More Vatican Corruption and Scandals Come to Light

The Vatican City, with St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome, Italy

Photo courtesy: indesignarch.com/

No institution is beyond corruption and scandals. The Catholic Church, although claims itself to be holy and close to God, has its leaders and members who are not. 

Previously, the hierarchy made every effort to hide its members' weaknesses, but, in reality, there were corruption and scandals among them. 

In this decade, these can no longer be kept hidden due to the proliferation of various communication media available to all. Pope Francis is the one who is encouraging all to speak up the truth because the truth shall make us free.

Please read the following to have an idea of the corruption and scandals in the Vatican:

• Is the Vaticdan misleading donors? Peter's Pence explained (Dec. 12, 2019)
• Vatican Uses Donations for the Poor to Plug Its Budget Deficit (Only 10% of donations to the Peter's Pence collection go to charitable works) (Dec. 11, 2019)
• Only 10% of Pope's charitable fund goes to the needy: Wall Street Journal (Dec. 12, 2019)
• Pope Francis: 'There is corruption in the Vatican' (Nov. 27, 2019)
• Pope Francis on the Vatican finance scandal and the dual threats of violence and nuclear power (Nov. 26, 2019)
• Vatican youth seminary grows with new abuse claims (Nov. 16, 2019)
• Pope Francis Names Finance Chief as Vatican Struggles With Budget (Nov. 14, 2019)
• Vatican Scandals (Letter #55, 2019): Gianni, Schneider, Montagna (Oct. 14, 2019)
• How Cardinal Wuerl misled the Papal Foundation (April 12, 2019)
• Vatican charges 78-year-old ex-bank chief with E50 million embezzlement (March 3, 2018)
• Vatican court convicts ex-hospital head over luxury housing scandal (Oct. 14, 2017)
• Vatican makes gains in cracking down on money laundering (Feb. 18, 2017)
• Vatican Scandals and Reforms of Pope Francis (Dec. 31, 2016)
• Vatican Scandals and Reforms of Pope Francis (Dec. 14, 2016)
• Vatican bank clean-up pays off as profit soars (May 25, 2015)
• The Secret Finances Of the Vatican Economy (March 5, 2013)
• Pope moves against Vatican money laundering [Pope Benedict XVI] (Dec. 30, 2010)
• Peter's Pence (Wikipedia)
• Peter's Pence  (Vatican.va)

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Points To Sexual Revolution Of The 1960s For Church Sex Abuses

Pope Benedict XVI 

Photo courtesy: catholicnewsorgcouk/CNA

Some call it 'essay,' others 'letter.' Whatever it is, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in his recent writing on the sex abuse crisis in the German magazine Klerusblatt (clergy monthly), claimed that the sexual revolution of the 1960s, the post-Vatican II (1962-1965) liberalization of the Catholic Church's moral teachings, increasing absence of God among many, morally lax teaching and practice in seminaries and practice of homosexuality led to this widespread child sex abuse in the Church. 

Some progressive priests, bishops, and theologians criticized this view of Pope Benedict on the sex abuse in the Church, some conservative elements, on the other hand, are supporting him. 

If one uses his or her common sense, it becomes clear that even though Pope Benedict, at the time of his retirement, said that he would spend the rest of his life in 'prayer and silence,' he failed to remain true to it. Why? Some of the conservative elements in the Catholic Church think that Pope Francis has been leading the Church to 'heresy' through his words and actions. Their constant goading, coaxing, and pleading with the 'prayerful and silent' Pope Benedict made him add his voice publicly in the fray.  

Where there is a sex organ, there is sexuality. Some use this sexuality for a good purpose, others for an evil purpose (sex abuse). Clergy sex abuse is nothing new in the Catholic Church. Since the founding of the Church, it, in different forms -- heterosexuality (concubinage), bisexuality, homosexuality, pedophilia, ephebophilia -- continues till today. Why does it continue till today? Remember the 'one-in-twelve syndrome?' Jesus Christ himself showed by example that one in twelve fails to remain true to his vocation. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, in spite of hands-on training by Jesus, ultimately failed in his task. What do we learn from this? We learn that a few in a group will always commit sin, commit a crime. Members of the laity and the hierarchy (priests, bishops, cardinals, and popes) of the Catholic Church are not immune from this one-in-twelve syndrome. 

As usual, Pope Benedict, as a member of the hierarchy, failed again to take any responsibility for the abuses that took place during his governance of the Church as a cardinal and as the pope. Pope John Paul II, too, failed in this respect. During their time, a deep and long silence on the worldwide clergy sex abuses was the norm, with only a few exceptions. This type of cover-up of the clergy sex abuse is tantamount to 'participating in the sins of others.'  When teaching about the participation in the sins of others, the Church always directs its fingers towards the laymen and laywomen, not at all towards the members of the hierarchy! This very holier than thou attitude, self-righteousness, and a sense of immunity from the sinfulness of the members of the Catholic hierarchy are called clericalism. Now is the right time for them to rethink and act on this extremely serious matter.  

Pope Francis, in spite of his weaknesses, is the first pope to allow widespread and public conversation on the clergy sex abuse, especially clergy child sex abuse. The public conversation ultimately brings out the truth, brings about the healing. 

For more, please read the following:

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's Message on Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis

• In new essay, Benedict XVI addresses sex abuse scandal (April 10, 2019)
• The Church and the Scandal of Sexual Abuse (Full Text of Benedict XVI's essay) (April 10, 2019)
• Pope emeritus Benedict XVI: Return to God to overcome abuse crisis (April 11, 2019)
• Ex-Pope Benedict XVI blames 1960s revolution for sex-abuse (April 11, 2019)
• In new letter, Benedict blames clergy abuse on sexual revolution, Vatican II theology (April 11, 2019)
• Ex-Pope Benedict XVI blames sexual abuse on swinging sixties (April 11, 2019)
• Retired Pope Benedict blames Church abuse scandal on sexual revolution of 1960s (April 11, 2019)
• Pope Benedict Breaks 6-Year Silence To Comment On Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal (April 11, 2019)
• With Letter on Sexual Abuse, Pope Benedict Returns to Public Eye (April 11, 2019)
• Retired pope blames clergy child abuse, scandal on 1960s sexual revolution and 'homosexual cliques' in 'catastrophically irresponsible' essay (April 12, 2019)
• Ex-Pope Benedict XVI breaks silence on church's sex abuse crisis and blames the sexual revolution and liberals (April 12, 2019)
• Retired Pope Benedict weighs in Catholic Church sex abuse scandals, blames it on swinging '60s (April 12, 2019)
• Pope Benedict breaks his self-imposed silence with a letter on sexual abuse (April 18, 2019)

Critique of Pope Benedict's Message

• Opinion: Benedict's unfortunate letter ignores the facts on the Catholic sex abuse crisis (April 15, 2019) [by Father Thomas J. Reese, S.J.]
• Theologians condemn Pope Benedict's letter on abuse crisis on German bishops' website (April 16, 2019)
• 'Embarassingly wrong': Benedict blasted for blaming homosexuality, sexual revolution for church abuse crisis (April 11, 2019)
• Benedict's letter about sex abuse crisis is a regrettable text (April 11, 2019)
• From 'Powerful' to 'Embarrassing:' Reaction to Benedict's Letter (April 11, 2019)
• "I disagree with most of his analysis of the sex abuse crisis'' -- Father James Martin, S.J. (April 11, 2019)
• This time Benedict XVI oversteps the line (the former pope again breaks his self-imposed silence) (April 12, 2019)
• Theologians concerned about newly engaged role of Benedict, pope emeritus (April 12, 2019)
• Pope Benedict explains things to me (Former pope's 'papal-splaining' illustrates how the church found itself in its current mess) (April 12, 2019)
• Benedict's Untimely Meditation (How His Essay on Sex Abuse is Being Weaponized) (April 12, 2019)
• "That Can't Be!" (April 13, 2019)
• Retired Pope Benedict reemerges to step into the roiling clergy sex abuse debate (April 14, 2019)
• Francis and the shadow of Ratzinger, a coexistence that weighs on the Vatican (April 15, 2019)
• Editorial: One pope is quite enough (April 22, 2019)
• Opinion: Former Pope Benedict ignores institutional reasons for sexual abuse in the Catholic Church instead blames the 1960s (April 22, 2019)
• A tale of two popes: Benedict XVI is a pole of attraction for critics of Pope Francis (Traditionalists take issue with Francis' relatively liberal style while finding merit in his predecessor's conservatism) (April 22, 2019)
• Ideological bias cannot taint our approach to sexual abuse (May 1, 2019)
• Your thoughts on Benedict's letter on sex abuse (Part I) (April 19, 2019)
• Your thoughts on Benedict's letter on sex abuse (Part II) (May 3, 2019)

Support to Pope Benedict's Message

• Pope Benedict's letter on sex abuse is not an attack on Francis (or Vatican II) (April 11, 2019)
• The Former Pope Speaks, Candidly and Acidly, On Abuse (April 11, 2019)
• Benedict's powerful message -- and the bid to suppress it (April 11, 2019)
• Top Vatican cardinal says Benedict is only trying to help Francis (April 12, 2019) [Cardinal Giovanni Becciu0]
• More Thoughts on Benedict XVI's 6000K word essay on the Present Crisis (April 12, 2019)
• Former Vatican Doctrine Czar says rift between Benedict XVI and Francis is impossible (April 15, 2019) [Cardinal Gerhard Muller of Germany]
• Cardinal Muller: Pope Benedict's letter 'more intelligent than all' contributions at Rome Abuse Summit (April 17, 2019)
• Benedict's Analysis: What impressed me most (April 11, 2019)
• Benedict and the Scandal (April 11, 2019)
• The Problem with Benedict's essay (Right or wrong, Benedict told us very little -- practically nothing -- we did not already know) (April 13, 2019)
• Benedict's Essay: The Voice of a True Father (April 15, 2o19)
• The Sexual Revolution and sex abuse scandals: A Protestant take on Pope Benedict's letter (April 29, 2019)

(Updated on May 6, 2019)

Former Vatican Ambassador to the U.S. Accuses Pope Francis of Cover-Up of Cardinal McCarrick's Sex Abuses

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano -- former Vatican Nuncio (ambassador) to the USA

Photo courtesy: CNS via www.ncronline.org/

Thanks to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, former Vatican Ambassador to the U.S., for drawing our attention to Pope Francis' cover-up of sexual abuse crimes of U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. This, if proven true, is perhaps only one of few examples of Pope Francis' shielding of Church's sex abusers. Archbishop Vigano even publicly asked Pope Francis to resign!

This type of shielding or cover-up behaviour of Catholic popes and other members of the hierarchy is nothing new -- it is centuries, even millennia, old. In the long history of the Catholic Church, there were certain rogue and morally depraved popes and members of the hierarchy. The "Secret Vatican Archives" can shine more light on this type of behaviour. The integrity and holiness of the Church were frequently marred by these people.

If Archbishop Vigano was so concerned about the "integrity" and "holiness" of the Catholic Church, where was he -- who was one of the Vatican officials in 2009 - 2011 before becoming an ambassador to the U.S. (2011 - 2016) -- regarding the massive clergy sexual abuse cover-ups by Pope Francis' predecessors Pope Benedict XVI (2005 - 2013) and Pope John Paul II (1978 - 2005) of hundreds and thousands of clergy sexual abuse cases? These two popes sat on cases of clergy sex abuses without almost taking any action on them. Archbishop Vigano now comes forward with this damning information as a revenge of sort against Pope Francis for something they have between them. This looks like the culmination of the fight between the conservative elements (like Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke and his supporters) and the reformist elements (like Pope Francis and his supporters) in the upper echelon of the Catholic Church. Remember the rebuke of Pope Francis made in his every Christmas message to the members of the Vatican Curia in each December for the last five years? This latest Archbishop Vigano allegations against Pope Francis is clearly their tit for the tat of the pope. 

Pope Francis was the first modern pope to be open, accepting and tolerant of opposing persons and their opinions. He is the first pope, who from the first day of his election, mentioned that he was a sinner and he needed prayers of the Catholics (other popes on their election behaved as if they were unearthly, unsinful, and God-sent beings on earth to be obeyed, obeyed, and obeyed without any opposition or criticism. Pope Francis, on the other hand, encourages speaking up to him however unpalatable the subject matter is. He tells Catholics to use their conscience and human rights. This perhaps emboldened Archbishop Vigano to speak against him publicly. Other popes in the past would consider such a move as a revolt or coup. 

For details, pros and cons, on the exposition of Archbishop Vigano, please read the following:

• Ex-Nuncio Accuses Pope Francis of Failing to Act on McCarrick's Abuse [Official Text] (Aug. 25, 2018)
• Pope Francis covered up McCarrick abuse, former US nuncio testifies [Official Text] (Aug. 25, 2018)
• Breaking News -- Pope Francis covered-up McCarrick Abuse! Former Ex-Nuncio testifies (Aug. 27, 2018)
• Former ambassador Vigano accuses Vatican of covering up McCarrick scandal for years (Aug. 26, 2018)
• Pope: 'I Will Not Say a Single Word' About Allegations of McCarrick Cover-Up (Aug. 26, 2018)
• 'I will not say one word on this': Pope on his alleged knowledge of abuse by cardinal (Aug. 26, 2018)
• Former nunciature official: 'Vigano said the truth' (Monsignor Jean-Francois Lantheume -- former first counsellor at the apostolic nunciature in Washington, D.C.) (Aug. 26, 2018)
• Catholic sex abuse: Pope critic Archbishop Vigano 'in hiding' (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Italy journalist says he helped pen bombshell against pope (Aug. 28, 2018)
• The story behind Archbishop Vigano's scathing 7,000-word letter against the Pope (Aug. 29, 2018)
• Vigano's accusations: What we know and what questions they raise (Aug. 26, 2018)
• Making sense of McCarrick cover-up charges against Pope Francis (Aug. 27, 2018)
• Pope's alleged cover-up pivots on if and when sanctions were imposed on McCarrick (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Facts and ommissions of Vigano's testimony against Francis (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Vigano to the sanctioned McCarrick: "Very much loved from us all..." (The video that disproves the former nuncio: in 2012, he publicly congratulates the cardinal abuser, who according to Ratzinger's orders, should have lived withdrawn from public life) (Aug. 30, 2018)
• Cardinal Burke responds to former US nuncio's explosive letter about Pope Francis (Aug. 26, 2018)
• US cardinals reject Vatican diplomat's claims of widespread cover-up of abuse (Aug. 28, 2018)
• US bishops respond to claims made in Vigano letter (Aug. 29, 2018)
• Cardinal Burke: it is 'licit' to call for the resignation of Pope Francis (Aug. 29, 2018)
• Ganswein: Benedict did not 'confirm' Vigano testimony (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Benedict's secretary: Reports ex-pope confirmed Vigano's letter 'fake-news' (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Archbishop Ganswein's Comments Were Correct and We Stand By Our Reporting (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Who is Carlo Maria Vigano, the man accusing Pope Francis of covering up sex abuse? (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Carlo Maria Vigano
• The man who took on the pope: The story behind the Vigano letter (Letter exposes deep ideological clashes in the church with former Vatican ambassador to the US siding with conservatives) (Aug. 30, 2018)
• Clerical sex-abuse scandal exposes 'war within the Vatican' (Tensions between reformists like Pope Francis and conservatives have been bubbling since the pontiff was elected in 2013) (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Pope Francis facing calls to resign; sexual abuse scandal exposes rifts in the Vatican (Aug. 28, 2018)
• The civil war in the Catholic Church breaks into the open (Pope should respond to accusations of a cover-up made by former Vatican diplomat) (Aug. 29, 2018)
• No, there is not a 'civil war' in the Catholic Church (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Pope's rightwing rivals on the attack over abuse claims (Aug. 30, 2018)
• Abp Carlo Maria Vigano at a gala honoring then-Cardinal McCarrick in May 2012 (Aug. 29, 2018)
• Doubts about Vigano's accusations aside, Pope Francis needs a better response (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Pope Francis must lead on the sexual abuse crisis (Aug. 28, 2018)
• Pope Francis must clean up the Vatican (Aug. 30, 2018)
• Ave Maria president denounces 'defiance' of pope by 'conservative Catholics' (Aug. 30, 2018)
• Editorial: It's time to choose the painful path of purification (Aug. 30, 2018)
• America Magazine: POPE FRANCIS (Archive of articles on him)

(Updated on August 30, 2018)

Pope Francis and the "Secrets of the Vatican"

St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

Recently Pope Francis rebuked the Curia (various departments of the Vatican) officials in no uncertain terms for their behaviour that does not behoove of them. The strong language he used against them publicly is unprecedented in the history of the Catholic Church.

To understand why the pope used such harsh words, you may visit the following sites:

• PBS Video: "Secrets of the Vatican" 
• PBS Video Transcripts (Written Version)  

The Cartoon I Like

Cartoon courtesy: The Toronto Star

Pope Benedict XVI Announces His Retirement

Pope Benedict XVI

 Photo courtesy: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Pope Benedict XVI (85), in a surprise move, announced his retirement to a group of cardinals gathered in the Vatican today (February 11) for a consistory to approve the canonization of new saints, reports the Catholic News Service.

In his statement, the pope said: “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry." 

He further announced to the cardinals: "Well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of St. Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new supreme pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is."

After the resignation of the pope takes effect at 8:00 p.m. (Vatican time) on February 28, Pope Benedict XVI will be known or called by “Cardinal Josef Ratzinger” – his real name before becoming the pope in 2005 –  and he will be addressed by “Your Eminence” and not “Your Holiness.”

Pope Benedict is the ninth Germany-born pope and he was the 265^th position in the long line of popes from the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the religious leader of more than one billion Roman Catholics all over the world.

For further details on the Pope Benedict XVI, please read the following: 

• Pope Benedict XVI in shock resignation

•  The full text of the Pope's resignation announcement 

• The life of Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI Proclaims the Year of Faith (October 11, 2012 - November 24, 2013)

Pope Benedict XVI today, October 11, proclaimed the Year of Faith in a Mass in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. This special year, which will conclude on November 24, 2013, coincides with the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council (also known as the Vatican II) and 20^th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Catholics, all over the world, have been asked to study and reflect on the documents of the Vatican II and the Catechism for deepening their knowledge and understanding of the faith.

The Year of the Faith is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world,” Pope Benedict had mentioned earlier in his apostolic letter Porta Fidei (the door of faith). The Catholics are also called to return to Jesus Christ with a deeper understanding of and relationship with him.

Shame on the United Colors of Benetton!

A doodle on "Shame on the United Colors of Benetton!"

Doodle (Toronto: November 17, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

The United Colors of Benetton (UCB), a well-known Italian clothing fashion company, started its advertising campaign this year with the theme of “Unhate.” The intention of this campaign, according to the company’s head Alessandro Benetton, is “the reconciliation and acceptance” in the face of increased hatred in the world. 

This campaign portrays digitally manipulated shocking images of world leaders, who are opposed to each other, deep-kissing on their lips. Large colourful images include those of Pope Benedict XVI kissing Egypt’s imam Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed El-Tayeb, US President Obama kissing Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, Israel’s Premier Benjamin Netanyahu locking lips with Palestinian National Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and so on. 

The Vatican vehemently protested against this portrayal of the Pope and the imam, and , as a result, the company removed the pope and imam’s image from its display and campaign. 

In the past, the United Colors of Benetton also had its annual campaigns where it used other types of shocking images. In one year, it showed an image of a Catholic priest deep-kissing a Sister (nun).

Vatican spokesman Reverend Federico Lombardi said:  “This is a grave lack of respect for the Pope.” He also called it offensive to the “sentiments of the faithful” and “a clear example of how advertising can violate elementary rules of respect for people in order to attract attention through provocation.”

Alessandro Benetton in a statement said that the campaign is “solely to battle the culture of hate in all its forms. We are sorry that the use of an image of the pontiff and the imam should have offended the sensibilities of the faithful in this way.”

Some Observations on the 2011 Ad Campaign of the United Colors of Benetton

The United Colors of Benetton has been losing money for the past several years. This year, in the face of economic crisis in Europe and some other parts of the world, this company wanted to regain its market by ultra-shock valued advertising campaign. In reality, this campaign proved to be cheap, brute and short. The owner and his cohorts in the company displayed a shocking lack of respect for persons of position who have hundreds and millions of followers. They also gravely lack in regard for cultural and religious sentiments of people. 

To express "reconciliation and acceptance," two persons' hugging could be tolerated, but in some cultures kissing on lips and deep kissing at that is considered a heinous and most vile act.  

This company did not display manipulated photo of Alessandro Benetton lip-locking with his rival company’s owner or CEO expressing “reconciliation and acceptance.” Instead, it took on other leaders.

The shock and awe method may generate a cheap and temporary laugh and excitement, especially among some youth, but it cannot have a lasting effect. This year’s ad campaign exposed the hate of this company in a naked manner. Instead of the “Unhate campaign,” it turned into a hate campaign. 

If this company’s thought-level and moral ground is so low, what can people learn from it? Sadistic fun has a limit to it. Is this the beginning of the end of the United Colors of Benetton?