They still don’t get it. It’s like they’re begging for a revolt of the laity.
Catholic officials are still treating the clergy sex abuse scandal like it’s some niggling issue that’s getting in the way of bigger and more exciting things.
Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, for example, praised Pope Francis’ feeble non-response this weekend to accusations he covered up credible allegations of sexual abuse leveled against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
“The Pope has a bigger agenda,” Cupich told NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern. “He’s got to get on with other things, of talking about the environment and protecting migrants and carrying on the work of the church. We’re not going to go down a rabbit hole on this.”
For good measure, Cupich also said of the pope’s critics, “Quite frankly, they also don’t like him because he’s a Latino.”
The Chicago cardinal isn’t being taken out of context. This look-the-other-way line is his actual position regarding an 11-page letter alleging Popes Francis and Benedict knew for years about McCarrick’s alleged abuses. Cupich told the National Catholic Reporter this week that he understands Catholics must be “sickened” by the sex abuse scandal. But “this is not what the church is about,” he assured.
“We have to speak on behalf of the migrant. We have to make sure the Gospel is preached to people who are left out of society. We have to educate children,” Cupich added. “Let’s make sure we do not forget the church’s bigger agenda.”
If it’s true Francis ran defense for McCarrick, it raises serious questions about reports that the former consulted the latter when appointing bishops in the United States, despite having been told he was a sexual predator. The 11-page letter, written by former Vatican ambassador to the U.S. Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, also alleges McCarrick orchestrated Cupich’s appointment to the Archdiocese of Chicago. If true, it would confirm a widely believed account dating back to 2014.
The Italian weekly news magazine L’espresso reported four years ago:
Cupich denies that McCarrick put him in Chicago (though it’s worth noting Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, characterized Vigano’s version of events as “credible”).
The interesting thing here isn’t Vigano’s letter. The former Vatican official has produced nothing to prove the allegations. The interesting thing here is Francis’ failure to deny it or give any response.
“[R]ead the statement attentively and make your own judgment,” the pope told journalists on Aug. 26, according to a Catholic News Service report.
“I will not say a single word on this,” he added in reference to Vigano’s letter, “I think this statement speaks for itself, and you have the sufficient journalistic capacity to draw conclusions. When some time passes and you have your conclusions, maybe I will speak. But I would like that your professional maturity carries out this task.”
He doesn’t deny the allegations. He doesn’t even dispute them. He merely dismisses them. And historically speaking, silence has not been the best response to the grave evil of clergy sex abuse. Naturally, Cupich praised the pope’s weak dodge.
“The Holy Father got it right last night,” he told the NCR, adding it’s right that the Supreme Pontiff avoid going “into the weeds, down a rabbit hole of answering all of these things.”
Cupich also told the NCR that the U.S. bishops should do a little soul-searching before demanding the pope take lead on cleaning up the sex abuse scandal.
“Before we make demands of the pope in regard to anything, we’ve got to, as we say in Chicago, ‘put on our big boy pants’ and ask each other some tough questions,” the cardinal said.
I suppose that’s better than the bishops getting into little boys’ pants. Baby steps.
