Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., Speaks On the State of Catholic Church Before His Death In 2012

Pope Benedict XVI with Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J.

Photo courtesy: www.americamagazine.org/

Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini (1927-2012), an Italian Jesuit and once the Archbishop of Milan, was a progressive and liberal in thinking and, as a result, faced opposition from conservatives in the Catholic Church.

In his final interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, before his death on August 31, 2012, he had mentioned about the situation of the Catholic Church clearly: "The church is tired, in the Europe of well-being and in America. Our culture has become old, our churches and our religious houses are big and empty, the bureaucratic apparatus of the church grows, our rites and our dress are pompous. Do these things, however, express what we are today?... Well-being weighs on us. We find ourselves like the rich young man who went away sad when Jesus called him to be his disciple. I know that we can't let everything go easily. At least, however, we can seek people who are free and closest to their neighbor, like Archbishop Romero and the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador. Where are the heroes among us who can inspire us? by no means do we have to limit them by the boundaries of the institution."

About who can help the Church today, he further said: "...I advise the Pope and the bishops to seek out twelve people outside the lines for administrative positions, people who are close to the poorest, who are surrounded by young people, and who try new things. We need to be with people who burn in such a way that the Spirit can spread itself everywhere."

To counter the exhaustion of the Church, this cardinal recommends three options: "...The first is conversion: the church must recognize its errors and follow a radical path of change, beginning with the pope and the bishops. The pedophilia scandals compel us to take up a path of conversion." 

"...The second is the Word of God. Vatican II gave the Bible back to Catholics. Only those who perceive this Word in their heart can be part of those who will help achieve renewal of the church, and who will know how to respond to personal questions with the right choice. The Word of God is simple, and seeks out as its companion a heart that listens. ... Neither the clergy nor ecclesiastical law can substitute for the inner life of the human person. All the external rules, the laws, the dogmas, are there to clarify this internal voice and for the discernment of spirits." 

"Who are the sacraments for? These are the third tool of healing. The sacraments are not an instrument of discipline, but a help for people in their journey and in the weaknesses of their life. Are we carrying the sacraments to the people who need new strength? I think of all the divorced and remarried couples, to extended families. They need special protection. The church upholds the indissolubility of matrimony. It's a grace when a marriage and a family succeed ..."       --(The above translation is used here from the www.ncronline.org article on the last interview of Cardinal Carlo Martini)   

Pope Francis, another Jesuit from Argentina, was influenced by Cardinal Martini's writing and progressive ideas to make the Catholic Church step with the changed situation of the modern world instead of dragging its faithful to the past again and again. 

For this very reason, Pope Francis also has been facing opposition from the traditionalist and conservative priests, bishops, cardinals, and laypersons from the very first day of his being elected the 266th pope of the Catholic Church. 

For details on Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini's life, work, and teaching, please click on the following:

• Cardinal Carlo Martini, Papal Contender, Dies at 85 (Aug. 31, 2012)
• The Last Interview with Cardinal Martini (From Corriere della Sera, Italy: Sept. 1, 2012)
• Cardinal Martini's last interview (Sept. 1, 2012)
• Translated final interview with Martini (Sept. 4, 2012)
• Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, his final interview, and a damning critique that has rocked the Catholic Church (Sept. 3, 2012)
• 'Out-of-date' Catholic Church must listen to its late Cardinal (Sept. 2, 2012)
• Editorial: In praise of ... Carlo Maria Martini (Sept. 3, 2012)
• [Video] Harvey Cox Extended Interview [with Cardinal Carlo Martini] (Sept. 7, 2012)
• Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., R.I.P (Sept. 19, 2012)
• Martini Pope. The Dream Come True [From Corriere della Sera, Oct. 11, 2012)
• What Cardinal Martini Said, and What He Didn't Say (The late cardinal's controversial interview was less interesting than what some progressive Catholics have tried to make of it) (Sept. 20, 2012)
• [Video] The Legacy of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini: Harvey Cox Extended Interview (March 28, 2013)
• [Video] Pope highlights spiritual paternity of Cardinal Martini one year after his death (Aug. 30, 2013)
• Pope Backs Foundation Promoting Legacy of Cardinal Martini (Aug. 30, 2013)
• Francis hails late Cardinal Carlo Martini (Sept. 2, 2013)
• [Video] Pope Francis praises Cardinal Martini (Oct. 9, 2013)
• Cardinal Martini's dream: the church of Francis (Oct. 23, 2013)
• Cardinal Martini's influence spreads across Canada (May 11, 2015)
• Carlo Maria Martini: A giant of the College of Cardinals (Aug. 26, 2015)
• Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini: an archbishop of the people (Sept. 1, 2017)
• Carlo Maria Martini (Wikipedia)
• The Cardinal Martini Problem for the Church (2019)
• Perseverance in Trials [Free downloadable book] (By Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J.) (Aug. 31, 2012)
• Cardinal Martini's book gives scandal to the faithful, archbishop says (Dec. 2, 2008) [Archbishop Hector Aguer of the LaPlata in Argentina]
• Evidence Pope follows blueprint to change Church by dissident cardinal who led St. Gallen (March 29, 2019)

(Updated on Dec. 18, 2019)

Pope Francis Asks Priests and Bishops To Be 'Smelly Shepherds', Not 'Wolves'

Pope Francis ordains 16 seminarians to the priesthood
in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Dec. 1, 2017

Photo courtesy: CNS

Pope Francis, immediately after being elected a pope on March 13, 2013, has been repeating his call for priests and bishops to be shepherds like Christ rather than 'wolves' that scatter or destroy sheep.

Pope Francis addressing the world's priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2018, said: “The priest who seldom goes out of himself … misses out on the best of our people, on what can stir the depths of his priestly heart. … This is precisely the reason why some priests grow dissatisfied, lose heart and become, in a sense, collectors of antiquities or novelties — instead of being shepherds living with ‘the smell of the sheep.’ This is what I am asking you — be shepherds with the smell of sheep.”

 The Pope in his May 15, 2018 homily in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence at the Vatican, said: “A bishop is not a bishop for himself. He is for the people, and a priest is not a priest for himself. He is for the people: to serve, to nurture them, to shepherd them, who are his flock – in order to defend them from the wolves.”

According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), Pope Francis repeated his prayers for bishops and priests who face temptation. “We are men and we are sinners.  We are tempted,” he said.

He cited St. Augustine’s commentaries on the prophet Ezekiel. Augustine warned against the temptations of wealth and vanity, when the bishop and priest “take from the people,” make deals and become “attached to money.”

He also added that "when a priest, a bishop goes after money, the people do not love him -- and that's a sign....he ends badly."

A bishop or priest on "the road to vanity" is one who "enters into the spirit of careerism -- and this hurts the Church very much," the Pope said. Such a man "ends up being ridiculous: he boasts, he is pleased to be seen, all powerful -- and the people do not like that!"

For more, please click on the following: 

• Pope Francis: Priests should be 'shepherds living with the smell of the sheep' (March 28, 2013)
• Pope Francis an inspiration to act like the Good Shepherd (April 25, 2013)
• Clergy must be shepherds, not wolves, says Pope (May 15, 2013)
• Meeting With Seminarians and Novices: Address of Holy Father Francis (Vatican: July 6, 2013)
• Pope Francis plays the Good Shepherd's role to perfection (Jan. 8, 2014)
• Shepherds Living With the Smell of the Sheep (Feb. 3, 2014)
• Smell of the Shepherds (Feb. 5, 2014)
• Pope Francis to Seminarians: "If You Are Not Willing To Act Like Shepherds, Change Path" (April 14, 2014)
• Francis' message to seminarians: If the priesthood's not for you, seek another path (April 14, 2014) [Pope stressed that the seminary is not a refuge for those with psychological problems]
• Pope to seminarians: you are preparing to be 'good shepherds' not bureaucrats (April 14, 2014)
• Pope Francis has given sheep and shepherd a renewed emphasis (March 13, 2015)
• Francis: Priests are shepherds, not managers (April 26, 2015)
• Pope Francis provides model for bishops (June 24, 2015)
• Rome retreat: Pope offers 'crash course' on mercy in priestly ministry (Feb. 6, 2016)
• How to be a good shepherd -- Pope Francis' guide for priests (June 3, 2016)
• Good priests don't own gloves, they get their hands dirty, says Pope Francis (June 3, 2016)
• Vatican updates guidelines for educating priests (July 12, 2016)
• A good shepherd shuns power and money and is never embittered (Oct. 18, 2016)
• Pope Francis: A good shepherd is never embittered even if deserted by everyone (Oct. 18, 2016)
• The Gift of the Priestly Vocation [Updated guidelines -- Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis -- for educating priests] (Vatican: Congregation for the Clergy -- December 8, 2016) 
• Pope Francis, Priesthood And Mission. Ten Inspirational Insights [by Father James H. Kroeger, M.M.] (April 21, 2016)
• Pope Francis' Dynamic Vision of Priesthood (2016)
• Pope: We Must Follow the Good Shepherd, Not False Wisdom (May 8, 2017)
• Pope Francis: A shepherd must freely follow the Spirit (May 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis: 'Shepherds are not the centre of the Church' (May 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis: A good shepherd know when to step down (May 31, 2017)
• Pope wants priests to be shepherds who encounter their flocks (June 16, 2017)
• On the path of the Good Shepherd (Pope Francis drew five verbs from the Gospel of Luke 13: 10-17) (Oct. 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis: a good shepherd is always close to his people (Oct. 31, 2017)
• Bishops called to be humble shepherds, not lonely masters, pope says (2017)
• Pope at Mass: 'Shepherds should show tenderness and closeness of Jesus' (Jan. 30, 2018)
• Pope advises priests: Be present and available for your people (Jan. 30, 2018)
• Shepherds Do Not Put Up Signs With Hours (Jan. 30, 2018)
• Priesthood isn't an assignment; it's a mission, Pope tells seminarians (Feb. 16, 2018)
• Pope Francis to new priests: Be like Jesus the Good Shepherd (April 22, 2018)
• "Bishops shall watch over the flock, and not be suitcase-in-hand office workers" (May 4, 2018)
• Bishops must protect their people from danger, pope says (May 4, 2018)
• Satan is attacking bishops: they must fight with prayer, pope says (Sept. 11, 2018)
• Pope to French priests: Be transformed by the Spirit (Oct. 1, 2018)
• Shepherding the Flock: Pope Francis' vision of Priesthood (2018)

Related Items:

• Clericalism And Its Corroding Effects in the Catholic Church (A collection of news and articles on 'clericalism') (Sept. 19, 2018)
• Vatican Scandals and Reforms of Pope Francis (Dec. 31, 2016)

(Updated on Oct. 4, 2018)

Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario Meets With Bangladeshi Catholics in Toronto

Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario, after the evening Mass on August 18,
speaking at the reception given by Bangladesh Catholic Association
of Ontario (BCAO) 

Mr. Paul Roy, President of Bangladesh Catholic Association
of Ontario (BCAO), giving a welcoming speech at the reception

Photos (Toronto: Aug. 18, 2018) © Jerome D'Costa

Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario, Archbishop of Dhaka, Bangladesh, was on a short pastoral visit to Toronto meeting with Bangladeshi Catholics. 

On Saturday, August 18, the cardinal celebrated a Mass in the Bengali language at St. Theresa Catholic Church, where about 200 Catholics were present. 

After the Mass, the newly-elected Executive Committee of the Bangladesh Catholic Association of Ontario (BCAO) gave a reception to Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario with a kirtan (chanting in accompaniment of drum and harmonium), dance, and speeches.

Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario, in the end, expressed his pleasure in meeting with the Bangladeshis and thanked all for their participation in the Mass. 

U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick Resigns Amid His Sex Abuse Scandal

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 2003

Photo courtesy: papam.wordpress.com/

In face of several sexual abuse allegations, U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick submitted his resignation from the College of Cardinals, and Pope Francis accepted his resignation on July 28 and stripped him from any public ministry, according to the Catholic News Agency (CNA). 

Pope Francis also placed Cardinal McCarrick to "a life of prayer and penance in seclusion" until the end of the Vatican canonical process (investigation) against him.

Allegations made against this Cardinal are: as a bishop, McCarrick "sexually abused, assaulted, or coerced seminarians and young priests" for a number of years. The U.S. Diocese of Metuchen and Archdiocese of Newark disclosed that they had received reports that McCarrick had engaged in sexual misconduct with adults, and reached legal and financial settlements in two cases.

For details, kindly click on the following:

• Cardinal Theodore McCarrick Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal (July 28, 2018)
• Cardinal McCarrick, prominent US Catholic, resigns over abuse claims (July 28, 2018)
• High-ranking US cardinal resigns from Catholic Church amid sexual abuse allegations (July 28, 2018)
• Pope accepts resignation of D.C.-area Cardinal Theodore McCarrick after sex abuse claims (July 28, 2018)
• He Preyed on Men Who Wanted to Be Priests. The He Became a Cardinal (July 16, 2018)
• Man Says Cardinal McCarrick, His 'Uncle Ted,' Sexually Abused Him for Years (July 19, 2018)
• Details of the homosexual molestation charges against Cardinal McCarrick (June 22, 2018)
• The Catholic Church is enabling the sex abuse crisis by forcing gay priests to stay in the closet (July 23, 2018)
• Promoting Predators (July 24, 2018)
• McCarrick is 'the tip of the iceberg': Polish priest who warned of gay bishops 5 years ago (July 26, 2018)
• A Catholic cardinal has weathered sex abuse allegations for years. Now they're finally public (July 29, 2018)
• An Invitation to the Laity (July 30, 2018)
• Cardinal McCarrick and the gay mafia: corruption of clergy now rivals the age of the Borgias (Aug. 1, 2018)
• Priest: 'Evil' gay bishops 'persecute, blackmail' faithful priests who might expose their secret (Aug. 3, 2018)
• Wuerl calls for spiritual and moral renewal in response to McCarrick scandal (Aug. 3, 2018)
• Marie Collins reacts to Cardinal Wuerl's proposals following McCarrick scandal (Aug. 6, 2018)

Some Other Cardinals In The Same Boat of Sex Abuse:

Cardinal Hans Herman Groer of Austria:

Pope John Paul II with Cardinal Hans Herman Groer of Vienna, Austria (right)
Photo courtesy: kkpp.blox.pl/

• Sexual abuse scandal in Vienna archdiocese 
• Austrian Cardinal Quits in Sex Scandal (April 15, 1998)
• Hans Groer, 83; Austrian Cardinal in Sex Scandal (March 25, 2003)
• Vatican cardinal attacks fellow cardinal for 'covering up' abuse case (May 10, 2010)
• A cardinal is accused: the Groer case (April 4, 2014)

Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland, U.K.:

Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland, U.K. with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican

Photo courtesy: www.catholic-ew.org.uk/

• Cardinal Keith O'Brien, disgraced Scottish prelate dies at 80 (March 19, 2018)
• Cardinal Keith O'Brien dies after fall (March 19, 2018)
• Keith O'Brien, Cardinal Ousted in Sex Scandal, dies at 80 (March 19, 2018)
• Cardinal who suffered a spectacular fall from grace (March 24, 2018)

Cardinal George Pell of Australia:

Cardinal George Pell of Australia, with Pope Benedict XVI

Photo courtesy: GettyImages through businessinsider.com/

• Will Cardinal Pell face a trial by jury in sex abuse case? (April 27, 2018)
• Cardinal George Pell to Stand Trial on Historical Sex Offenses (April 30, 2018)
• Cardinal Pell Pleads Not Guilty in Australia [video] (April 30, 2018)
• Who is Cardinal George Pell and what is he accused of? (May 1, 2018)
• George Pell's committal to trial makes front page news around world (May 1, 2018)
• Australian cardinal George Pell to face 2 trials on sexual abuse charges (May 2, 2018)

Certain Other Cardinals Who Participated in Others' Sins (by ignoring clergy sex-abuse victims and by shielding clergy sex-abusers):

Catholic Church has a clear-cut teaching on participation in the sins of others. This teaching is applicable to all the Catholics -- laymen, laywomen, members of the Religious orders, and members of the hierarchy (priests, monsignors, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and popes). 

According to the Church teaching, a Catholic participates in the sins of others in the following ways: 9 Ways You Might Be Sharing in the Sins of Others (June 13, 2017). If other persons' sins are mortal or deadly sins, by participating in them, the Cardinals also committed mortal sins. For committing mortal sins, serial mortal sins, or unconfessed mortal sins, laypersons easily get their holy communions banned, but, who, on earth, then will ban holy communion of these Cardinals? How can they touch or receive the holy communion in their daily Holy Masses with their mortally tainted hands and hearts? How can they hear others' confessions? How can they perform different sacramental acts without any concern for their own mortal sins? What is the guarantee that members of the hierarchy confess their mortal sins regularly and promise not to commit these sins in future -- a requirement for receiving God's pardon for one's mortal sins? But, the Catholic Church teaches that in spite of unconfessed or unrepented mortal sins in their hearts, members of the hierarchy can still receive holy communion by themselves and perform sacramental rites with impunity. In case of judging, condemning, and punishing, there is an abysmal discrepancy between the laypersons and members of the hierarchy, although all of them are members of the same Catholic Church. This hypocrisy is really disturbing for the Catholic laypersons.  

It needs to be remembered that, according to the Bible, God created Adam and Eve (a layman and a laywoman) first, the priestly class evolved or came much later from among their descendants to serve other laypersons (who were also descendants of  Adam and Eve) religiously and spiritually. The priestly class, in the Catholic Church, is called the hierarchy, whose members are there to serve the laity. Pope Francis is trying to show how to be of servant leadership and not of autocratic or dictatorial leadership when dealing with the laity. 

The following Cardinals, we are sorry to say, got most publicity for their participation in the sins of their fellow priests and bishops:

Cardinal Josef Ratzinger (who later became Pope Benedict XVI) (Vatican):

• Joseph Ratziner as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 
• Sex Abuse Scandal: Did Archbishop Ratzinger Help Shield Perpetrator from Prosecution? (March 22, 2010)
• Abuse in the Church: The Demons of Pope Benedict XVI (March 30, 2010)
• More documents link Ratzinger to abuse cases (April 9, 2010)
• Pope Benedict balked at defrocking California priest over molestation (April 10, 2010)
• Father H's Story: Germany's Pedophile Priest Scandal (May 20, 2010)
• Church Office Failed to Act on Abuse Scandal (July 1, 2010)
• Munich Abuse Case: Archbishop Ratzinger Failed to Deal with Suspected Pedophile Priest (Nov. 29, 2010)
• Pope Benedict 'complicit in child sex abuse scandals,' say victims' groups (Feb. 11, 2013)
• Pope Benedict XVI Resigns: Who Will Be the Next Pope? [Video] (Feb. 11, 2013)
• Pope Benedict defrocked 400 priests in 2 years, document reveals (Jan. 17, 2014, updated on Jan. 18, 2014)
• What Pope Benedict Knew About Abuse in the Catholic Church (Jan. 14, 2016)

Cardinal George Bernard Law of Boston, USA:

• Boy's father in pedophile priest case fed up with cardinals (April 25, 2002)
• How Cardinal disgraced in Boston child abuse scandal found a Vatican haven (Cardinal Bernard Law quit as archbishop of Boston in 2002 after criticism of his handline of paedophile priests but although a pariah in the US was honoured in Rome) (Nov. 6, 2015)
• Cardinal Bernard Law, the face of the church's failure on child sexual abuse, dies at 86 (Dec. 19, 2017)
• Cardinal Bernard Law, symbol of Clergy abuse scandal, dead at 86 (Dec. 20, 2017)
• The Death of Cardinal Bernard Law and the Legacy of Clergy Sex Abuse (Dec. 20, 2017)
• Reflecting On The Life Of Disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law (Dec. 20, 2017)
• 'Cardinal Law allowed this to happen': abuse survivors on archbishop's death (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Drawing lessons from the life of Cardinal Bernard Law (Dec. 27, 2017)
• A History of secrecy, coverups in Boston Archdiocese 
• Spotlight: Abuse in the Catholic Church

Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago, Chile (successor to Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz):

• Cardinals conspire to block abuse survivor appointment (Sept. 15, 2015)
• Leaked letter adds to pressure on Chile cardinal over sex abuse scandals (July 23, 2018)
• Chile summons Roman Catholic cardinal in sex abuse case (July 24, 2018)
• Top Chilean cardinal summoned as part of widening sex abuse probe (July 25, 2018)
• Chilean prosecutors summon Santiago cardinal in sex abuse case (the case involves the alleged cover-up of abuse by former chancellor of the Archdiocese of Santiago) (July 25, 2018)
• Ricardo Ezzati Andrelo, Cardinal

Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz of Santiago, Chile (predecessor of Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati): 

• Cardinals conspire to block abuse survivor appointment (Sept. 15, 2015)
• Chile cardinal blames Bishop Barros for bad press during papal trip [of Pope Francis to Chile in January, 2018] (March 10, 2018)
• On Chile crisis, who led Pope Francis to make 'serious errors'? (April 25, 2018)
• Cardinal Errazuriz will not participate in Chilean bishops' meeting in Rome (May 10, 2018)
• Chilean cardinal at the center of abuse scandal won't travel to Rome (May 10, 2018)
• Chilean cardinal may be next test for Pope on sex abuse reform (Aug. 1, 2018)
• Cardinal Errazuriz of Chile responds to Crux series [on Cardinal Errazuriz] (Aug. 9, 2018)

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos (at the Vatican):

• Cardinal: Pope John Paul II approved letter on shielding priest abuser [in France] (Jan. 19, 2012)

Cardinal Angelo Raffaele Sodano (Vatican Secretary of State and Dean of the College of Cardinals): 

• Papal princes immune to censure (Dec. 4, 2009)
• Money paved way for Maciel's influence in the Vatican (April 6, 2010)
• How Fr. Maciel built his empire (April 12, 2010)
• Vatican Power Struggle Behind Pope's Abuse Speech? (May 11, 2010)
• The Cost of Father Maciel (May 12, 2010)
• Former Irish President claims Vatican tried to shield Church archives (Aug. 7, 2018)
• Former Irish official: Vatican asked to protect Church from financial claims (Aug. 9, 2018)
• On Cardinal Sodano and the meaning of 'accountability' (Aug. 12, 2018)

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (Vatican Secretary of State -- after Cardinal Angelo Raffaele Sodano):

• Letter to Cardinal Bertone [by Fr. Thomas P. Doyle, O.P., J.C.D.] (Nov. 22, 2007)
• Vatican attacked over cardinal's claim of homosexuality and paedophilia link (April 13, 2010)
• Vatican 'clarifies' cardinal's homosexuality abuse link (April 14, 2010)
• Amid the Abuse Scandal, Benedict's No. 2 Draws Fire (April 14, 2010)
• Vatican probes funding of cardinal's lavish apartment (March 31, 2016)
• Cardinal Bertone's Sins Against Children (April 18, 2016, and updated April 17, 2017)

Cardinal Donald Wuerl (Washington Diocese, USA):

• Cardinal Wuerl's actions in Pittsburgh scrutinized by Catholic sexual abuse investigation (Aug. 14, 2018)
• The Latest: Priest abuse report faults Cardinal Donald Wuerl (Aug. 14, 2018)
• Catholic Church officials shielded sexually predatory priests for decades: grand jury report (Aug. 14, 2018)
• More than 1,000 children abused by Pennsylvania priests, report says (Aug. 14, 2018)
• Report details sexual abuse by more than 300 priests in Pennsylvania's Catholic Church (Updated Aug. 15, 2018)
• Cardinal Wuerl defends himself ahead of child sex abuse report (Aug. 14, 2018)
• Rape, then holy water: Report details how hundreds of priests abused children in Pennsylvania, and the church covered it up (Aug. 14, 2018)
• Report: DC Archbishop Donald Wuerl Mishandled Pennsylvania Priest Sex Abuse Cases (Aug. 14, 2018)
• Catholic officials, Vatican systematically covered up priest sex abuse, report reveals (Aug 14, 2018)

Some Other Notorious Cardinals of the Past:

• Notorious Cardinals: A Rogue's Gallery of Powerful Prelates (For centuries, the Vatican's mighty prelates have wielded far more than spiritual power) (March 12, 2013)

(Updated on August 14, 2018)
(Updated on August 15, 2018)
(Updated on August 17, 2018)
(Updated on August 21, 2018)