Talkative U.S. Cardinals Shut down the 'American Show'

By Cathy Lynn Grossman
Detroit Free Press
March 6, 2013

http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/1966591?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cp

Cardinal Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, left, and Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, spoke at Tuesdays' press conference in Rome before other cardinals complained that they were talking too much about secret discussions underway in advance of the vote for the next pope

American cardinals in Rome to for the lead-up to voting for the next pope may have been blabbing too much about secret discussions in advance of the super-secret conclave.

The day after stories in world media that the U.S. leaders daily press conference, mobbed with reporters, were exerting influence in the advisory meetings now underway, the Wednesday conference was canceled.

Tuesday, the Associated Press had described the scene with more than 100 journalists from the US, Britain and European countries "packing an auditorium for what has become the daily 'American Show' at the North American College, the U.S. seminary just up the hill from the Vatican."

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a Wednesday statement, "Concern was expressed" in the daily meetings of the College of Cardinals "about leaks of confidential proceedings reported in Italian newspapers. As a precaution, the cardinals have agreed not to do interviews."

Lombardi said the Vatican did not intervene to shut down the show but that cardinals make that decision talking among themselves.

No date has been set for the conclave, where 115 cardinal electors will be cut off from any communication with the outside world.

At the morning Vatican press conference, spokesman Rev. Frederico Lombardi said there's no hidden meaning in the delay. They are waiting for two more electors -- cardinals under the age of 80 -- to reach Rome and they are in a "journey" of prayer and discernment, he said.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) called a press conference in Rome to announce a "dirty dozen" names of cardinals whose record on dealing with the abuse crisis disqualifies them for voting for the pope or being elected to the papacy. The list includes many of the names on top of media and betting site short lists for the next pope.

Lombardi said the Vatican is "well aware" of the positions of SNAP but it is not up to SNAP who should participate in the conclave.