The Worthy Adversary

Author: Joelle Casteix

  • Arrogance, Mahony style

    On his blog yesterday, Cardinal Roger Mahony discussed how he has been “called to humiliation.”

    Given all of the storms that have surrounded me and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles recently, God’s grace finally helped me to understand:  I am not being called to serve Jesus in humility.  Rather, I am being called to something deeper–to be humiliated, disgraced, and rebuffed by many.

    Then, he has the arrogance to say:

    In the past several days, I have experienced many examples of being humiliated.  In recent days, I have been confronted in various places by very unhappy people.  I could understand the depth of their anger and outrage–at me, at the Church, at about injustices that swirl around us.

    Thanks to God’s special grace, I simply stood there, asking God to bless and forgive them.  [emphasis mine]

    Mahony is a man with no soul.

    Instead of seeking atonement and making amends, Mahony prances to Rome and asks God to forgive “the little people” who dare be angry on behalf of the hundreds of children he personally allowed to be raped.

    He says he now has a sense of “inner peace.” That’s the biggest tragedy of all.

     

  • In the age of the smartphone, a Pope has no choice but to retire

    Age and infirmary are hard to hide in the age of smartphones

    Today’s announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will resign later this month has become a swirling vortex of media conjecture and speculation. Is it because of growing scandals in the United States and Ireland? Is it because the Pope is directly tied to the cover-up of child sexual abuse in the US and elsewhere?

    I doubt it.

    Yes, there are growing scandals – scandals that show that the cover-up of child sexual abuse goes all the way to the highest levels of the Vatican. Cardinal (in good standing) Roger Mahony, who covered up for dozens of priest predators in Los Angeles, has yet to receive any public rebuke from Rome. It is doubtful that he ever will. Even the slap on the wrist he received from LA Archbishop Jose Gomez has been minimized. Mahony will be able to vote for the new Pope and—in prime “Prince of the Church” fashion—will parade around Rome with this fellow cardinals next month.

    But I believe that Benedict’s “resignation for health reasons” is probably the truth. Rumors have been swirling for years that the Pontiff has Alzheimers, and video from recent public appearances show a man in the ravages of declining health. And more videos like that will keep coming.

    In the age of YouTube and smartphones, it has become virtually impossible for the Vatican to keep any kind of secret about the Pope’s health. Anytime Pope Benedict steps out in public, adoring fans, tourists and skeptics will record his every move and share it on social media.

    Call it the “end of grace.” No longer will the Pope be protected by state and international media, who have shared a “gentleman’s agreement” with the Vatican, ensuring that only flattering and regal images of the Pope are publicly released.

    A 19-year-old with a smartphone can do a lot of damage, and the Vatican is working quickly to ensure that never happens.

    As far as the sex abuse scandals? My guess is that the cover-up of tens of thousands of cases of child sex abuse worldwide is the furthest thing from the collective Curia’s mind.

     

     

  • Archbishop Gomez’ Hidden LA Sex Abuse Files, Part 2: Santiago Tamayo

  • Let’s have a little talk about hidden documents

  • Corrections …

    An AP photo went out today saying that I am a victim of Fr. Michael Baker. I am not. Other stories have gone out this week saying that I am the victim of abuse by a priest.

    Both statements are incorrect. I have alerted all media outlets to the mistake.

    I am a victim of abuse in the Catholic Church by a lay teacher, Thomas Hodgman, who admitted to abusing me and other girls.