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Sep 24, 2023
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Kevin Tierney's avatar

Francis lost all moral authority on abuse (and arguably his entire papacy) back in 2018.

Moral legitimacy, once lost, can only be regained with great skill. A skill he lacks. He's still Pope, but he's lost the benefit of the doubt and good faith among the Church. This affair is just another reminder of it.

Given it is his predisposition abuse claims are made up until proven otherwise, I don't see why everyone is surprised by Rupnik. Rome hasn't acted. The Jesuits acted disingenuously because the scandal forced their hand.

Francis, who either never believed victims or never wanted Rupnik punished, is therefore not inclined to intervene as Rupniks allies work to restore him.

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Robert Reddig's avatar

I don't know you, but I would fraternally caution against ever thinking or saying that the pope has ever "lost all moral authority." Thinking/saying that the legitimate successor of Peter doesn't have any kind of authority is quite a strong statement. We certainly can question things and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide him in better decisions!

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Bisbee's avatar

Lately, it seems the only justice we can depend on is divine justice.

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Robert Reddig's avatar

I would argue that is the only justice we can absolutely depend on. But, more importantly, we want to pray for divine mercy towards us all.

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Fr. Power's avatar

Is it possible that someone at the Diocese of Rome wanted to clear the Centro of wrongdoing so that they can continue to use the art of the Centro? They could be setting the scene for Rupnik’s art to be claimed as a collective work of the entire Centro, and not the work of just one man. If this art is the work of the Centro, and if the Centro is untarnished, then no one has to replace these expensive (and ugly) mosaics.

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William Murphy's avatar

Thanks, Ed and DH. Pope Francis, sadly, has form in coddling abusers, so his behaviour around Rupnik is no surprise. Remember the amazing new job, created out of thin air, for his crony Bishop Zanchetta at the Vatican's central reserve bank? During my times of unemployment, I wished that I had met a few such creative bosses who could magic up new jobs for me.

https://www.ncregister.com/cna/we-were-practically-nothing-to-him-ex-seminarian-says-of-bishop-zanchetta-s-abusive-behavior

And of course, there was Father Mauro "Don Mercedes" Inzoli, famous for his tastes in upmarket cars and young boys. First, you are defrocked. Then you are refrocked. Then you are defrocked again.

https://www.france24.com/en/20170628-pope-defrocks-don-mercedes-priest-convicted-sex-abuse

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Tom (Inadvertent Obfuscation)'s avatar

Your deference to the academics to whom you spoke is admirable. Might I suggest that they were reacting positively to your spiritual presence? Your ability to cheerfully and unabashedly support the authority of the Church while pointing out administrative failures of the same is a great spiritual help to me!

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Perry's avatar

Thank you for reporting the depressing news gents. I pray that your reporting can bring thing into the light for renewal :)

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Jeff The Less's avatar

Yo where's that subscriber bonus episode at?

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Bruce's avatar

Where is the Bonus Episode for Subscribers this week?

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Michael's avatar

Ed's increasing ecstasy as JD described The Greaseball was something I felt in my soul.

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