As I predicted in an earlier letter, the Vatican Summit now going on will basically be another bust (“Searing testimony marks first day of Vatican summit as Pope Francis proposes reforms to combat abuse,” Feb. 21).
The Pope prays in deep agony over the atrocities performed by priests, bishops and cardinals. But the big question is what will come of all the drama, breast beating and tears? Archbishop Scicluna delivered a step-by-step lesson on how to conduct an abuse investigation under the church’s canon law. How long has canon law been around? Wouldn’t they already know this? Nothing new to add just rehash of the past.
Then Cardinal Gomez warned his brother bishops that they could face not only canonical sanctions (which do not appear to have accomplished anything in the past), but also imprisonment for a cover up if they failed to properly deal with allegations. Sounds good, but no real way for the church to enforce. Who will imprison them and under what legal system? As always talk with no substance, something the Catholic Church has carried out for years in the sex abuse scandal. I will pray for the church
Stas Chrzanowski, Baltimore