Posted on 10/01/2018 9:50:56 AM PDT by sitetest
A new watchdog, Better Church Governance, plans to produce a dossier on all the cardinal electors
US lay people are launching a new initiative to assess cardinals’ records on combatting abuse and corruption. Better Church Governance has signed up former FBI agents as investigators, led by Phil Scala, a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent.
Academics, lawyers and editors will help to draw up a dossier, “The Red Hat Report”, which will cover all cardinals able to vote in the next papal conclave – that is, those under the age of 80.
It aims to increase transparency and honesty in Church governance, to “empower members of the Church to courageously stand up for the truth”, and to help the cardinals themselves.
Better Church Governance (BCG) say in a briefing document: “Cardinals have commented that accurately knowing the backgrounds of the other cardinal electors is the most precarious part of each conclave. Our mission is to change this.”
The report “will not endorse or attack any cardinal,” BCG say. Rather, they say they intend to help the hierarchy in the work of reforming the Church. BCG says that “lay movements have often outstripped the Church hierarchy” in matters of reform, pointing to St Catherine of Siena’s advice to the popes, and St Peter Damian’s belief “that in ages of abuse or corrupt, interventions by foreign sovereigns and average laity were tasked with the maternal correction of the hierarchy”.
The project is led by Philip Nielsen, Director of Research at the Centre for Evangelical Catholicism. Jacob Imam, BCG’s Operations Director, told the Catholic Herald that the idea had been in the works since last spring, “but it was not until the Viganò letter broke that we saw what a great need there was”.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicherald.co.uk ...
Ping.
Another article on the same group:
ROME - As U.S. bishops work to formulate an official response to clerical sexual abuse and cover-up, a new watchdog group backed by wealthy Catholics is seeking to take matters into their own hands.
A new organization, which held an RSVP-only event on Sunday evening, plans to spend more than $1 million in the next year investigating every member of the College of Cardinals “to name those credibly accused in scandal, abuse, or cover-ups.”
“The Better Church Governance Group” held its launch on the campus of the Catholic University of America (CUA) with the stated intention of producing its “Red Hat Report” by April 2020.
A million bucks isn’t too bad a start.
Since we have a good idea which seminaries are most compromised, we should focus on interviews there.
We know many of the seminaries that are a mess. But I suspect most or all the others are in egregious condition, as well.
Well it is a good start.
My diocese has hired a formal Federal prosecutor to spin for them. He has been busy attacking the PA grand jury report.
This is devolving into a battle of hired guns from a corrupt DOJ.
"“The Better Church Governance Group” held its launch on the campus of the Catholic University of America (CUA)
"new watchdog group backed by wealthy Catholics"
"The event was not sponsored by The Catholic University of America nor a university-sponsored organization.”
"Organizers say it will be conducted by a team of, to date, nearly 100 researchers, academics, investigators, and journalists..."
Ver-r-r-r-y inter-r-r-resting.
"Jacob Imam" (a fairly new Catholic convert from Islam) and and "Philip Nielsen" are the only two names named. Anybody know who these people are?
Sounds just like what the Doctor (like Ss Catherine of Siena and maybe Turibius of Mongrovejo and Robert Bellarmine) ordered.
A tip 'o my hat to all of them.
The liars investigating the liars.
The corrupt investigating the corrupt.
Who are the corrupt liars who are investigating? Wealthy Catholic donors? Ex-FBI agents?
First, if you don't trust today's FBI, keep in mind that these are "ex" and "retired" FBI agents. It's barely possible these are guys 'n' gals who got out because they didn't like the Obamunist direction the FBI was going? Maybe?
Second,I'm betting the self-selected subgroup that WANTS to do this kind of work, might be the very ones who WANT to do the right thing?
I'm awaiting more info, but as of now I am provisionally willing to see it as a Very Good Thing.
I live in the DC area. I’ve known more than one or two federal law enforcement folks, including FBI. The rank and file are generally pretty decent folks.
I’m not even provisionally willing to see this as a “Very Good Thing.” But I’m open to the possibility that it might not be terrible. I think it’s a necessary part of how it all must unfold, but have no idea where this will lead in the short (0 - 10 years) or medium (10 - 100 years) term.
You make some compelling arguments. Thank you.
Would like very much to see who else is in this group. I vaguely remember seeing something some time back about an oversight group that involved “Catholics” such as Leon Panetta (spit!)
BTW, did a search on “The Better Church Governance Group” and received no hits.
Well, a hint is that the homoheretic “fr.” james martin, sj, is against them, because one of the things they’re going to look at is how pervasive homosexuality in the episcopacy has led to more general corruption in the Church.
Outrageous, obnoxious, can only result in disaster. Another Church watchdog group, sure, these are so helpful! Yet another criminal style aggressive approach that tears down laity and misleads public. Cardinals need Organizational Development and Therapeutic training. Sicking on bloodhounds will be destructive, hurting the innocent and demoralizing the entire hierarchy. That has nothing to do with child abuse, it will be witch hunt. Is anyone so naive to believe FBI and investigative types are sweet angels? Also, no one will focus on homo stuff, internally they will be stonewalled, and outside media will not reveal, or if they do it’s to label Catholics homophobes.
Stop the fantasies and think of specifics of what will actually happen.
Read my post #12. Although I wouldn’t categorically rule out a directly positive result (God has done things that have surprised me more than that), I’m not hopeful in the short- to medium-term (under 100 years). But my sense is that it is a necessary step as it all unfolds.
In any case, the homohierarchy, from bergoglio on down, has brought it upon themselves. At the very least, there is some justice to it, though it may be a rough one.
In all, I think Mrs. Don-o may have a different take.
Ah, very good sign to have such an enemy. Thanks for the info.
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