NEW YORK
Vatican Insider
“Vatican Insider” interviews philosopher Michael Novak, one of America’s top Catholic thinkers
PAOLO MASTROLILLI
NEW YORK
“The U.S. Church has done a great deal to end the sex abuse plague; possibly too much. So I don’t think Pope Francis’ comment about the existence of a gay lobby was in reference to this problem. The key point here is the reform of the Curia. This is probably what his pontificate will be judged on.”
The philosopher Michael Novak is one of America’s most authoritative Catholic scholars and is currently in Italy to attend a celebration for the former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon. …
In recent days, however, he spoke about internal problems in the Curia, including the existence of a “gay lobby”.
“The reform of the Holy See’s government is undoubtedly the toughest challenge the Pope faces and this is what his pontificate will be judged on. I think Francis wants to eliminate the risk of pressure groups of any kind, standing in the way of his plans.”
How did the U.S. react to his comments, bearing in mind that it is the country that has suffered the most as a result of the sex abuse scandal?
“I don’t think his mention of a gay lobby was in reference to this. The U.S. Church has done a great deal to put an end to the abuse, so much in fact, that some priests have been unfairly accused. We need to be watchful, but the Pope’s message was intended for the Curia.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.