Coronavirus Outbreak Provides A Hey Day To The Sin Counters

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke 

Photo courtesy: Public Radio International

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano

Photo courtesy: dailymail.co.uk/

Evangelical pastor Rick Wiles

Photo courtesy: TruNews via nypost.com/ 

COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak is providing a centre stage to the sin counters of various religions.  These self-righteous and judging-condemning people see things in black and white -- sinfulness and holiness. There is no grey area in their sight. They have been pontificating that this pestilence outbreak is a chastisement, punishment, or retribution for sins of abortion, fornication, homosexuality, and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) practices.  

This widespread virus attack and death in the world has levelled everything -- casteism, racism, feeling and practice of superiority and inferiority, richness and poverty, educational and intellectual pride and humbleness of illiteracy -- into a single line. 

Yet, we find that some religious leaders are shouting from the rooftops how God's severe punishment is befalling on the sinners of particular infractions. They are, as if, enjoying their hurtful pontification. 

When people are suffering so badly, when they are in anxiety, and unsure of their future earnings, this type of religious judgment and condemnation is not only pathetic but also shameful. Now is the time when suffering and anxiety-filled populace needs words of comfort, encouragement, and God's love and mercy all the more. 

It is easy to pontificate being in a comfortable and pompous position, but difficult in being in the real, hard, and suffering world. Religious leaders usually are well-trained and well-read in the teachings and practices of their religions. They easily understand and realize what is right and wrong, what verbalizations and actions go against the teachings of God. How many of the COVID-19 virus sufferers have the capacity for understanding and realizing the rightfulness or wrongfulness of their actions? 

If God really punished people for their serious sins, he would do it all the time in world history. According to the Old Testament of the Bible, Adam and Eve are the first man and woman created by God the almighty. Through the disobedience of God's command, they committed the first sin of mankind and were banished to the world from the blissful Garden of Eden. Their sin is called the Original Sin or Ancestral Sin, which gave rise to other sins of mankind. 

If God really took retribution for serious sins through natural disasters (cyclones, hurricanes, volcanoes, thunderstorms, famines, plagues, and pestilences, and man-made disasters like ethnic cleansings, murders, persecutions, revolts, wars, abductions and rapes of women, mafia and gang violence and human traffickings, usurpation of lands and properties, fornications, adulteries, and homosexualities), the world would really be depopulated by this time. The Bible speaks of God's punishment for human sins. According to the Bible description, the creation of the first human beings (Adam and Eve) occurred about five to ten thousand years ago. But in the real world, we find the existence of human beings (through skeletons and other artifacts) in different parts of the world as old as 100,000 to 300,000 years old. So, there were human beings even before Adam and Eve. Why didn't God punish the pre-Adamite peoples for their sins? Were the pre-Adamites sinless peoples?

Later in history, especially in the Middle Ages, we see how the Catholic Church and a number of its clergy in Europe and some colonies committed persecution of and injustice against apostates and heretics -- including people of other Christian denominations and religions, 'witches,' and others who did not follow Catholic Church teachings. What about the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) and the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) in Europe, the First World War (1914-1918), and the Second World War (1939-1945)? How cruel and barbarously evil methods were used in persecuting, killing and maiming of thousands and millions of people? People of other religions also had their own types of sins and injustices. Where was God in those evil times? Why didn't God chastise or punish them?

We see in the first several hundred years of its existence, married clergy were allowed in the Catholic Church. A good number of these priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes had engaged in adulteries, child sex abuses, rapes, illegally giving away church funds and properties to their children and concubines. To redress this situation, the celibate (unmarried) priesthood was introduced for unhindered and fulltime devotion and service to the Lord Jesus and his Church. That change also could not do away the normal human weaknesses and sins of the celibate priests and bishops. This has been well-proven in the last four decades when a good portion of the Catholic clergy (priests, bishops, and cardinals) were engaged in child sex abuses, bisexuality, homosexuality, heterosexuality (sexing with women or nuns, and, in a good number of cases, siring children and secretly paying church funds for their upkeep), misuse or embezzlement of church funds, and so and so forth. The cover-ups of these crimes and sins by their superiors were tantamount to participation in others' sins.  Why didn't God punish these clergy sinners en masse?    

Jesus Christ, who is believed by Christians, to be the second person of the blessed Trinity of God, himself said that sickness is not a punishment from God. We read in the Gospel of John 9:1-3: Now as Jesus was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth, and his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him."

Please read the following for details on the recent COVID-19 outbreak:

Coronavirus Is a Chastisement For Sins

• Assessing the Pope's responsibility in the chastisement of coronavirus (March 31, 2020)
• One of Trump's Favorite Pastors Says, "All Natural Disasters Can Ultimately Be Traced to Sin" (March 14, 2020)
• The Coronavirus and God (March 16, 2020)
• Is the coronavirus an act of God? Faith leaders debate tough questions amid pandemic (April 2, 2020)
• Coronavirus is punishment from God, Pa. lawyer suggests; calls for statewide day of atonement (March 24, 2020)
• 'Presumptuous sins': Pennsylvania lawmaker says coronavirus is divine 'punishment' (March 25, 2020)
• Coronavirus is Punishment for 'LGBT Sin,' Says Far-Right Pastor (March 6, 2020)
• Religious conservatives are blaming gay people for coronavirus (March 12, 2020)
• COVID-19 pandemic: The world's religions and coronavirus (March 16, 2020)
• Rabbi: Coronavirus 'divine retribution' for gay pride parades (March 2020)
• Islamic Scholar Who Called Coronavirus 'Act of Allah' Gets Infected (March 9, 2020)
• Why coronavirus is a punishment from God that should lead to repentance (March 12, 2020)
• Conservative pastor blames coronavirus on same-sex marriage (March 20, 2020)
• 'God's punishment': Muted Nowruz in Afghanistan over coronavirus (March 2o, 2020)
• God's vengeance: the Christian right and the coronavirus (March 27, 2020)
• Natural Disasters Are Part of Original Sin (Sept 27, 2017)
• [Video] 'It's About Sin!' Hermit says coronavirus is a 'chastisement' (March 24, 2020)
• Evangelical pastor claims coronavirus is God's 'death angel' to 'purge a lot of sin' (January 29, 2020)
• Top pro-life leader: coronavirus pandemic is 'chastisement' for sin of abortion (March 24, 2020)
• Irvin Baxter Says Coronavirus Is a Warning From God About the Sin of Fornication (March 27, 2020)
• Pastor: Coronavirus is a Warning from God Because Only 5% of Brides Are Virgins (March 27, 2020)
• Conservative pastor says spread of coronavirus in synagogues is punishment from God (March 29, 2020)
• Insane End Times Preacher: Coronavirus Came About Because of Fornication (March 30, 2020)
• Kenneth Copeland: Fear of the Coronavirus 'Is Not OK -- It Is Sin' (March 11, 2020)
• Coronavirus: Sermon of Saturday March 7, 2020 at Saint-Nicolaus-du-Chardonnet (Paris) (March 16, 2020)
• The 11th Plague? Pastor Claims Coronavirus is God's Punishment for Sin (January 31, 2020)
• [Video] Pastor says coronavirus will "purge sin off our planet" (Feb. 3, 2020)

Coronavirus Is Not Punishment For Sins

• Can God Use the Coronavirus for Good? (March 19, 2020)
• WATCH: Pope Francis blames coronavirus on nature 'having a fit' over environmental damage (March 24, 2020)
• Faith leaders reject the idea that coronavirus is punishment from God for a sinful world (March 25, 2020)
• There is nothing pro-life about exploiting a pandemic to further a political agenda (April 4, 2020)
• Is the coronavirus an act of God? Faith leaders debate tough questions amid pandemic (April 5, 2020)
• No, God Did Not Send Coronavirus To Punish Us for Sin (April 2020)
• Is the Coronavirus Evil? (March 17, 2020)
• Why Zika, and Other Viruses Don't Disprove God's Goodness? (A microbiologist reflects on the problem of evil in human diseases) (August 14, 2018)

Should People Attend Church Services En Masse?

• Vatican says public will not be admitted to papal Holy Week liturgies (March 16, 2020)
• Vatican extends lockdown measures to Easter Monday (April 3, 2020)
• Vatican says general absolution may be permissible during pandemic (March 20, 2020)
• Coronavirus may cause 'grave necessity' for general absolution, Vatican says (March 20, 2020)
• Message on the Combat against the Coronavirus COVID-19 (March 21, 2020)
• Cardinal Burke says faithful should attend Mass despite coronavirus (March 24, 2020)
• Bishop Sneider: Priest don't have to obey bishops, govt who suspend Mass over COVID-19 (March 30, 2020)

Pope Francis Defrocks Argentine Priest, Father Roberto Juan Yannuzzi, For Sexual Misconduct

'Miles Christi' founder Father Roberto
Juan Yannuzzi of Argentina

Photo courtesy: catholicnewsworld.com/

Pope Francis defrocked Father Roberto Juan Yannuzzi, an Argentine priest and founder of Miles Christi (soldier of Christ) Institute, after finding him guilty of committing sexual misconduct with members of his own institute.

Miles Christi is comprised of priests, coadjutor brothers, consecrated women, and lay associates. This religious order works in Argentina, Mexico, Italy, and the USA.

Father Yannuzzi, being the founder of this institute, found himself quite comfortable in violating Church teachings on celibacy, sexual chastity, and self-sacrifice of Catholic priests. 
He "has been found guilty of crimes against the sixth commandment with adults, the absolution of the accomplice, and the abuse of authority," reports the Catholic News Agency.

For more, please read the following:

• Pope dismisses founder of Miles Christi Institute from clerical state (Feb. 4, 2020) 
• Pope dismisses founder of Miles Christi Institute from clerical state (Feb. 4, 2020)
• Breaking News: Pope Francis removes Argentine Founder of Miles Christi Roberto Juan Yannuzzi from clerical state (Feb. 2020)
• Pope expels from priesthood Argentine founder of religious institute (Feb. 5, 2020)
• Pope Francis defrocks Argentine founder of religious institute (Feb. 5, 2020)
• Pope defrocks fellow Argentine priest Roberto Yannuzzi
• Pope expels from priesthood Argentine founder of religious institute (Feb. 5, 2020)
• Miles Christi (soldier of Christ)

The Quotation of the Week (February 2 - 8, 2020)

A quotation of James Carroll on 'clericalism,'
compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Design © Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis Abolishes 'Pontifical Secrecy' Rules For Clergy's Child Sex Abuse Cases

Pope Francis

Photo courtesy: www.biography.com/

Pope Francis, on December 17, eliminated the existing 'pontifical secret' provision of the Catholic clergy sex abuse cases for greater transparency and cooperation with civil authorities. He also raised the age of a minor or child to 18 (previously it was 14 years). Any priest or bishop having sexual relations with a person under the age of 18 will be considered child sex abuse. A priest or bishop's possession of pornographic images of a person under the age of 18 will be considered a crime, too.   

The new Church laws allow qualified laypersons to represent and defend persons in Church tribunals in cases of sexual misconduct without having to ask permission. Previously, only the clergy was allowed to do it. 

For details, please read the following:

• The Pope abolishes the pontifical secret in cases of sexual abuse  (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Pope lifts 'pontifical secret' rule in sex abuse cases (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Pope Francis Abolishes Secrecy Policy in Sexual Abuse Cases (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Pope abolishes 'pontifical secrecy' for sex abuse investigations (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Pope Francis ends 'pontifical secrecy' rules used in sex abuse cases (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Pope abolishes 'pontifical secret' in abuse cases, raises age for child porn (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Pope Francis lifts pontifical secret from legal proceedings of abuse trials of clerics (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Pope Francis abolishes pontifical secret in clerical sexual abuse cases (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Interview with Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Adjunct Secretary of Congregation for Doctrine of Faith on Rescript of Pope Francis Concerning Instruction on Confidentiality of Legal Proceedings (Dec. 17, 2019)
• What is the pontifical secret? (Dec. 19, 2018)
• Explained: What is the 'pontifical secret,' which Pope Francis has just banned? (Dec. 18, 2019)
• Pontifical Secret (Wikipedia)

The Quotation of the Week (June 9 - 15, 2019)

A quotation of A. W. Richard Sipe
on 'Catholic clergy sexual abuse,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Design © Jerome D'Costa (2019)

The Vatican Summit On Protection of Minors Ends, Abuse Victims Disappointed

Pope Francis delivers his closing address to the Vatican Summit
for Protection of Children on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019

Photo courtesy: Giuseppe Lami via cruxnow.com/

The Vatican summit on the protection of minors, from February 21 to 24, ended with the promise of 'decisively confront' the abuse, but actual clergy sex abuse victims expressed their frustrations and were doubtful about the Church's future actions. 

Pope Francis, in his final address to the participants of the summit, vowed to confront abusers with "the wrath of God' felt by the faithful, end the cover-ups by their superiors and prioritize the victims of this "brazen, aggressive and destructive evil," report the AP. 

The Pope said the sexual abuse of children happens in the family, but it becomes even more scandalous when it occurs in the Catholic Church, "for it is utterly incompatible with her moral authority and ethical credibility." 

For more on the summit, please read the following:

• Pope vows action on sex abuse, but victims disappointed with plan (Feb. 24, 2019)
• Francis ends Vatican summit with promise Church will 'decisively confront' abuse (Feb. 24, 2019)
• Address of His Holiness Pope Francis at the End of the Eucharistic Celebration [Pope's closing remarks] (Feb. 24, 2019)
• Pope Francis: Church will focus on 8 points in 'all-out battle' against abuse (Feb. 24, 2019)
• Pope Francis' Concluding Address to Participants of Vatican Summit on Child Protection (Feb. 24, 2019)
• Pope Francis' record on coverup challenged at final press conference for Vatican Sex Abuse Summit (Feb. 24, 2019)
• Campaigners furious after pope's 'defensive' speech on child abuse (Feb. 24, 2019)
• Survivors of Church Abuse Want Zero Tolerance, The Pope Offers Context (Feb. 24, 2019)
• 'All optics, no substance': Survivors react to Vatican abuse summit (Feb. 25, 2019)
• Analysis: Pope's sex abuse summit: What it did and didn't do (Feb. 25, 2019)
• Vatican abuse summit follow-up decides to hold more follow-ups (Feb. 25, 2019)
• Pope blames Church's sex abuse crisis on 'clericalism' in closing remarks at Vatican summit (Feb. 26, 2019)
• Cardinal decries Vatican silence on homosexuality at abuse summit [Cardinal Walter Brandmuller of Germany] (Feb. 27, 2019)

Four-Day Vatican Summit On The Protection Of Minors Opens In The Vatican

Pope Francis speaks to the participants at the Vatican summit
on the 'protection of minors' at the Synod Hall on Feb. 21

Photo courtesy: Vatican Media, via CNA

Pope Francis, on February 21, opened the Vatican summit on the 'protection of minors' from Catholic clergy sex abuse, with more than 200 world bishops, cardinals, Vatican officials, priests, experts, and clergy sex abuse victims in attendance. Abuse victims came from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. 

In his opening remarks, the pope gave a list of "21 talking points" for the participants that include "suggestions to have periodic reviews of protocols on safeguarding, handbooks of steps authorities should take in abuse cases, provisions for facilitating the participation of lay experts in investigations, and the direction to inform civil authorities and higher Church authorities in compliance with civil and canonical norms," reports the Catholic News Agency (CNA).

The summit will also deal with raising the minimum age of marriage for women from 14 to 16 years and make it universal in the Church, psychological evaluations of the seminarians for the priesthood, and proper penalties for priests or Religious who commit the abuse.

Some observers feel that the Vatican now is dealing with only one type of problem (clergy sex abuse of minors -- also known as pedophilia), but, in reality,  there are priests all over the world with other types of sex abuse problems, for example, bi-sexual priests (going after both men and women), heterosexual priests (going after women and nuns -- some priests even having illegal abortions done on their lovers, and others having secret children of their own), homosexual priests (going after men), and so on. These priests need to be dealt with, too, to have greater accountability and "sexual chastity" in the Church. Who, then, will bell the cat in the future? 

For more on the ongoing Vatican summit, you may read the following:

• Pope Proposes 21 'reflection points' for discussion at abuse summit (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Meeting on "The Protection of Minors in the Church" -- Reflection Points (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope warns Catholic leaders the faithful expect concrete action to end sexual abuse (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope promises change at first Vatican summit on sex abuse (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope Opens Meeting on Clerical Sex Abuse Under Great Pressure From Victims for Change (Feb. 21, 2019)
• First Vatican summit on child sex abuse (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Searing testimony heard at Vatican sex abuse summit (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope Francis presents action plan for tackling clerical sex abuse but victims dismiss it as inadequate (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Vatican Sexual Abuse Summit In Rome Hears From Survivors (Feb. 21, 2019)
• Pope Francis vows action on clergy sex abuse but US prosecutors say Church can't be trusted to police itself (Feb. 22, 2019)
• Distrust and anger shadow Vatican summit on sex abuse (Feb. 21, 2019)

Washington, D.C., Capuchin Priest Arrested For Child Sexual Abuse

Father Urbano Vazquez, OFM, Cap.,
in his Washington, D.C., parish church

Photo courtesy: nbcwashington.com/

Father Urbano Vazquez, OFM Cap., parochial vicar of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in northwest Washington, D.C., was arrested on November 7 of a charge of second-degree child sexual abuse. He was later released after his court appearance. 

According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA) report, he was accused of placing his hand down the shirt of a 13-year-old girl on two occasions and had touched her bare chest in May 2015. According to court documents, the girl's mother had complained of the abuse to the shrine's pastor Father Moises Villalta, OFM Cap., in 2015, but he failed to inform the police. 

The Archdiocese of Washington, after learning of the first allegation on October 26 from Capuchin Order of Friars Minor, removed Fr. Vazquez from the parish, suspended his priestly faculties in the diocese, and informed local police who then arrested him. After his arrest, the archdiocese received additional allegations against Fr. Vazquez. 

The Fox News reports additional two cases, where one 16-year-old girl was forcefully kissed by Fr. Vazquez in 2015 and her mother walked in during the alleged incident. The girl and her mother both reported it to the church twice in September 2015 and in January 2016. The third victim was a 15-year-old girl whose lower thigh was stroked by this priest during confession. 

For more, please read the following:

• Capuchin priest arrested in Washington DC (Nov. 8, 2018)
• DC Priest Accused of Sexually Abusing Teenage Girl (Nov. 8, 2018)
• DC priest charged with child sexual abuse released after court appearance (Nov. 8, 2018)
• Three teens allege abuse by Catholic priest in D.C., court papers say (Nov. 8, 2018)

The Quotation of the Week (October 14 - 20, 2018)

↶↶↶

"If bishops, clergy 

and religious lose the personal 

relationship with God to which we are all called, careerism, clericalism and ways of life at odds with the Gospel often result. This diminishes or quenches the flame of love and life in Christ that we must have in serving the People of God. We can become spiritual operators, or worse, perpetrators of serious harm to others." -- 

Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, 

Portland, Oregon, USA 

(Sept. 2018)

⧭

A quotation of Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon,

 on 'Bishops, clergy and Religious' relationship with God,' 

compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Above Design by Jerome D'Costa

(Updated on Oct. 15, 2018)

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)

Pope Francis Defrocks Chilean Priest Fernando Karadima For Sexual Abuse

Father Fernando Karadima on the court date 
on Nov. 11, 2015, in Santiago, Chile

Photo courtesy: Getty Images

Pope Francis in an unprecedented move has defrocked Father Fernando Karadima (88) of Chile who was previously in 2011 was found to be guilty by the Vatican of several counts of sexual abuse and sentenced to a life of 'penance and prayer.' 

Father Karadima was a charismatic, convincing, and fluent speaker with wide influence among both the Chilean hierarchy and laity. He was involved in numerous sexual abuses and was accused as early as 1984. Chilean Church authorities not only failed to take action but also helped cover up his grave sins and crimes. This is called participation in others' sins. The laity everywhere in the world is taught on this participation, but the members of the hierarchy rarely apply this to themselves. There was a time when even Pope Francis thought abuse victims were spreading calumnies against Father Karadima! 

After receiving a 2,300-page report on sexual abuse of a number of priests in Chile, Pope Francis called all Chilean bishops and cardinals to Rome to deal with this. All the bishops and cardinals then wanted to submit their resignations. The pope accepted only a few resignations. 

For more on Father Karadima and Chilean clergy's sexual abuses, please read the following: 

• Pope Francis defrocks Chilean priest Fernando Karadima (Sept. 28, 2018)
• Pope Francis Defrocks Priest Fernando Karadima, a Notorious Abuser in Chile (Sept. 28, 2018)
• Abuses in Chile, Pope Francis defrocks Karadima (Sept. 28, 2018)
• Pope Francis defrocks Chilean priest Fernando Karadima amid sex abuse scandal (Sept. 28, 2018)
• Pope Francis defrocks Chilean priest Fernando Karadima (Sept. 28, 2018)
• Pope Francis removes Chilean priest at center of sex abuse scandal (Sept. 28, 2018)
• Chile abuse priest Fernando Karadima removed by Vatican (Sept. 28, 2018)
• Pope defrocks Chilean priest in sex abuse scandal (Sept. 28, 2018)
• National Catholic Reporter: FERNANDO KARADIMA (An archive of articles on Father Karadima and sexual abuses in Chile)
• Karadima Case (Wikipedia)

Related Items: 

• Vatican Rules Against Chile Priest Fernando Karadima (Feb. 18, 2011)
• Former seminarian tells Vatican sex-crimes investigator of his abuse by a Chilean priest (Feb. 17, 2018)
• Pope Francis offers Chile sex abuse victims 'gesture of regret and humility' (April 28, 2018)
• Chile: Fourteen priests linked to sex abuse scandal stripped of duties (May 23, 2018)
• Cleric in Chile who recorded sex abuse charges reports himself (May 26, 2018)
• Brother of pedophile priest urges him to apologize to save his soul (June 18, 2018)
• Victims recount sexual abuse horrors in Chilean seminary (Aug. 7, 2018)
• Chile Church scandal: 'How I escaped the priest who abused me for decades (Sept. 13, 2018)
• Pope expresses 'shame' to Chileans over sexual abuse (Sept. 28, 2018)
• 221 priests, 8 bishops face probes for abuse and cover-up in Chile (Sept. 29, 2018)
• The Catholic World Report: FR. FERNANDO KARADIMA (Archive)
• Voice of the Faithful: FR. FERNANDO KARADIMA (Archive)

(Updated on Sept. 30, 2018)