I am genuinely sad to write such a heading particularly as I
consider it to be true. I am referring to the decision of our much beloved Pope
Emeritus that the report on the
Vatileaks by the commission of three cardinals should be handed to his successor
only. The report runs to 300 pages, according to reports attributed to
Fr.Lombardi.
I do not know what is contained within the report. But it
contains a great deal if it takes 300 pages! And it should be given to the
Cardinals.
I have read allegations about what has been happening
in the Vatican. I have not believed them but neither do I
disbelieve them. If there is an element of truth in them then a clean-out of the Vatican is needed….and that cannot be
entrusted to the next pope, unless the Cardinal electors have read the report. Without knowledge of what and who has been
involved it would be easy to elect one one the miscreants, if such exists, and
he would be unlikely to expose anything, least of all engage in a clear-out of
his co-operators if any.
Some people of faith will reply that the Holy Spirit
will prevent a bad pope being elected.
The Holy Spirit did not always prevent that happening in history.
I recall a true story I heard over 50 years
ago. In the refectory of Head house of the Order of Hospitallers (Order
of St. John of God) in Rome there is, or was, on the ceiling a painting of a large eye. It is meant to
depict the “all seeing eye of God”. A
general chapter had been held to elect a new Prior General. One of the electors
wandered into the Refectory where he met an elderly Irish brother who was
attached to the house in Rome. When the
elector told him who the new General was, the Irish brother paused, and looked
up at the ceiling and then said “ The All
seeing Eye must have developed a cataract of infinite magnitude”
I genuinely believe that could happen again! The
Holy Spirit can he temporarily halted
in divine plans. Give the cardinals the
report and if possible publish it for the whole world to see. Let's not store up more trouble for ourselves. In an atmosphere of too much secrecy rumours
abound. Whatever happened to the truth
that makes us free?
As we don't know what is in the report, it seems unnecessary and harmful to get oneself into a twist over what it *might* contain.
ReplyDeleteWe do know that matters were sufficiently serious for a Commission of Cardinals to be set up by the then Pope to produce a report.
DeleteThat alone should lead to publication, at least to the Cardinal electors.
Failure to do so could be more harmful.
I am reading a book at the moment which keeps making the point about our freedom of choice and how God will not interfere with that - influence it surely, offer grace undoubtedly but never overrule it. I can't remember the quote but I think St. Francis De Sales said something about God not saving us without our consent. The Holy Spirit will be with the Cardinals. Let's hope they are with Him.
ReplyDelete"Let's hope they are with Him."
DeleteAmen, Father.
I think it was St Augustine who said: "God made us without our consent, but He will not save us without our consent".
Kind regards, I like your blog.
Pray, pray, pray.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you but all we can do now is pray and do penance for the election of a holy and strong Pontiff.
Father, while the report itself is not being given to the Cardinals, I have read that Pope Benedict freed the three Cardinal authors to discuss its contents with the other Cardinals. I haven't been able to locate the source of that but, if true, I expect that the Cardinal electors will be aware of its contents. And I believe they should!
ReplyDeleteWhile some Curial Cardinals may certainly have things to hide, given the 'careerism' in that entity, I am more concerned about the 'mid-level' and other support staff in the various congregations. We have seen delays in getting official translations of documents, not to mention subtle changes in some translations – to highlight just a couple of ways spanners may be cast into the works… The clean-up needs to occur at all levels.
Well said Father!
ReplyDeleteA good time to remind everyone of this little gem by the late great Dr William Marra:- http://www.cfnews.org/MarraPop.htm
ReplyDelete