Pope Francis. A former
ambassador to the Vatican has accused Pope Francis of ignoring sexual abuse
claims against prominent US cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was forced to
resign last month. [Photo: AFP] A former ambassador to the Vatican has accused
Pope Francis of ignoring sexual abuse claims against prominent US cardinal
Theodore McCarrick, who was forced to resign last month. ALSO READ: Abolishing
death penalty will boost respect for life Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano said
that he had told Francis, who is currently visiting Ireland, of the allegations
in 2013, but that the pontiff instead lifted sanctions imposed on McCarrick by
predecessor Pope Benedict. Vigano’s eleven-page letter was published
simultaneously on Saturday in several conservative Catholic publications in the
US. The Pope on Saturday said he shared in the “pain and shame” of
the church’s failure to deal with historic allegations of clerical abuse, and
the latest claims are likely to intensify calls for action. The Vatican said it
had no comment to make on the allegations. Bishop Vigano, 77, who was a papal
nuncio in Washington between 2011 and 2016, said that Benedict XVI imposed
canonical sanctions against Cardinal McCarrick in the late 2000s. Know if news
is factual and true. Text ‘NEWS’ to 22840 and always receive verified news
updates. McCarrick was forced to leave the seminary where he lived, avoid all
public contact and live a life of penance after former Vatican ambassadors in
Washington, now dead, reported him for “gravely immoral” behavior
with seminarians and priests. Vigano claims Pope Francis asked him about
McCarrick when he took office in June 2013, but that Francis ignored his
warnings, and instead made him a “trusted counselor.” “He (Pope
Francis) knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was a serial predator,”
wrote Vigano,” adding “he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered
for him to the bitter end.” ALSO READ: Pope meets bishop and victim’s
advocate over church sex abuse The former nuncio wrote that Francis was
“abdicating the mandate which Christ gave to Peter to confirm the
brethren,” and urged him to “acknowledge his mistakes”. The pope
was on Sunday due to preach in front of around 500,000 people in Dublin at the
end of a two-day visit to Ireland.
ambassador to the Vatican has accused Pope Francis of ignoring sexual abuse
claims against prominent US cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was forced to
resign last month. [Photo: AFP] A former ambassador to the Vatican has accused
Pope Francis of ignoring sexual abuse claims against prominent US cardinal
Theodore McCarrick, who was forced to resign last month. ALSO READ: Abolishing
death penalty will boost respect for life Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano said
that he had told Francis, who is currently visiting Ireland, of the allegations
in 2013, but that the pontiff instead lifted sanctions imposed on McCarrick by
predecessor Pope Benedict. Vigano’s eleven-page letter was published
simultaneously on Saturday in several conservative Catholic publications in the
US. The Pope on Saturday said he shared in the “pain and shame” of
the church’s failure to deal with historic allegations of clerical abuse, and
the latest claims are likely to intensify calls for action. The Vatican said it
had no comment to make on the allegations. Bishop Vigano, 77, who was a papal
nuncio in Washington between 2011 and 2016, said that Benedict XVI imposed
canonical sanctions against Cardinal McCarrick in the late 2000s. Know if news
is factual and true. Text ‘NEWS’ to 22840 and always receive verified news
updates. McCarrick was forced to leave the seminary where he lived, avoid all
public contact and live a life of penance after former Vatican ambassadors in
Washington, now dead, reported him for “gravely immoral” behavior
with seminarians and priests. Vigano claims Pope Francis asked him about
McCarrick when he took office in June 2013, but that Francis ignored his
warnings, and instead made him a “trusted counselor.” “He (Pope
Francis) knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was a serial predator,”
wrote Vigano,” adding “he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered
for him to the bitter end.” ALSO READ: Pope meets bishop and victim’s
advocate over church sex abuse The former nuncio wrote that Francis was
“abdicating the mandate which Christ gave to Peter to confirm the
brethren,” and urged him to “acknowledge his mistakes”. The pope
was on Sunday due to preach in front of around 500,000 people in Dublin at the
end of a two-day visit to Ireland.
