Member quit papal abuse commission to ‘shake things up,’ says Vatican Secretary of State
March 03, 2017
Speaking to reporters on March 3, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that Marie Collins had resigned from the papal commission on sexual abuse in order to “shake things up.”
The Vatican Secretary of State acknowledged that Collins had been dismayed by “a few episodes” in which officials of the Roman Curia thwarted the plans of the papal commission. He said that her resignation was intended to “shake the tree a bit.” Collins had complained that the work of the commission was consistently blocked.
In a separate comment on European political affairs, Cardinal Parolin said that the Church always respects others, even when they make choices that conflict with Catholic moral principles. He made that comment in response to queries about assisted suicide in Switzerland and an Italian court ruling that two homosexual men could both be considered fathers of a child borne by a surrogate mother. The cardinal said that respect for others’ choices is “fundamental,” although the Church cannot cease to proclaim the message of the Gospel.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Mar. 05, 2017 4:54 PM ET USA
"Respect for others’ choices is 'fundamental,'" "even when they make choices that conflict with Catholic moral principles." What does it mean when a Churchman says that the Church respects evil? Choices that conflict with Catholic moral principles are deemed _evil_ by definition. Does evil all of a sudden have rights that we are to _respect_? "Do the will of my Father." "Go now, and sin no more." "Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction." "Beware of false prophets."
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Mar. 04, 2017 1:30 PM ET USA
Is anyone getting tired of hearing about the Church getting "shaken up?" First there is Pope Francis who apparently views his primary mission as one of "shaking things up" in the Church, of making the Church a "messier" place, of sewing the seeds of doubt in the minds of the faithful through the ministry of the Jesuits, of not ever finding a safe harbor, and on and on. Now we have a Vatican apologist who downplays the significance of Marie Collin's resignation by suggesting an ulterior motive.
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Posted by: kwonbbl1 -
Mar. 04, 2017 11:32 AM ET USA
Red tape cannot be cut by red tape.
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Posted by: nix898049 -
Mar. 03, 2017 7:00 PM ET USA
One question. Blocked by who?
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Posted by: filioque -
Mar. 03, 2017 6:10 PM ET USA
So why didn't the Cardinal Secretary of State, the highest-ranking official in the Curia, help cut the red tape? And why does he think we have to respect evil? Doesn't anyone at the Vatican know how to do his job? Are there any Catholics left behind the walls?
