In an extraordinarily explosive written testimony, the former US Papal Nuncio to the United States implicates Pope Francis and several senior prelates in covering up sexual abuse within the church.
The testimony alleges that the Pope aided in covering up Archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s alleged sexual abuse of seminarians and priests. Prior to Pope Francis’ rule, Pope Benedict imposed sanctions of McCarrick for his actions.
However, regardless of what took place, Pope Francis made McCarrick “his trusted counselor,” who helped him to appoint a number of bishops in the United States, including Cardinals Blasé Cupich of Chicago and Joseph Tobin of Newark.
Archbishop Viganò also implicates Cardinals Sodano, Bertone and Parolin in the cover-up and insists various other cardinals and bishops were well aware, including Cardinal Donald Wuerl, McCarrick’s successor as Archbishop of Washington D.C.
“I myself brought up the subject with Cardinal Wuerl on several occasions, and I certainly didn’t need to go into detail because it was immediately clear to me that he was fully aware of it,” he writes. The Cardinal’s “recent statements that he knew nothing about it … are absolutely laughable. He lies shamelessly.”
“Cardinal Wuerl, well aware of the continuous abuses committed by Cardinal McCarrick and the sanctions imposed on him by Pope Benedict, transgressing the Pope’s order, also allowed him to reside at a seminary in Washington D.C. In doing so, he put other seminarians at risk,” he claims.
Archbishop Vigano, a widely respected figure, says that “the corruption has reached the very top of the Church’s hierarchy.”
While speaking with LifeSite News, the Archbishop said; “The main reason why I am revealing this news now is because of the tragic situation of the Church, which can be repaired only by the full truth, just as she has been gravely injured by the abuses and coverups. I do this to stop the suffering of the victims and to prevent new victims, and to protect the Church: only the truth can make her free.”
The Archbishop also said that another reason for his testimony is “to discharge my conscience before God of my responsibilities as bishop of the universal Church. I am an old man, and I want to present myself to God with clean conscience.”
When asked if he was concerned about the critics who could claim that he is breaking the pontifical secret, which is a code of confidentiality, that applies to matters which require greater than ordinary confidentiality; “The secrets in the Church, also the pontifical ones, are not taboos. They are instruments for protecting her and her children from her enemies. The secrets are not to be used for conspiracies.”
“The people of God have the right to know the full truth, also regarding their shepherds,” he said. “They have the right to be guided by good shepherds. In order to be able to trust them and love them, they have to know them openly in transparency and truth as they really are. A priest should be a light on a candlestick always and everywhere and for all.”
The full testimony is available here.
Pope Francis, after the explosive testimony became public, was questioned by several U.S bishops in regards to the matter at hand, to which the Pope appeared to take the ‘no comment’ route. Furthermore, Bishop Morlino made known his disappointment that the pope attempted to take a “no comment” route when questioned Sunday by the press about Viganò’s assertions.
