Is this an endorsement or a condemnation?
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Mar 06, 2013
A Boston Globe editorial has endorsed that city’s archbishop, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, as the best candidate for the papacy.
The Globe, a paper with a long history of anti-Catholicism, reasons that Cardinal O’Malley would be a good leader for the universal Church because, among other qualities, he is not as “forceful” as other prelates. You understand, naturally, that in hoping that the Church will choose a non-forceful leader, the Globe has only the welfare of Catholicism in mind.
With friends like these…
Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
May. 09, 2018 12:55 AM ET USA
When is the Pope going to sentence himself to a life of prayer and fasting for his crimes of facilitating and covering up of sex abuse of children?
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Posted by: [email protected] -
May. 08, 2018 10:40 PM ET USA
Sadly he is still part of the problem. His inability to lead, failure to provide clarity when needed, and his propensity to create chaos shows he should resign and bring peace and direction back to the flock.
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Posted by: vpereda471205 -
May. 08, 2018 6:55 PM ET USA
I am from Guam and very familiar with former Archbishop Apuron who fled from Guam two years ago immediately after child sexual abuse allegations were made against him and has never returned. He was immediately suspended by Pope Francis and eventually replaced by Archbishop Michael Byrnes. He underwent a canonical trial and was found guilty of unspecified charges which include child sexual abuse. He is not expected to ever return to Guam in any capacity as a cleric.
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Posted by: buffcody1940 -
May. 08, 2018 6:27 PM ET USA
My sense of this from some reading (Register?) that I did today is that it was the Neocatechumenal Way folks who invited the guests, and no one checked the Vatican's desires. My sense also is that this is the way the group has and continues to deal. The bishop was a special supporter of the group. Not surprising he got an invite.
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Posted by: grateful1 -
May. 08, 2018 6:10 PM ET USA
At best, this action was clueless and oblivious; at worst, it was yet another example of this pontiff speaking out of both sides of his mouth. Either way, the Church is profoundly damaged by it.
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Posted by: Frodo1945 -
May. 08, 2018 10:45 AM ET USA
I agree, what a mixed message. The verdict is in, regardless of the appeal.
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Posted by: phil L -
May. 08, 2018 9:37 AM ET USA
You can't blame the media in this case. It was the Vatican that announced the archbishop's conviction.
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Posted by: Cory -
May. 07, 2018 10:57 PM ET USA
How to make sense of it? Perhaps the apology as a lie and this is the truth.
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Posted by: feedback -
May. 07, 2018 6:32 PM ET USA
There isn't a good explanation for this and for so many other Francis' decisions. The next Pope will have much cleaning up to do, but he will enjoy enthusiastic support of all the "rigid" Catholic clergy and laity.
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Posted by: dfp3234574 -
May. 07, 2018 5:39 PM ET USA
I have to disagree with you on this one, Phil. We do not know all the details of the Apuron case, and there is no way to know that media reports are trustworthy. (They often aren't.) As far as the event, there looks to be at least 50-60 bishops and other dignitaries on stage. To say Apuron was "given a prominent role" for merely being seated is a stretch. This post has an awfully mean spirit to it. I don't like it. "They still don't get it"? No, I think the Vatican gets it pretty well, actually.
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Posted by: Frodo1945 -
Mar. 07, 2013 6:06 AM ET USA
Perhaps the Globe's reasoning is correct but conclusion is wrong.
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Posted by: Defender -
Mar. 06, 2013 6:31 PM ET USA
I'm glad to hear that BC is all inaccordance with the Magisterium now. I'm also sure that the senior staff of the archdiocese is paid more than any other diocese for a reason (despite being short $140m). I'm sure the rewrite of school regulations in admitting children of homosexual parents was a coincidence when His Eminence overruled a pastor. I'm sure the drumbeaters of the cardinal are operating without the cardinal's knowledge. BTW, interviewing with NcR isn't going to make it.
