By JOSEPH MATT
It is said that time reveals all truth, the passing of which has brought another vindication of Archbishop Viganò (see Maike Hickson’s article, “Former Aide Details how McCarrick Ignored Benedict’s Sanctions,”). The evidence which has come forth since Archbishop Viganò issued his original allegations against the Vatican bureaucracy and clerical cover-up in the McCarrick case continues to verify and vindicate his statements. The “ever merciful” Vatican and its “transparency” happy talk are once again faced with a case of having to shoot the messenger or face the reality of dealing with the cover-up. The latest revelations put forth by the former aide to the now Mr. McCarrick provide more evidence and confirmation of a massive abuse of power and concealment: Time will tell.
How can the Vatican be taken seriously on any moral issue let alone the recent sex abuse guidelines when the good name of Archbishop Viganò is still been hung out to dry? He has been exonerated from most of the allegations by the documentation and evidence that have come forward from day one since he first presented the claims of cover-up by priests and prelates from all ranks of the Church. This recent letter by another courageous truth teller is more evidence to that effect.
No Prince of the Church or any cleric in good standing with the Church should be treated in such a fashion by his fellow clerics let alone by a Successor of Peter. This man who continues to live in hiding, fearing reprisals and repercussions, has paid a price for proclaiming the truth. He has had no benefit of a hearing or been given the due respect of an answer from his superiors and fellow clerics, who by their silence or by their assaults on his credibility violate their very office by ignoring and avoiding the truth and vilifying the good character of a man who does not show any evidence of impropriety or bad will.
As is customary now with typical Pope Francis interviews — obfuscation and silence rule the day. (See interview ) Try as they might, many in the Vatican wish the McCarrick case would disappear, but as more evidence arises, the more the question keeps popping up — who knew what and when. And that includes the man on the Chair of St. Peter. He does not remember being apprised of the McCarrick scandals by Viganò and adamantly denied any knowledge of them prior to the latest revelations from Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo, a former aide to McCarrick. Forgetfulness of a scandal of that magnitude — entailing homosexual behavior from a top cardinal in the Church with seminarians, one would think would be difficult to forget — and if it was forgotten, it would seem somebody is not up to the job. The heavens cry out for justice in the whole McCarrick scandal and for the victims that are swallowed up in its wake like Archbishop Viganò.
The Pope’s initial response referencing the McCarrick scandal a year ago — he suggested journalists “do their homework and come to their own conclusions” — at best, that turned out to be a good stall tactic. Today Pope Francis is accused of being a liar by a former papal nuncio which is unprecedented in modern times — this might demand a little more attention than turning to a pool of journalists for a solution. This certainly looks like a task for a Pope who should be acting like a Pope.
Pope Francis, it is long overdue to clear the air in regard to Archbishop Viganò and the McCarrick issue. The credibility of the moral leadership in the Church hangs in the balance.
When Christ walked the face of the Earth, He was confronted with assaults on the truth. Silence and uncertainty were not an option for the Prince of Truth — why should they be with one of His Vicars?
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Below we reprint some excerpts from Msgr. Figueiredo’s missive; please visit www.theFigueiredoReport.com for the full report:
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The former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick ordained me to the priesthood 25 years ago today. I served as his personal secretary in the Archdiocese of Newark (September 1994 — June 1995) and also assisted him in a secretarial capacity during his many visits to Rome in my 19 years of ministry there. After long consideration, I have made the decision to place in the public domain some of the correspondence and other information related to McCarrick that I possess in my many years of service to him. I have spent time in prayer and discernment about the moral basis for revealing these. My decision follows attempts since September 2018 to share and discuss these with the Holy See and other Church leaders.
Realizing full well that the debate about McCarrick has become highly politicized, I wish only to present facts that will help the Church to know the truth. From the outset of this report, I pledge my unswerving affection, loyalty and support for Pope Francis and his Magisterium in his tireless ministry as the Successor of Peter, as I manifested also to Pope Benedict XVI, grateful for their paternal solicitude and efforts to address the scourge of abuse. Indeed, my actions in releasing this report at this time are encouraged by the Holy Father’s motu proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi (“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” Matt. 5:14), based on the overriding principle that it is imperative to place in the public domain, at the right time and prudently, information that has yet to come to light and impacts directly on allegations of criminal activity, the restrictions imposed on my now laicized former Archbishop, and who knew what and when….
In the subsequent sections, I present facts from correspondence that I hold relevant to questions still surrounding McCarrick. These facts show clearly that high-ranking prelates likely had knowledge of McCarrick’s actions and of restrictions imposed upon him during the pontificate of Benedict XVI. They also clearly show that these restrictions were not enforced even before the pontificate of Francis.
It is not my place to judge to what extent the fault lies with the failure to impose canonical penalties, instead of mere restrictions, at the start, or with other Church leaders who later failed to expose McCarrick’s behavior and the impropriety of his continued public activity, and indeed may have encouraged it. My intention throughout this report is to present facts — not judgments or condemnation of anyone — for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, the salvation of souls, and the good of the Church Universal. As a priest ordained by then Archbishop McCarrick and one who served him closely, I reflect often upon how much damage to the physical, psychological, and spiritual lives of so many might have been avoided had the restrictions been made public and enforced as soon as they were imposed.
The hierarchy’s abuse of authority and cover up, in their various and serious manifestations, have inflicted consequences upon me, too. As Pope Francis has noted: “Many of those who have suffered in this way have also sought relief in the path of addiction” (Homily, July 7, 2014). Especially as a priest, I regret unreservedly the harms that I caused as a result of them through seeking consolation in alcohol. Now I am deeply grateful for the therapeutic treatment that I am receiving, which has allowed me to embrace a life of sobriety….
Travel on behalf of the Church:
Without any sense of the lifting of the restrictions, McCarrick continues his foreign travel after the election of Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, as evidenced by a number of communications from him regarding his extensive activity around the globe. Among the many:
McCarrick cites travels to locations on behalf of the Church and direct engagement with high-ranking Church officials, Government leaders, and even Royalty, including, among other places: Mainland China, Central Asia, Cyprus, the Balkans, the Middle East, Lebanon, the Holy Land, Morocco, Iraq, Iran, Kurdistan, and the Philippines….
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