5/03/05
MORE OF THE
SAME FROM THE VATICAN?
The world stood dazzled by the Vatican in recent days, what
with the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of his replacement. What has not gotten nearly as much press is
the evidence of continued criminality emanating from that ‘august’ institution. A recent article in The Observer (see http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1469055,00.html
), submitted to us by correspondent Al Hembd, tells the story. Here are extended excerpts from that article:
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Pope 'obstructed' sex abuse inquiry
Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations
secret
Jamie Doward, religious affairs correspondent
Sunday April 24, 2005
The Observer
Pope Benedict XVI faced claims last night he had 'obstructed justice' after it
emerged he issued an order ensuring the church's investigations into child sex
abuse claims be carried out in secret.
The order was made in a confidential letter, obtained by The Observer, which
was sent to every Catholic bishop in May 2001.
It asserted the church's right to hold its inquiries behind closed doors and
keep the evidence confidential for up to 10 years after the victims reached
adulthood. The letter was signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was elected
as John Paul II's successor last week.
Lawyers acting for abuse victims claim it was designed to prevent the
allegations from becoming public knowledge or being investigated by the
police. They accuse Ratzinger of
committing a 'clear obstruction of justice'.
The letter, 'concerning very grave sins', was sent from the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that once presided over the
Inquisition and was overseen by Ratzinger.
It spells out to bishops the church's position on a number of matters ranging
from celebrating the eucharist with a non-Catholic to sexual abuse by a cleric
'with a minor below the age of 18 years'. Ratzinger's letter states that the
church can claim jurisdiction in cases where abuse has been 'perpetrated with a
minor by a cleric'.
The letter states that the church's jurisdiction 'begins to run from the day
when the minor has completed the 18th year of age' and lasts for 10 years.
It orders that 'preliminary investigations' into any claims of abuse should be
sent to Ratzinger's office, which has the option of referring them back to
private tribunals in which the 'functions of judge, promoter of justice, notary
and legal representative can validly be performed for these cases only by
priests'.
'Cases of this kind are subject to the pontifical secret,' Ratzinger's letter
concludes. Breaching the pontifical secret at any time while the 10-year
jurisdiction order is operating carries penalties, including the threat of
excommunication.
The letter is referred to in documents relating to a lawsuit filed earlier this
year against a church in Texas and Ratzinger on behalf of two alleged abuse
victims. By sending the letter, lawyers acting for the alleged victims claim
the cardinal conspired to obstruct justice.
Daniel Shea, the lawyer for the two alleged victims who discovered the letter,
said: 'It speaks for itself. You have to ask: why do you not start the clock
ticking until the kid turns 18? It's an obstruction of justice.'
Father John Beal, professor of canon law at the Catholic University of America,
gave an oral deposition under oath on 8 April last year in which he admitted to
Shea that the letter extended the church's jurisdiction and control over sexual
assault crimes.
The Ratzinger letter was co-signed by Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone who gave an
interview two years ago in which he hinted at the church's opposition to
allowing outside agencies to investigate abuse claims…
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All of this is seemingly ignored by American evangelicals, however. As Gary Bauer said in USA Today:
''When John
F. Kennedy made his famous speech that the Vatican would not tell him what to
do evangelicals and Southern Baptists breathed a sigh of relief. But today evangelicals
and Southern Baptists are
hoping that the Vatican will
tell Catholic politicians what to do.''