Posted on 10/12/2018 7:23:51 AM PDT by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis accepted the resignation Friday of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl after he became entangled in two major sexual abuse and cover-up scandals and lost the support of many in his flock.
But in a letter released by Wuerl’s office, Francis praised his longtime ally and suggested Wuerl had unfairly become a scapegoat, having made some “mistakes” in handling sex abuse cases, but not having covered them up.
With the resignation, Wuerl becomes the most prominent head to roll in the scandal roiling the Catholic Church after his predecessor as Washington archbishop, Theodore McCarrick, was forced to resign as cardinal over allegations he sexually abused at least two minors and adult seminarians.
A Vatican statement Friday said Francis had accepted Wuerl’s resignation, but named no replacement; in his letter, the pope asked him to stay on in a temporary capacity until a new archbishop is found.
The decision came after months in which Wuerl, who turns 78 in November, initially downplayed the scandal, insisted on his own good record, but then progressively came to the conclusion that he could no longer lead the archdiocese.
“The Holy Father’s decision to provide new leadership to the Archdiocese can allow all of the faithful, clergy, religious and lay, to focus on healing and the future,” Wuerl said in a statement Friday. “Once again for any past errors in judgment I apologize and ask for pardon.”
In his letter accepting the resignation, Francis said he recognized that in asking to retire, Wuerl had put the interests and unity of his flock ahead of his own ambitions, as all shepherds must do.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
I wonder what this means for his Mini-Me, Bishop David Zubic here in Pittsburgh?
Amid scandal?
No the time to have done that is long past. This is way late
Wuerl is a creep. I had to watch him talk about God to children for 8 years while I taught at a DC Catholic school. Always felt he was a hypocrite, even before I knew anything about this.
When it comes to gay sex scandals, this jerk is defiant and defensive. He only reluctantly reacts and when he does, it's halfhearted and empty rhetoric. I think he must be in on the scandal. Some day people will look back on Francis and compare him to a Borgia pope.
As for the Holocaust, Pope Pius XII saved 860,000 Jewish lives. Show me another organization that did as much.
I know people here in Pittsburgh who have known Wuerl all the way back to their days in grade school together.
To the last they are shocked, horrified, and terribly disappointed in him.
It’s a quote from a movie, just the whole “mistakes were make” line reminded me of Francis’ statement here.
Yes, indeed. And the Jesuits have come a long, long way from your namesake.
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