Pope Francis Forgets

[Randolph]

“Did Pope Francis know? Was he told, five years before the world found out, that the powerful Cardinal McCarrick was a serial sexual abuser? The diplomat who claims to have informed the pope, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, names two dates on which he raised the matter with Francis: June 23 and October 10, 2013. But the Holy Father, in a new interview with Valentina Alazraki, says he simply can’t remember. “When [Viganò] says he spoke to me that day, he came … I do not remember if he told me about this. If it is true or not. No idea.”

This is not the only gap in the papal memory. Alazraki asked Francis about a February speech that described persistent critics of the Church as “relatives of the devil.” The pope replied: “I do not remember the text but no, no. I do not feel that way.” What about the headline-making 2014 phone call in which the pope allegedly encouraged a woman to ignore Church teaching on Communion and divorce? Also a blank: “What I said to that woman I do not remember.”

Francis is also unsure about his famously ambiguous footnote on Communion for those in “irregular relationships”: “I don’t remember the footnote,” he told the press in 2016. The Holy Father is an eighty-two-year-old man with a lot on his plate. But the impression of all these forgettings is—and it hurts to say this—of a teacher who often speaks without much reflection, before or after. While that may not be the greatest of imperfections, in a pope it can be catastrophic.

Because of those forgotten statements about Communion, dioceses and even a national bishops’ conference have permitted Communion for the sexually-active divorced and remarried…”

Pope Francis Forgets | Dan Hitchens

The pope's ambiguous teachings are the face of the Church's “dark night.”

www.firstthings.com

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Vigano has already be shown to not know all the details of what he alleges and has even shown himself to have issues concerning $2 million his brother owes him. He also had an ax to grind as Pope Francis didn’t raise him to be a Cardinal, but instead let him retire at age 75. This was centered around Vigano blindsiding Pope Francis for political purposes, when he visited the US.

Pope Francis has far more credibility than Bishop Vigano is causing more harm to than good.

Bottom line, prayer for both Pope Francis and Bishop Vigano.

Jim

 

[Randolph]

Irrespective of one’s perspective on Viganò‘s claims against Pope Francis, it’s quite disheartening and tragic to see our shepherds finding themselves in this predicament. Right now, it is still a case of he said—he said. More likely than not, one of them is lying, and both know who the liar is. How could the liar look at the teller of the truth in the eyes in the presence of God and the Holy Mother??? Children are paying attention to this mess. How do we explain to them???

The credibility of the Church is being damaged and many souls will be affected and even lost. May God have mercy on all of us and on the Church…

 

[KMG]

Vigano’s claims have never been refuted. On the contrary, they have been confirmed at every juncture as new revelations emerge.

The arguments of some cardinals that “we had no hint of the McCarrick rumors” is utterly unbelievable. McCarrick’s beach house shenanigans with seminarians was an open secret as early as the early 1990s.

 

[Randolph]

It’s true that Viganò’s claims have not been refuted and that they are in fact quite overwhelming. But have they been proven? That is the threshold for conviction.

In this case regarding the Holy Father, it would be wise that we exercise great caution and intense prudence in rendering our own judgement. I believe the Holy Father deserves at least that much. The truth will come out soon enough.

McCarrick’s guilt is another matter.

 

[commenter]

Vigano … has even shown himself to have issues concerning $2 million his brother owes him.

The Jesuit magazine America, which ordinarily does no investigative reporting, has gone to great lengths to dig up dirt(?), if you can call it that, on Vigano.

Apparently having a history of a sibling disagreement disqualifies the theological and ecclesiastic insights of a bishop. Who knew?

The ad hominem attacks on Vigano raise his credibility.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Archbishop who accused Francis of cover-up denies he stopped abuse investigation

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/08...ver-up-denies-he-stopped-abuse-investigation/

Vatican refutes claims that Pope Francis covered up US cardinal’s misconduct

A TOP VATICAN cardinal issued a scathing rebuke of the ambassador who accused Pope Francis of covering up the sexual misconduct of a prominent US cardinal, saying his claims were a “blasphemous” political hit job.

Six weeks after Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano threw the papacy into turmoil over his claims about ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the head of the Vatican’s bishops office said there was no evidence in his files backing Vigano’s claims that Francis annulled any canonical sanctions against McCarrick.

Ouellet did confirm for the first time that McCarrick, now 88, had been subject to some form of disciplinary measures given uncorroborated “rumours” of misconduct in his past. But Ouellet said the “exhortation” to live a discreet life of prayer stopped short of binding canonical sanctions, precisely because the rumours lacked proof. Vatican refutes claims that Pope Francis covered up US cardinal's misconduct

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Italian court rules Viganò must repay $2 million to his brother

ROME - Last month Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, a former papal ambassador who in recent months gained global fame for publishing a statement asking Pope Francis to resign, lost a civil lawsuit against his brother over a family estate.

In an October ruling, the Civil Court of Milan sentenced Viganò to compensate his brother, Father Lorenzo Viganò, over $2 million, including interest and court costs, in a feud over their family assets. https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/11...s-vigano-must-repay-2-million-to-his-brother/

Vigano is not an example of Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis on the other hand, is more Christlike than his enemies could ever imagine.

Jim

 

[Feanor2]

I trust the Holy Father and I pray that he is protected from his enemies.

 

[TheLittleLady]

I cannot remember all of the conversations I had last week, and I am not 82 years old, the conversations last week were all in my native language, and I do not have nearly the sheer volume of conversations that any Pope has.

 

[commenter]

The ferocity of the ad hominem attacks on Vigano neither proves, nor disproves his allegations. This campaign - the perceived need for this campaign, says a lot about other people in powerful positions.

 

[commenter]

I cannot remember all of the conversations I had last week, and I am not 82 years old, the conversations last week were all in my native language, and I do not have nearly the sheer volume of conversations that any Pope has.

If an official knows he can’t recall everything, he does these things:

• Write down anything significant;
• Have his secretary present for all conversations;
• Make it easy for ALL bishops to get info to the pope, by not surrounding yourself only with a wall of people who think exactly like you.

This pope has far less tolerance for people of differing views, than previous popes. So, the miscommunications are not totally innocent, but rendered more likely, especially in a papacy characterized, for better or worse, by off the cuff, informal remarks.