Posted on 04/12/2018 3:49:51 PM PDT by ebb tide
Pope Francis has issued a written apology to the bishops of Chile regarding his handling of sex abuse accusations made against a Chilean bishop who has enjoyed his support for years.
Following an investigation on the part of the Vatican that involved interviewing a total of 64 sex abuse victims in Chile and New York regarding Chilean bishop Juan Barros, Francis recognizes that he has committed “grave errors” with regard to the case.
“Regarding me, I recognize and I wish that you convey [to others], that I have fallen into grave errors of evaluation and perception of the situation, due especially to a lack of true and balanced information,” Francis wrote in a letter to the bishops of Chile signed on April 8 and published by the Vatican today.
“I now ask for the forgiveness of all of those whom I offended and I hope to do so personally in the coming weeks, in meetings that I will have with the people who have been interviewed,” he added.
However, the pope did not mention the need for justice against those who have committed sexual abuse, and called instead for “mercy,” warning against the temptation for what he called “verborrea,” which is a colloquial term used to mean “verbosity” or more informally, “verbal diarrhea.” He also made a cryptic warning against “remaining in ‘universals,’” an expression he did not explain, but which may refer to the tendency to generalize. He suggested that Chilean Catholics pray over the matter.
“Today, more than ever, we cannot again fall into the temptation of verbosity or to remain in ‘universals,’” wrote Francis. “These days, let us look to Christ. Let us see his life and his acts, especially when he shows himself to be compassionate and merciful towards those who have erred. Let us love truly. Let us ask for the wisdom of the heart and let us allow ourselves to be converted.”
Francis also wrote of the need to restore “the confidence that has been broken by our errors and sins and to heal certain wounds that do not cease to bleed in Chilean society.”
The pope’s apology to the Chilean bishops follows an explosive controversy in Chile and worldwide regarding Francis’ disparaging remarks towards those who have accused Bishop Juan Barros of knowing about their sexual abuse at the hands of one of his priests. Many were also outraged at Francis' claim that he had not received any testimony from those who said they witnessed Barros’ complicity in their sexual abuse.
Although such accusations have been public for years, Pope Francis has steadfastly defended Barros and has publicly dismissed his accusers’ claims as “slander” against the bishop.
Following a recent trip to Chile, in which the controversy was renewed, Francis publicly stated that no victims had approached him with information about Barros.
"The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, then I will speak. There is not a single piece of proof against him,” Francis told the press. “Everything is slander. Is this clear?" He also later stated: “No one has come forward, they haven't provided any evidence for a judgment. This is all a bit vague, it's something that can't be accepted.”
On his outgoing flight from Chile, Francis again spoke on the case and told the media, “You, in all good will, tell me that there are victims, but I haven’t seen any, because they haven’t come forward.”
However, the Associated Press reported in February that Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston and president of the Vatican’s Commission for the Protection of Minors, had already received from several members of the same commission a signed testimony by a victim on Barros’ witnessing of the sexual abuse, and that O’Malley had told them he had delivered it to Pope Francis personally.
Although O’Malley did not comment on the Associated Press story, he publicly rebuked Francis for his dismissive statements regarding the accusations against Barros, which had been made by sex abuse victims.
“It is understandable that Pope Francis’ statements yesterday in Santiago, Chile were a source of great pain for survivors of sexual abuse by clergy or any other perpetrator,” said O’Malley, and added that the pope’s words “abandon those who have suffered reprehensible criminal violations of their human dignity and relegate survivors to discredited exile.”
RELATED: Pope Francis’ claim he never heard from abuse victims regarding Chilean bishop is false, AP reports
"Pope Francis makes strange apology to Chilean bishops for ‘grave errors’ in sex abuse case"
On his outgoing flight from Chile, Francis again spoke on the case and told the media, “You, in all good will, tell me that there are victims, but I haven’t seen any, because they haven’t come forward.”
However, the Associated Press reported in February that Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston and president of the Vatican’s Commission for the Protection of Minors, had already received from several members of the same commission a signed testimony by a victim on Barros’ witnessing of the sexual abuse, and that O’Malley had told them he had delivered it to Pope Francis personally.
There were victims of Boston archdiocese abusers (during the Bernard Cardinal Law era) who stated that when they were finally allowed to explain to Cardinal Law or others in the archdiocese what had happened and by whom they had been abused, the Cardinal listened to their story with seeming interest, and when they were done, pronounced the blessing given at the end of holy Confession, and told them “I’ve just heard your confession, and everything you’ve told me is now covered by the confessional vow of silence.”
>>>There were victims of Boston archdiocese abusers (during the Bernard Cardinal Law era) who stated that when they were finally allowed to explain to Cardinal Law or others in the archdiocese what had happened and by whom they had been abused, the Cardinal listened to their story with seeming interest, and when they were done, pronounced the blessing given at the end of holy Confession, and told them “I’ve just heard your confession, and everything you’ve told me is now covered by the confessional vow of silence.”<<<
That would be a misunderstanding of the seal of confession. The seal only applies if there is a confession of the penitents sins.
Informing a Bishop and official of crimes being committed, especially if it was not intended to be a confession would therefore not be a confession, and therefore not under any seal. So if the Bishop said that I would have to wonder if He even knew what the sacrament was.
I'm certain he knew what the sacrament was. He also knew that sexual abuse of boys was contrary to the vows his priests had taken, in addition to being against the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He nonetheless stayed quiet about what he knew for many years, and as the incidents proliferated, transferred the offending priests to different parishes where they could begin grooming a new flock of child victims.
What’s the penalty for “grave errors” for Comrade Pope? 60 lashes? No fruit with his oatmeal? No young boys for a month?
Heathen.
You'd best to get on your knees and ask God to forgive you...no mere mortal can forgive all the heresy and destruction you've wrought.
Because of you, Frankie...I am no longer Catholic.
Nor will I entertain the possibility of returning to the Church...at least as long as you are a part of it.
Was Bergoglio drunk at the time?
I'm not asking as a challenge to the veracity of the story. I'm just interested in a source or link, because depending on the circumstances it would have resulted in automatic excommunication of Cardinal Law for sacrilegious abuse of a Sacrament.
This is absolutely a canonical delict.
We must all endeavor to live good, full, holy, Sacramental Catholic lifes, and by God's strength use our spiritual weapons against the Evil One.
It was the testimony of one of the victims, given as an adult.
I saw it in one of the documentaries about that time, in Boston during the late ‘60s, through the ‘70s and into the ‘80s.
It was one of the things that stuck with me most vividly. It was so utterly nasty, despicable, and dishonest.
I will try to dig it up, but it will take time.
I pray God give me the strength to see this through.
It is not the only crisis we have faced with a false Pope...I suspect it will not be the last.
God will prevail.
I'm fed up with the perversions and the lying and the coverups and the blatant attempts to destroy the Church by these people.
Due to contradictory interpretations of the Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris laetitia,” discontent and confusion are spreading among the faithful throughout the world.The urgent request for a clarification submitted to the Holy Father by approximately one million faithful, more than 250 scholars and several cardinals, has received no response.
It went on to briefly and clearly reassert a six-point statement of faith on the basics of Catholic moral law which have been directly undermined by this disastrous pontiicate. Whole statement here:
We need to make copies of this statement and present them to our bishoips asking them urgently to proclaim these truths.
As for removing Francis from the papacy? A pope can theoretically be deposed for heresy, but nobody knows who would have the authority to conduct the necessary trial. Retired bishop Rene Gracida of Corpus Christi TX has proposed a kind of synod. I hope they can pull it off.
Contact your bishop. Pray hard.
Lord, this makes me sick.
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