'Culture Of Clericalism': Firestorm Of Letters Fly From Cardinals, Bishops Following McCarrick Report
Catholic cardinals at the Vatican in 2016. Creative Commons photo.
Cardinals, archbishops and other clerical leaders of the Catholic Church from around the world have penned a flurry of letters and official statements in the wake of the ground-breaking McCarrick report.
The Report on the Holy See’s institutional knowledge and decision-making process related to former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, most often referred to simply as “The McCarrick report,” was released on Nov. 10 to a public eager for the most intimate details of the scandal as gathered by a team of Vatican investigators.
The probe into the history and interactions of the disgraced cardinal was authorized by Pope Francis after a bombshell accusation from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano that the pontiff had knowingly overlooked sexual abuse allegations.
Read: Vatican hierarchy downplayed sex abuse allegations for decades
Archbishop Vigano had alleged that despite a series of restrictions and sanctions placed on McCarrick by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Pope Francis had overturned or overlooked such punishments.
The report, probed and written independent of the Vatican leadership’s oversight, cleared Pope Francis of overlooking accusations against McCarrick, saying that no such sanctions or punishments had been placed in the time of Pope Francis’s predecessors, Saint Pope John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Both previous popes had been made aware of allegations against McCarrick, but sided with the cardinal.
Cardinal Perolin, Secretary of State for Vatican City, released an official statement through Vatican News outlining the methodology and implications of the report.
Cardinal Perolin writes, “It is a substantial text, which has involved a careful examination of all the relevant documentation of the archives in the Holy See, at the Nunciature in Washington and in the dioceses of the United States involved in various ways.
The Secretary of State goes on to explain that the report “integrated with information obtained from interviews with witnesses and persons with knowledge of the facts, in order to obtain as complete a picture as possible and a more detailed and accurate knowledge of the relevant information.”
The report, while uncharitable to many church leaders suggested to be in some way complicit in the cover-up, cleared Pope Francis of wrong-doing and rebuked the allegations against him.
“No records support Vigano’s account, and evidence as to what he said is sharply disputed,” according to the official report.
Archbishop Vigano responded promptly to the report, criticizing the timing of its release and alleging its publication was intended to take place during a messy and confusing news cycle dominated by the U.S. election.
“An unprejudiced commentator would note the more than suspicious timing of the report’s publication, as well as the attempt to throw discredit upon me, accused of disobedience and negligence by those who have every interest in delegitimizing the one who brought to light an unparalleled network of corruption and immorality,” Vigano wrote in a response published by Life Site News.
The controversial and distinctly anti-Vatican archbishop continues to insist that his claims of Pope Francis having prior knowledge of McCarrick and choosing to lift established sanctions is accurate.
The archbishop accused the authors of the report of attempting to smear and discredit him, claiming that the document should have been titled “The Vigano Report.”
Vigano writes, “Anyone who launches unfounded accusations with the sole purpose of distracting the attention of public opinion will have the bitter surprise of finding that the operation conducted against me will not have any effect, other than giving further proof of the corruption and bad faith of those who for too long have been silent, made denials, and turned their gaze elsewhere, who today must be held accountable.”
He concluded, “The Vatican fiction continues.”
Other Catholic leaders respond with skepticism, concern and pastoral care
Vigano was largely alone in his skepticism of the report, as dozens of other leaders from around the world weighed in on the outcome and the ramifications the text would have on the Church moving forward.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, released a statement on the official website of his diocese in which he specifically praised Pope Francis for his initiative in opening the investigation.
“We commend the leadership of Pope Francis and the Holy See in seeking to bring collective healing to victims of Theodore McCarrick and all those who have suffered because of clergy sexual abuse, while attempting to restore justice for the Catholic community that has been so grievously wounded by sexual abuse, abuse of power and the mishandling of allegations,” the Newark cardinal wrote.
Cardinal Tobin went on to lament not only the pain caused to the direct victims of the molestations, but also the social and spiritual ramifications felt by families and dioceses witness to the scandal.
“Beyond the victims themselves, failures by some leaders in the Catholic Church have wounded many including the families and loved ones of victims and the faithful,” Cardinal Tobin wrote. “It is important to recognize that the Church has made progress in responding to clergy abuse by implementing and updating policies and programs to safeguard the faithful, especially the most vulnerable among us.”
The report was released to most members of the clergy at the same time as the rest of the public, meaning that few leaders had time to completely read the nearly 450-page document before releasing their reflections.
Cardinal-designate Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. stressed this lack of time in his statement released not long after the publication of the report.
Though I am only now receiving this document, as you are, and have not had an opportunity to review it carefully, by virtue of the simple fact that this investigation had to be conducted and this report had to be written, my heart hurts for all who will be shocked, saddened, scandalized and angered by the revelations contained therein.
Once I have had an opportunity to study the report more closely, especially as it relates to our Archdiocese of Washington, I will have more to say. This is an important, difficult and necessary document, and it demands prayerful, thorough and thoughtful reflection. May God’s infinite Mercy be upon us; may His unlimited Grace sustain us.
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, penned a statement celebrating the release of the report, which he claimed was a clear strike at the “culture of clericalism” within the Church.
“The report issued today is unprecedented and a watershed moment as it pulls back the curtain on a culture of clericalism that has separated the clergy from the people they have been ordained to serve.”
Clericalism is the sin and malpractice of holding undue esteem and devotion to the leadership and worldly manifestation of the Church over the theological and spiritual aspects of the faith.
“While the report makes for painful reading, it is fearless in admitting the failures of church leaders,” Cardinal Cupich continued. “The report is another example of Pope Francis’ commitment to responsibility, accountability and transparency to victim-survivors and all others who have been harmed by the sexual abuse of minors and other misconduct by the clergy and bishops of the Catholic Church.”
Cardinal Cupich emphasized the need for a return to well-ordered relations between the clergy and laity, as well as a recommitment to the vulnerable.
He concluded, “Let us seize this moment, build on what we have already done and go forward in fidelity to the call of Christ to protect the most vulnerable among us.”
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, spoke briefly in a video on the conference’s official Youtube channel.
“It's a difficult day. It's a painful day. But most of all, I believe, it's a painful day for those who have suffered abuse in their childhood,” Cardinal Nichols said, “because those wounds are almost permanent, they run so deep. And they will be reawakened, I think, today.”
The cardinal thanked IICSA, the group responsible for the report, for their work, and “for putting a light on things that have been hidden."
"I want people who have suffered sexual abuse to come forward, and to come forward with some confidence that they will be listened to. It will not be so difficult as it was in the past," Cardinal Culpich said.
Cardinal Culpich also pointed out that many survivors of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church have gone on to work with the church to fight the problem themselves. The cardinal called these victim-turned-ally volunteers “wise counselors.”
Archbishop Allen Vigneron of the Archdiocese of Detroit penned an announcement for his flock and the Catholic Church at large reflecting on the news.
“While the document is profoundly difficult to confront, I am encouraged by the Vatican’s commitment to produce and publicly release the information with which we must grapple if we are to continue the path of reconciliation, reform, and healing in our Church,” Archbishop Vigneron wrote.
The archbishop stated that it was on the shoulders of Church leaders to ensure that this behavior and widespread abuse would not be repeated in the future.
“The immediate and most important takeaway from this report is to reaffirm our commitment to the care and healing of victim-survivors and to continue the renewal of our efforts to protect children and vulnerable adults,” Archbishop Vigneron wrote. “There is also a valuable lesson for all Church leaders on our responsibility to ensure this is never allowed to happen again.”
The archbishop concluded with an apology, saying, “To those harmed by the actions and inaction of Church leaders, on behalf of our local Church, I am sorry that you were neither protected nor heard.”
Paul Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, weighed in on the abuse similarly, drawing particular attention to the span of time McCarrick’s abuses continued unabated.
“This behavior should not exist in the Catholic Church or anywhere and certainly shouldn’t be allowed to continue for decades,” the archbishop wrote.
Similar to other leaders, Archbishop Coakley stressed that the Catholic Church was working in the modern era to fight the problem of sexual abuse, saying, “While the Catholic Church in the United States and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City have worked diligently to create safe environments for all people within the Church…”
The archbishop continued, “...this report is another challenge for us to stay focused on preventing abuse from ever occurring and acting swiftly and justly if an allegation is received.”
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport produced an announcement in the face of the McCarrick report that emphasized his own, specific plans for continuing the fight against sexual abuse.
“I am working with a team of dedicated and faithful survivors of sexual abuse, many of whom I am blessed to call friends, on this year’s Service on Hope and Healing, which I hope to share details on shortly,” the bishop wrote.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York thanked the pope for the commission and release of the report.
Cardinal Dolan, one of the most preeminent members of the clergy in America, said the document proved “that anyone who has abused a minor — even a cardinal — will be punished.”
Timothy Nerozzi is a writer and editor from northeastern Pennsylvania. He covers religious issues with a focus on the Catholic Church and Japanese society and culture.