Church Silent on Tainted Cardinals Participation in Conclave

By Susan Matthews
Catholics4Change
March 7, 2013

http://catholics4change.com/2013/03/07/church-silence-on-tainted-cardinals-participation-in-conclave/

The last Cardinal has arrived in Rome. Soon the most important business of the Church will be in the hands of several Cardinals involved in clergy sex abuse cover ups. Apparently, we aren’t supposed to notice.

We can’t pry open the doors of the secret archives, but we can certainly understand the facts in front of us. Thousands of pages of documents, depositions, and testimonies have revealed a tainted hierarchy. Will Mahony vote for a Pope who will be tough on clergy sex abuse? Seems counterproductive to his interests.

Does Archbishop Chaput think the participation of Cardinals Mahony and Rigali in the conclave hurts the rebuilding of trust with Catholics in Philadelphia and Los Angeles? Can they be removed? And if so, by what process?

I posed these questions and Kenneth Gavin, Associate Director of Communications answered on behalf of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. “Neither the Archbishop nor the Archdiocese has any authority over the conclave so we wouldn’t be able to comment further than that.”

Archbishop Chaput doesn’t have any authority over pending bills regarding the statute of limitations on child sex abuse, but he has had comment on that subject. I would expect our local leader to comment on important issue to our Church and faith.

In his latest ad for Catholic Charities, Archbishop Chaput calls Philadelphians “determined.” Yes we are. I may not be able to change a thing, but I’m determined to speak up. Evil relies on silence. Determine the best expression of your Catholic faith.

Click here to read: “Priest abuse victims’ group blacklists 12 cardinals for pope,” by Richard Allen Greene, Laura Smith-Spark and Hada Messia, CNN, March 6, 2013

Excerpt: A group representing survivors of sexual abuse by priests named a “Dirty Dozen” list of cardinals it said would be the worst candidates for pope based on their handling of child sex abuse claims or their public comments about the cases.