AI
Saturday, May 25, 2013 10:04:45 PM
Can Pope Francis Really Reform The Vatican?
.. i know, early days since March 13 though .. meanwhile, it's good to see him aiming vocally at the crook and greedy bastards who have caused so much grief for so many responsible and hard-working people in so many countries .. most all who would be more than happy to work if the system created more jobs .. everyone is not able to start their own business, particularly in this environment .. it's good, too to see some responsible for child-abuse cover-ups being disciplined .. "Cardinal Mahony and Santa Barbara Bishop Thomas Curry" .. old news, but can't see it posted here, see 2nd article below ..
Posted: 04/06/2013 11:19 am EDT
By Alessandro Speciale and David Gibson
Religion News Service
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis has won widespread acclaim thus far in his nascent papacy with popular gestures like washing the feet of juveniles during Holy Week and refusing many papal perks. But now comes the hard part of his new job: reforming the Vatican.
The Roman Curia, as the central administration of the Catholic Church is known, has been riven by scandals and allegations of infighting and careerism, which helped undermine Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's reign and reportedly pushed him to resign.
The dysfunction was so bad that reforming the Curia became a rallying cry for many cardinals at the conclave that elected Francis. But will he deliver on the promise of reform?
Much will depend on who Francis will choose as his top aides, starting from the appointments of the new heads of key Vatican offices. So far, he has reconfirmed the Curia leadership, but he has made it clear that this is just a provisional measure while he makes up his mind about his next steps.
"Be ready for some surprises. He is not afraid to pick up the phone to call up people and ask things. He is talking to everyone," said a curial official who spoke on background because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the new pope's consultations with cardinals and monsignors.
Those who know the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio well from his days as archbishop of Buenos Aires say Francis has a hands-off management style: He chooses people he trusts, even if they have views that differ from his own, and doesn't micromanage.
"He's good at trusting people and giving them space to get on with their work," his former spokesman, the Rev. Guillermo Marco, told the British Catholic magazine The Tablet. "He's not the kind of person who's determined to do everything himself; he's good at delegating ... He gave me a lot of freedom and he's the same way with everybody."
So how will that translate into reforming the Vatican? The pope's answers to the following questions, many of which are expected in the coming weeks, will offer an early indication:
Who will he choose as the new secretary of state?
This is probably the most important appointment Francis will have to make. This job is not like the American version: the Vatican secretary of state is more like the prime minister who really runs the administration. All other departments and offices have to go through the Terza Loggia (the third floor of the Apostolic Palace where the secretariat's offices are located) for their decisions to be submitted to the pope and become operative.
In recent years, especially with the reclusive Benedict, this centralized chain of command has become a problem on its own.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone had the job under Benedict and was widely criticized for his management skills. A tradition initiated by Pope John Paul II holds that when a "straniero" (non-Italian) is on the seat of Peter, he should be assisted by an Italian secretary of state. But Francis might easily disregard it.
Another unscripted rule says that the Vatican's number two should come from the ranks of papal diplomacy -- the fact that Bertone lacked any diplomatic experience was one of the reasons for his poor performance, according to many.
Will he replace the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?
This is the second-most powerful office in the Vatican and the one Benedict ran for decades when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, developing a reputation for investigating theologians and nuns viewed as too liberal. German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller has led the CDF less than a year, and replacing him would be a shocker. Mueller does have ties to Latin American progressives and is not seen as doctrinaire, and in meeting Mueller on Friday (April 5) Francis made it clear that cleaning up the clergy sex abuse scandal is a priority for the office. So change may already be coming.
Who will run the Congregation for Bishops?
Perhaps the most important management task a pope has is naming bishops to run dioceses around the world; it is the best way of changing the church's approach and instilling a pope's legacy. Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who was reportedly a serious candidate in last month's conclave and is considered one of the few friends then-Cardinal Bergoglio could count on in the Vatican ahead of the conclave, has been heading the office since 2010.
Will he close the Vatican Bank?
Technically know as the Institute for Religious Works, the Vatican bank was only founded in 1942 but has a legacy of scandal and controversy that makes it seem like a relic from the Renaissance. The bank is still struggling to comply with international anti-money laundering standards, and many say it serves no good purpose and should simply be shut down. "Francis is considering the issue. But closing the IOR down is not easy, the church needs a trusted, independent financial service to send money to its bishops all over the world," warned the curial official.
Will he tackle reform of the Curia?
Appointments are a key part of a pope's job but changing the leadership sometimes isn't enough.
Under Benedict, some Vatican department heads complained that it took weeks, sometimes months, to get an audience with the pope, and this paralyzed their work.
Francis might want to streamline the roster of Vatican departments, consolidating them into a single office; or he could set up regular meetings with a select group of Vatican top officials, something akin to a cabinet. This could improve coordination and information sharing in a bureaucracy where often it seems that the left hand truly doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
Some Vatican insiders hint that Francis may shake up tradition by appointing lay people to high-ranking offices. "Why should all Vatican department chiefs be archbishops and cardinals? I would be ready for a lay person to become president of a Pontifical Council," said the curial official.
The new pope has repeatedly made it clear that a priest's task is not to be a "manager" -- and this includes himself as the Catholic Church's "priest in chief." Nor does Francis want the church to be "self-referential," a sin he has constantly warned against.
So when it comes to the Curia, less may be more, as in less bureaucracy and more hitting the streets to evangelize in the "outskirts" of the world and of society, where Francis himself has always felt at home.
But as he brings the church "outside," as he has vowed to do in his first weeks as pope, Francis will need someone he can rely on to manage "inside" the Vatican.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/06/can-pope-francis-really-reform-the-vatican_n_3028588.html
======
Sex Abuse Scandal - Archbishop sacks Cardinal Mahony, Bishop Curry resigns, Abuse documents due Feb. 22 - Los Angeles
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) 2/3/2013
Gomez warns reading documents will be painful and difficult.
[embedded video]
Los Angeles Archbishop, Jose Gomez announced that Cardinal Mahony and Santa Barbara Bishop Thomas Curry would no longer serve in their former capacities. He is removing them as a direct response to the abuse scandal which has rocked the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Gomez has also warned the public that the soon-to-be-public abuse files would be difficult to read.
Archbishop Gomez has relieved Cardinal Mahony of all public duties.
Archbishop Gomez has relieved Cardinal
Mahony of all public duties.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Referring to the abuse and its subsequent cover up as "evil" Archbishop Gomez announced that Cardinal Roger Mahony would no longer perform public duties in the Archdiocese. Additionally, he said that Santa Barbara Bishop Thomas Curry has stepped down from his position.
Gomez's actions have come as the Church faces added criticism for resisting initial efforts to bring the abuse scandal to light. It was only after a civil suit and several court rulings that internal records specific to numerous cases have become public.
What those records show is heartbreaking according to officials who have read them. Documents which have already been released clearly reveal that Cardinal Mahony and Bishop Curry deliberately and knowingly took steps to conceal the abuse of children from law enforcement and to protect abusive priests.
There can be virtually no greater dereliction of duty to commit such an act.
Mahony has publicly apologized for his part in the scandal. Curry also made an apology according to Gomez.
However, justice is only now just being served after more than two decades of silence. The records that are due for release will include the names of many individuals involved in cases as well as those officials who may have participated in efforts to conceal abusive priests from law enforcement.
The good news is that Archbishiop Gomez is taking both a serious and aggressive stance on the issue, a refreshing change for victims and their advocates.
Gomez has warned those who will review the files that they will be difficult to read.
"I find these files to be brutal and painful reading. The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed. We need to acknowledge that terrible failure today," Gomez wrote in a statement.
Gomez added, "Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry has also publicly apologized for his decisions while serving as Vicar for Clergy. I have accepted his request to be relieved of his responsibility as the Regional Bishop of Santa Barbara."
The documents are to be turned over to the court before Feb. 22, according to court order. Following that, the documents will be swiftly made public.
The handover of the files represents the last part of a $660 million civil settlement.
Gomez's full letter follows.
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
This week we are releasing the files of priests who sexually abused children while they were serving in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
These files document abuses that happened decades ago. But that does not make them less serious.
I find these files to be brutal and painful reading. The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed.
We need to acknowledge that terrible failure today. We need to pray for everyone who has ever been hurt by members of the Church. And we need to continue to support the long and painful process of healing their wounds and restoring the trust that was broken.
I cannot undo the failings of the past that we find in these pages. Reading these files, reflecting on the wounds that were caused, has been the saddest experience I've had since becoming your Archbishop in 2011.
My predecessor, retired Cardinal Roger Mahony, has expressed his sorrow for his failure to fully protect young people entrusted to his care. Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry has also publicly apologized for his decisions while serving as Vicar for Clergy. I have accepted his request to be relieved of his responsibility as the Regional Bishop of Santa Barbara.
To every victim of child sexual abuse by a member of our Church: I want to help you in your healing. I am profoundly sorry for these sins against you.
To every Catholic in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I want you to know: We will continue, as we have for many years now, to immediately report every credible allegation of abuse to law enforcement authorities and to remove those credibly accused from ministry. We will continue to work, every day, to make sure that our children are safe and loved and cared for in our parishes, schools and in every ministry in the Archdiocese.
In the weeks ahead, I will address all of these matters in greater detail. Today is a time for prayer and reflection and deep compassion for the victims of child sexual abuse.
I entrust all of us and our children and families to the tender care and protection of our Blessed Mother Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of the Angels.
© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=49547
See also:
Pope Immunity: Vatican Will Protect Benedict From Sexual Abuse Prosecution
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=84728982
.. in reply to that one .. Scandals and Intrigue Heat Up at Vatican Ahead of Papal Conclave
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=84937095
.. one large hypocrisy in this one ..
When is a fetus-person not a fetus-person? When it’s a lawsuit. .. about 35% down in ..
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=83800877
[ The Catholic League] - it's sickening the people who are
in this thing . .but they are NOT part of the catholic church!
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=86459386
.. i know, early days since March 13 though .. meanwhile, it's good to see him aiming vocally at the crook and greedy bastards who have caused so much grief for so many responsible and hard-working people in so many countries .. most all who would be more than happy to work if the system created more jobs .. everyone is not able to start their own business, particularly in this environment .. it's good, too to see some responsible for child-abuse cover-ups being disciplined .. "Cardinal Mahony and Santa Barbara Bishop Thomas Curry" .. old news, but can't see it posted here, see 2nd article below ..
Posted: 04/06/2013 11:19 am EDT
By Alessandro Speciale and David Gibson
Religion News Service
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis has won widespread acclaim thus far in his nascent papacy with popular gestures like washing the feet of juveniles during Holy Week and refusing many papal perks. But now comes the hard part of his new job: reforming the Vatican.
The Roman Curia, as the central administration of the Catholic Church is known, has been riven by scandals and allegations of infighting and careerism, which helped undermine Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's reign and reportedly pushed him to resign.
The dysfunction was so bad that reforming the Curia became a rallying cry for many cardinals at the conclave that elected Francis. But will he deliver on the promise of reform?
Much will depend on who Francis will choose as his top aides, starting from the appointments of the new heads of key Vatican offices. So far, he has reconfirmed the Curia leadership, but he has made it clear that this is just a provisional measure while he makes up his mind about his next steps.
"Be ready for some surprises. He is not afraid to pick up the phone to call up people and ask things. He is talking to everyone," said a curial official who spoke on background because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the new pope's consultations with cardinals and monsignors.
Those who know the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio well from his days as archbishop of Buenos Aires say Francis has a hands-off management style: He chooses people he trusts, even if they have views that differ from his own, and doesn't micromanage.
"He's good at trusting people and giving them space to get on with their work," his former spokesman, the Rev. Guillermo Marco, told the British Catholic magazine The Tablet. "He's not the kind of person who's determined to do everything himself; he's good at delegating ... He gave me a lot of freedom and he's the same way with everybody."
So how will that translate into reforming the Vatican? The pope's answers to the following questions, many of which are expected in the coming weeks, will offer an early indication:
Who will he choose as the new secretary of state?
This is probably the most important appointment Francis will have to make. This job is not like the American version: the Vatican secretary of state is more like the prime minister who really runs the administration. All other departments and offices have to go through the Terza Loggia (the third floor of the Apostolic Palace where the secretariat's offices are located) for their decisions to be submitted to the pope and become operative.
In recent years, especially with the reclusive Benedict, this centralized chain of command has become a problem on its own.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone had the job under Benedict and was widely criticized for his management skills. A tradition initiated by Pope John Paul II holds that when a "straniero" (non-Italian) is on the seat of Peter, he should be assisted by an Italian secretary of state. But Francis might easily disregard it.
Another unscripted rule says that the Vatican's number two should come from the ranks of papal diplomacy -- the fact that Bertone lacked any diplomatic experience was one of the reasons for his poor performance, according to many.
Will he replace the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?
This is the second-most powerful office in the Vatican and the one Benedict ran for decades when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, developing a reputation for investigating theologians and nuns viewed as too liberal. German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller has led the CDF less than a year, and replacing him would be a shocker. Mueller does have ties to Latin American progressives and is not seen as doctrinaire, and in meeting Mueller on Friday (April 5) Francis made it clear that cleaning up the clergy sex abuse scandal is a priority for the office. So change may already be coming.
Who will run the Congregation for Bishops?
Perhaps the most important management task a pope has is naming bishops to run dioceses around the world; it is the best way of changing the church's approach and instilling a pope's legacy. Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who was reportedly a serious candidate in last month's conclave and is considered one of the few friends then-Cardinal Bergoglio could count on in the Vatican ahead of the conclave, has been heading the office since 2010.
Will he close the Vatican Bank?
Technically know as the Institute for Religious Works, the Vatican bank was only founded in 1942 but has a legacy of scandal and controversy that makes it seem like a relic from the Renaissance. The bank is still struggling to comply with international anti-money laundering standards, and many say it serves no good purpose and should simply be shut down. "Francis is considering the issue. But closing the IOR down is not easy, the church needs a trusted, independent financial service to send money to its bishops all over the world," warned the curial official.
Will he tackle reform of the Curia?
Appointments are a key part of a pope's job but changing the leadership sometimes isn't enough.
Under Benedict, some Vatican department heads complained that it took weeks, sometimes months, to get an audience with the pope, and this paralyzed their work.
Francis might want to streamline the roster of Vatican departments, consolidating them into a single office; or he could set up regular meetings with a select group of Vatican top officials, something akin to a cabinet. This could improve coordination and information sharing in a bureaucracy where often it seems that the left hand truly doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
Some Vatican insiders hint that Francis may shake up tradition by appointing lay people to high-ranking offices. "Why should all Vatican department chiefs be archbishops and cardinals? I would be ready for a lay person to become president of a Pontifical Council," said the curial official.
The new pope has repeatedly made it clear that a priest's task is not to be a "manager" -- and this includes himself as the Catholic Church's "priest in chief." Nor does Francis want the church to be "self-referential," a sin he has constantly warned against.
So when it comes to the Curia, less may be more, as in less bureaucracy and more hitting the streets to evangelize in the "outskirts" of the world and of society, where Francis himself has always felt at home.
But as he brings the church "outside," as he has vowed to do in his first weeks as pope, Francis will need someone he can rely on to manage "inside" the Vatican.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/06/can-pope-francis-really-reform-the-vatican_n_3028588.html
======
Sex Abuse Scandal - Archbishop sacks Cardinal Mahony, Bishop Curry resigns, Abuse documents due Feb. 22 - Los Angeles
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) 2/3/2013
Gomez warns reading documents will be painful and difficult.
[embedded video]
Los Angeles Archbishop, Jose Gomez announced that Cardinal Mahony and Santa Barbara Bishop Thomas Curry would no longer serve in their former capacities. He is removing them as a direct response to the abuse scandal which has rocked the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Gomez has also warned the public that the soon-to-be-public abuse files would be difficult to read.
Archbishop Gomez has relieved Cardinal Mahony of all public duties.
Archbishop Gomez has relieved Cardinal
Mahony of all public duties.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Referring to the abuse and its subsequent cover up as "evil" Archbishop Gomez announced that Cardinal Roger Mahony would no longer perform public duties in the Archdiocese. Additionally, he said that Santa Barbara Bishop Thomas Curry has stepped down from his position.
Gomez's actions have come as the Church faces added criticism for resisting initial efforts to bring the abuse scandal to light. It was only after a civil suit and several court rulings that internal records specific to numerous cases have become public.
What those records show is heartbreaking according to officials who have read them. Documents which have already been released clearly reveal that Cardinal Mahony and Bishop Curry deliberately and knowingly took steps to conceal the abuse of children from law enforcement and to protect abusive priests.
There can be virtually no greater dereliction of duty to commit such an act.
Mahony has publicly apologized for his part in the scandal. Curry also made an apology according to Gomez.
However, justice is only now just being served after more than two decades of silence. The records that are due for release will include the names of many individuals involved in cases as well as those officials who may have participated in efforts to conceal abusive priests from law enforcement.
The good news is that Archbishiop Gomez is taking both a serious and aggressive stance on the issue, a refreshing change for victims and their advocates.
Gomez has warned those who will review the files that they will be difficult to read.
"I find these files to be brutal and painful reading. The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed. We need to acknowledge that terrible failure today," Gomez wrote in a statement.
Gomez added, "Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry has also publicly apologized for his decisions while serving as Vicar for Clergy. I have accepted his request to be relieved of his responsibility as the Regional Bishop of Santa Barbara."
The documents are to be turned over to the court before Feb. 22, according to court order. Following that, the documents will be swiftly made public.
The handover of the files represents the last part of a $660 million civil settlement.
Gomez's full letter follows.
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
This week we are releasing the files of priests who sexually abused children while they were serving in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
These files document abuses that happened decades ago. But that does not make them less serious.
I find these files to be brutal and painful reading. The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed.
We need to acknowledge that terrible failure today. We need to pray for everyone who has ever been hurt by members of the Church. And we need to continue to support the long and painful process of healing their wounds and restoring the trust that was broken.
I cannot undo the failings of the past that we find in these pages. Reading these files, reflecting on the wounds that were caused, has been the saddest experience I've had since becoming your Archbishop in 2011.
My predecessor, retired Cardinal Roger Mahony, has expressed his sorrow for his failure to fully protect young people entrusted to his care. Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry has also publicly apologized for his decisions while serving as Vicar for Clergy. I have accepted his request to be relieved of his responsibility as the Regional Bishop of Santa Barbara.
To every victim of child sexual abuse by a member of our Church: I want to help you in your healing. I am profoundly sorry for these sins against you.
To every Catholic in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I want you to know: We will continue, as we have for many years now, to immediately report every credible allegation of abuse to law enforcement authorities and to remove those credibly accused from ministry. We will continue to work, every day, to make sure that our children are safe and loved and cared for in our parishes, schools and in every ministry in the Archdiocese.
In the weeks ahead, I will address all of these matters in greater detail. Today is a time for prayer and reflection and deep compassion for the victims of child sexual abuse.
I entrust all of us and our children and families to the tender care and protection of our Blessed Mother Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of the Angels.
© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=49547
See also:
Pope Immunity: Vatican Will Protect Benedict From Sexual Abuse Prosecution
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=84728982
.. in reply to that one .. Scandals and Intrigue Heat Up at Vatican Ahead of Papal Conclave
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=84937095
.. one large hypocrisy in this one ..
When is a fetus-person not a fetus-person? When it’s a lawsuit. .. about 35% down in ..
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=83800877
[ The Catholic League] - it's sickening the people who are
in this thing . .but they are NOT part of the catholic church!
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=86459386
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”
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