Susanna Maiolo was more honest

Susanna Maiolo was more honest. An article in the Irish Independent today makes a characteristically snide attack on Pope Benedict:
Sources said that Pope Benedict was considering diverting attacks on his handling of paedophile cases in Germany and France by taking strong action in Ireland.

The sources added that the Pope was considering the option of seeking Cardinal Brady's resignation to prove to his critics that he was now fully determined to tackle the worldwide abuse crisis.
In other words, damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. If the Holy Father does ask Cardinal Brady to resign, it will now be construed as diverting attacks on himself. There is also a sly insinuation in the "now" of the second sentence quoted. Pope Benedict has long been known as tough on the "filth" of clergy sexual abuse and, as Prefect of the Congregation of the Faith, introduced procedures to ensure that offenders were dismissed from the clerical state.

Authors of the article were John Cooney and Jill Sherman - oh, and Ruth Gledhill again.

Thanks to the Transalpine Redemptorists for reminding us of the prayer for the Pope:
Oremus pro beatissimo Papa nostro Benedicto. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.

Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XVI. The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies. Amen.
Just a few other links of interest regarding recent attacks on the Holy Father:

Archbishop Vincent Nichols in the Times.

Fr Hunwicke on Pervert Priests

Sean Murphy's Response to Christopher Hitchens at the Catholic Education Resource Center.

Damian Thompson: The Pope and the Wisconsin sex abuse scandal: I smell a stitch-up

Catholic News Agency: Vatican defends action in case of Wisconsin priest abuser

Raymond de Souza in the National Post: Culture change in the Church

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