Pope to 'fire' nuncio in Washington? Nonsense!
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Mar 18, 2016
There's a rumor going around the internet—conveyed mostly by "news" sites that know nothing about Catholic affairs—that Pope Francis is going to "fire" the apostolic nuncio to the US, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano. That's nonsense.
The expanded version of the rumor is that the Pope will axe his representative in Washington because the archbishop arranged a meeting between the Pontiff and Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who bravely resisted pressure to certify same-sex unions as marriages. From the perspective of left-wing journalists that meeting was a terrible embarrassment to the Holy Father, and (again from that perspective) consequently Archbishop Vigano's job was in jeopardy. Then reports emerged that the archbishop would soon be leaving his post, and people jumped to the conclusion that he was fired.
Now here's the reality: If Pope Francis wanted to remove the nuncio, he could have done so at any time. He didn't have to wait five months. But something important happened between last October, when the Pope met Kim Davis, and this March, when the silly rumors began circulating. In January, Arcbishop Vigano celebrated his 75th birthday, and under the Code of Canon Law, he was required to submit his resignation. If the Pope now accepts that resignation—as Vatican-watchers say he will—that will be a routine personnel shift.
Informed sources say that the Pope's new man in Washington will be Archbishop Christopher Pierre, a French native and veteran Vatican diplomat who is currently serving as apostolic nuncio in Mexico. A formal announcement is expected any day.
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: rdennehy8049 -
Apr. 25, 2016 9:11 AM ET USA
Even historically conservative colleges are becoming bastions of liberalism. The professors spout their ideas and the student, in fear of failure, have to listen. And they better not dare to express a different opinion.
-
Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Apr. 20, 2016 12:58 PM ET USA
In a meeting with one of our top executives I suggested that our campus culture would improve if we taught a common set of moral norms based on an objective standard. The law of Moses is one such standard that was recognized for a couple of centuries in this country as the basis for right conduct in all daily affairs. The response was "You can't say that!!!" Mind you that mine is a nominally Christian university. Yet an objective standard of moral behavior cannot be required of the students.
-
Posted by: ElizabethD -
Mar. 18, 2016 2:29 PM ET USA
In other news, the Pope finally acquiesced to demands of sex-abuse victims and "fired" Cardinal Mahoney as a papal elector recently, even though Mahoney presumably voted for him. (Mahoney turned 80)