Cardinal O’Malley, ‘deeply troubled,’ calls for new policies on abuse by bishops
July 25, 2018
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the chairman of the papal commission on sexual abuse, said that he is “deeply troubled” by new revelations about the misbehavior of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, and called for new policies to hold bishops accountable.
Cardinal O’Malley acknowledged that he had been sent a letter from a priest three years ago, detailing Cardinal McCarrick’s misconduct, but said that “I did not personally receive” the letter. Instead, he said, his staff reviewed the letter and “determined that the matters presented did not fall under the purview of the Commission or the Archdiocese of Boston.”
The Boston cardinal said that he recognized the latest accusations have become “a source of great disappointment and anger for many.” He called for “an assessment of the adequacy of our standards and policies in the Church at every level.”
“Failure to take these actions will threaten and endanger the already weakened moral authority of the Church and can destroy the trust required for the Church to minister to Catholics and have a meaningful role in the wider civil society,” Cardinal O’Malley wrote.
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Posted by: bill129 -
Jul. 27, 2018 3:00 PM ET USA
The elephant in the room is how did Cardinal McCarrick rise so quickly with all the rumors. Who was promoting him. Also, why did so many of his proteges, people who might have known of his behavior become bishops. Is there a network of people in administrative positions and hierarchy that find it easy to forgive and overlook sexual transgressions. Could this be influencing controversial pastoral approaches and the kinds of recommendations on pastoral care that are being promoted by some bishops?
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Posted by: JimKcda -
Jul. 26, 2018 1:59 PM ET USA
So, if we are to believe this balloney, what did the "staff" do with the letter? Forward to "the appropriate" person? Return to the sender with explanation why they didn't show it to you? Ask you what to do with it? Who, exactly, is the staff person who made that decision? Is he still "on staff?" Why don't Catholics believe their Bishops and Pastors anymore? This is why! I agree with Frodo1945.
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Posted by: Frodo1945 -
Jul. 26, 2018 6:49 AM ET USA
Oh, spare me the excuses. I didn't see the letter! I couldn't see the letter because my head was stuck in the sand and besides, I wouldn't believe anything against a fellow Cardinal.
