MATTHEW BELLISARIO SAID:
“It is obvious that Cardinal Ratzinger had no authority to defrock anyone, nor was that his area of authority. He was the head of the CDF, which deals with doctrine, not canon Law or the canonical defrocking of priests. The Apostolica Signitura is usually responsible for those issues.”
And Jesus answering said, A certain five-year-old went wandering onto the highway betwixt Jerusalem and Jericho.
And by chance there drove by a certain pontiff that way: and when he saw him, continued on his way–saying to himself, That’s not my department. The Apostolica Signitura is usually responsible for those issues.
And likewise a cardinal, when he drove by, saw the child, but continued on his way, saying to himself, I don’t believe that contingency is covered under canon law.
And likewise an archbishop, when he drove by, and saw the child, continued on his way, saying to himself, That’s below my pay grade.
But a certain Anabaptist, as he was driving along, came to where the five-year-old was: and when he saw him, he stopped, got out of the car, and carried the boy out of harm’s way.
Which now of these four, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto the imperiled child?
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Funny thing about that - seems to me any garden-variety Protestant elder would have the authority to give a pederast pastor the ol' heave-ho.
ReplyDelete"# In May 2005, just one month after Benedict’s election, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith removed Fr. Gino Burresi, founder of a new religious order called the Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, from active ministry. The official motive was alleged abuses of confession and spiritual direction, though Burresi also faced accusations of sexual abuse dating to the 1970s and ’80s."
ReplyDelete(source)
That looks like the CDF removing someone. But who knows. It could be a journalistic error.
Nevertheless, according to the official Vatican dossier, «the duty proper to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world: for this reason everything which in any way touches such matter falls within its competence.» (source)
The Vatican is an octopus-like bureaucratic system which forces even people with personal dignity to play by its rules, in order to protect the collective interests of the institution.
ReplyDeleteLike in the army, the personal feelings of individual soldiers are secondary, so are the personal feelings of individual RC operatives.
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
ReplyDeleteArt. 48 — The proper duty of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on faith and morals in the whole Catholic world; so it has competence in things that touch this matter in any way.
Art. 49 — Fulfilling its duty of promoting doctrine, the Congregation fosters studies so that the understanding of the faith may grow and a response in the light of the faith may be given to new questions arising from the progress of the sciences or human culture.
Art. 50 — It helps the bishops, individually or in groups, in carrying out their office as authentic teachers and doctors of the faith, an office that carries with it the duty of promoting and guarding the integrity of that faith.
Art. 51 — To safeguard the truth of faith and the integrity of morals, the Congregation takes care lest faith or morals suffer harm through errors that have been spread in any way whatever.
Wherefore:
1. it has the duty of requiring that books and other writings touching faith or morals, being published by the Christian faithful, be subjected to prior examination by the competent authority;
2. it examines carefully writings and opinions that seem to be contrary or dangerous to true faith, and, if it is established that they are opposed to the teaching of the Church, reproves them in due time, having given authors full opportunity to explain their minds, and having forewarned the Ordinary concerned; it brings suitable remedies to bear, if this be opportune.
3. finally, it takes good care lest errors or dangerous doctrines, which may have been spread among the Christian people, do not go without apt rebuttal.
Art. 52 — The Congregation examines offences against the faith and more serious ones both in behaviour or in the celebration of the sacraments which have been reported to it and, if need be, proceeds to the declaration or imposition of canonical sanctions in accordance with the norms of common or proper law.
Art. 53 — It is to examine whatever concerns the privilege of the faith, both in law and in fact.
Art. 54 — Documents being published by other dicasteries of the Roman Curia, insofar as they touch on the doctrine of faith or morals, are to be subjected to its prior judgement.
Art. 55 — Established within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith are the Pontifical Biblical Commission and the International Theological Commission, which act according to their own approved norms and are presided over by the cardinal prefect of this Congregation.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19880628_pastor-bonus-roman-curia_en.html
"Art. 52 — The Congregation examines offences against the faith and more serious ones both in behaviour or in the celebration of the sacraments which have been reported to it and, if need be, proceeds to the declaration or imposition of canonical sanctions in accordance with the norms of common or proper law."
ReplyDeleteThank you Alexander.
4th Question: Is it not time for Pope Benedict XVI himself to acknowledge his share of responsibility, instead of whining about a campaign against his person? No other person in the Church has had to deal with so many cases of abuse crossing his desk. Here some reminders:
ReplyDelete•In his eight years as a professor of theology in Regensburg, in close contact with his brother Georg, the capellmeister of the Regensburger Domspatzen, Ratzinger can hardly have been ignorant about what went on in the choir and its boarding--school. This was much more than an occasional slap in the face, there are charges of serious physical violence and even sexual abuse.
•In his five years as Archbishop of Munich, repeated cases of sexual abuse at least by one priest transferred to his Archdiocese have come to light. His loyal Vicar General, my classmate Gerhard Gruber, has taken full responsibility for the handling of this case, but that is hardly an excuse for the Archbishop, who is ultimately responsible for the administration of his diocese.
•In his 24 years as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, from around the world, all cases of grave sexual offences by clerics had to be reported, under strictest secrecy ("secretum pontificum"), to his curial office, which was exclusively responsible for dealing with them. Ratzinger himself, in a letter on "grave sexual crimes" addressed to all the bishops under the date of 18 May, 2001, warned the bishops, under threat of ecclesiastical punishment, to observe "papal secrecy" in such cases.
•In his five years as Pope, Benedict XVI has done nothing to change this practice with all its fateful consequences.
http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/ratzingers-responsibility
Lookie here what we find at MB's blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://catholicchampion.blogspot.com/search/label/pedophilia
http://catholicchampion.blogspot.com/search/label/church%20abuse
http://catholicchampion.blogspot.com/search/label/scandal
A whole lotta nuthin'.