beautiful gift, after all this suffering, we all cried, even the Pope.”
In the interview published by the Italian daily Il Giornale, Magro, who proudly showed the rosary he was given by the Holy Father in Malta, shared details about his meeting with the Pope.
“I did not have any faith in priests. Now, after this moving experience, I have hope again. You people in Italy have a saint. Do you realize that? You have a saint,” he said, referring to Pope Benedict XVI.
Later, explaining his discussion with the Holy Father, Magro said, “When I told him my name was Joseph, the Pope’s eyes grew wide and he said, ‘Joseph, like me!’ Then I asked him: ‘Why did the priest do this to me, why did he abuse me?’ He replied that he prays for me and we then prayed together.”
Magro said he could see that the Pope “felt great sorrow. I could see he was suffering with me. I didn’t want to make him suffer, I didn’t tell him about the abuse that I suffered, but he wept with me, even though he had no fault in what happened.”
After admitting that he did not expect to have this emotional encounter with the Holy Father, Magro said, “This was a great gift for me, to be welcomed in this way and to be listened to by him. I heard his speech at the airport, on Saturday afternoon. He did not say anything about the problem of abuse. But this morning (Sunday, April 18), at 9:00 a.m., I received a call: I was to go to the bishop’s house because I was going to see the Pope.”
“I finally have a little bit of peace thanks to this encounter. He gave me a rosary which I now wear around my neck,” Magro said
HOPE you can believe in. :*)
Glad the Pope is meeting with all these people in person. I think that goes a long way in helping them heal after feeling betrayed by their abusers!
I agree.
I agree also. Let teh healing and restoration begin.
And 3,2,1. Here come the anti Catholic bigots.
It is getting to the point that I cringe to open up any non caucus or devotional Catholic threads as the bigotry is increasing in proportion to the remedies and true contritoin offered by the Church, especially by Benedict.
We are truly under attack and I am saddened that the true pain of the victims is fueling so much falsehood against Holy Mother Church.
My mom's catty friend told me “Your fiance is so smart so tall and so gorgeous, and OF COURSE the other girls JUST CAN'T STAND IT!!!”
Remember that when you see the Catholic Church under attack, that much of the rancor grows out of envy, from what I can see. They wish they had the illustrious history, worldwide reach, and influence that the Catholic Church enjoys.
This from a non-Catholic, by the way.
http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=637
Vatican struggle over abuse policy
By Phil Lawler | April 23, 2010 11:09 AM
With the latest revelations by Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, a clear picture begins to emerge from what had been a haze of confusion about the Vatican's approach to sex-abuse complaints.
There was a conflict within the Roman Curia over how these complaints should be handled. That conflict apparently endured through much of the pontificate of John Paul II. It ended with the election of Benedict XVI.
Writing (in French) on his religious-affairs blog, veteran Vatican analyst Jean-Marie Guenois of Le Figaro explains what happened. The Congregation for the Clergy, under Cardinal Castrillon, argued for protective treatment of accused abusers. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) under Cardinal Ratzinger, argued for decisive disciplinary action. Sometimes Cardinal Ratzinger had his way, as in the handling of the Groër case; sometimes he was frustrated, as with Maciel case; sometimes the results were indecisive, as with the Burresi case.
Then in 2001, after the abuse scandal exploded in the US, Cardinal Ratzinger won a major victory, with the assignment of abuse cases to the CDF. The lenient attitude of the Congregation for Clergy was no longer a factor; prompt and serious discipline was possible. The second, decisive victory came in 2005 with the election of Pope Ratzinger. Within weeks the Maciel and Burresi cases were resolved.
There's a story here with a simple plot line. The man wearing the white hat is the Pope.
See the bit from Phil Lawler, above.
************************
I do agree.
Yes ... he’s wearing a white hat in both the literal and figurative senses of the word.
Happy sigh. Quick prayer. Thank you.
AA-1025 The manuscripts of the Anti-apostle? Must read.
Thanks for posting that. Was looking for something to prove that our Pope had tried his best to stop these men. I knew I wasn’t going to hear anything on the main street media. We have to double our prayers for him. Thanks again.
bookmark
Ping!
The book is about a nurse who took care of a man who was in an accident. Trying to find his identity she went through his belongings and found notes he was taking on how to destroy the Catholic Church from within by entering the priesthood. How he recruted other man. Very good book...you see the fruits of that...not good..in the past few years. The term the “smoke has entered the church” is very clear on what that means. You should read it.
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