I’m starting to think Pope Francis, who began his tenure in such promising fashion, is not going to remove Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop Robert Finn from his post.
Perhaps even worse, I’m starting to think the pope is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, insofar as taking meaningful action on the clergy child-sexual-abuse scandal.
Maybe a smile and a wave are the most we’re going to see out of Francis
Last September, as many of you will recall, the pope sent a Canadian archbishop to Kansas City to investigate Finn’s leadership. The pope’s emissary asked several people he interviewed if they thought Finn was “fit to be a leader.” I can’t imagine that many of the respondents answered affirmatively.
Four months before that, in May of last year, the pope told reporters that three bishops were “under investigation” for their roles in the clergy sexual abuse scandal. One of the three, the pope said, had already been found guilty “and we are now considering the penalty to be imposed.”
From that, I concluded that Finn, the only American bishop to be convicted in the sex-abuse scandal, had a target on his back.
In the wake of Francis’ statement and the visit by the Canadian bishop, I confidently predicted that Finn would be out by at least Lent.
Well, Lent is almost over, and it looks like nothing is going to happen.
Furthermore, like a golfer frozen over the ball at address, the pope has fiddled and diddled with a commission he announced in December 2013.
The commission has an impressive name — the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. But it took three months for the pope to make the first appointments to the commission, and then nothing happened for another nine months, until last December, when the pope assigned some more members to it.
The group had its first meeting last month and came out of the meeting saying it would hold bishops accountable for abuse cases that occurred on their watch. But there wasn’t a word about disciplinary action for any bishops who heretofore had dropped the ball on accountability, like Finn so obviously did by failing to report the crimes of onetime priest Shawn Ratigan, who’s now doing 50 years in prison.
In a March 2 letter, Pope Francis said he had created the commission “for the purpose of offering proposals and initiatives meant to improve the norms and procedures for protecting children and vulnerable adults.”
To me, it sounds like the commission and everything else that the pope is doing in regard to the scandal is pointed toward the future — not past despicable deeds and administrative inaction.
Again, “offering proposals and initiatives” sounds nice, but we’ve heard that before. Pope Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict, sounded the same alarm, and look what ensued — more crimes and cover-up.
**
I’m not alone in being disgusted by the pope’s failure to take action regarding Finn.
Yesterday, the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP) also harshly criticized the pope for twiddling his thumbs:
“It’s a travesty that Francis has done nothing to discipline or even denounce Finn…(W)ith glacial speed, Francis ignores a bishop who was convicted of endangering children.”
Sorry to say, at this p0int it appears to me Francis is quite content having established himself as a “feel-good,” popular pope.
It’s just dandy that he’s humble, but does he have any backbone? Is he “fit to lead,” as the Canadian archbishop asked about Finn?
Maybe not. Maybe he’ll be remembered as a pope who talked a good game and attracted rock-concert-type crowds around the world but didn’t have the stomach to look a crooked cleric in the eye and say, “You’re fired.”
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Was there not just a news story criticizing one of the members of the Commission for their role in the scandal?
From HuffPo
‘The commission is working on developing a system that will hold bishops accountable if they covered up for sexually abusive priests. But nothing has been announced yet, and it doesn’t appear that much has changed in recent months. Moreover, in January, Francis sent mixed signals by appointing a bishop who has been accused of protecting an abusive priest as the new leader of a Chilean diocese. Catholics in the region were upset with the pope’s choice, and have launched protests against the appointment.”
Both the Huffington Post and the Pitch (whose Thursday story got me thinking the pope was diddling and fiddling) were unclear about the Chilean bishop.
I researched it further and sorted it out. Francis did not appoint the Chilean fellow to the commission; he simply elevated him from priest to bishop. It was the use of the word “appointed” in the context of news about the commission that was misleading. The issue was whether the Chilean priest, given his questionable background, should have been made a bishop.
Here’s a story that clarifies it..http://cathnews.co.nz/2015/02/24/new-bishop-in-chile-under-fire-for-alleged-abuser-cover-up/
I just found out, while reading some articles about the papal commission, that the Chilean appointee was already a bishop before his recent installation as bishop in a different region of Chile. He has been a bishop for quite a few years. The outrage is that the pope saw fit to give him another big assignment, with questions swirling about his ties to an abusive priest.
The situation is sad.
It’s not sad to me, Larry…but maddening and disappointing.
I believe the expression is “all hat, no cattle.”
Wow, two of those whatchamacallits in one lead, the other being rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. I hardly think the RC church will sink over this, tho I am glad you are weighing in.
Mixed metaphors? Perhaps it was early, and you are “All golf cap, no coffee?”” !! Do you imagine the Pope is “shaking in his boots” over this post? And come to think of it, weren’t those red $4000 shoes of his retired? Fendi? Finito?
The problem was it was late (11:37 p.m.) not early, Tracy, and you caught me falling back into hackneyed expressions, although I thought the “all hat, no cowboy/cattle” was kind of cute…You know, conjuring up the image of a cowboy pope.
Or Brokeback Mountain.
Good post as I’ve been wondering the same. As I age it’s fascinating to watch events ebb and flow with the tides, especially from a distance. I continue to be bemused and confounded by the lack of sustained and progressive outrage from the “herd” toward their leaders who talk change but just can’t get it up for the common good.. As a student of the ’70s, protest seemed sustained and everywhere. This latest poop er Pope has seemingly evolved into a polished corporate marketing campaign. All hat and no cattle indeed! Just another NGB (nice guy but). Where is the sustained outrage from the Vox Populi in this era of social media? But I was raised a Presbyterian so all that incense stuff is a mystery to me anyway. I did like those custom red shoes though.
Amen, Jayson! Looks like we got in just under the wire, to post any critical thoughts before Holy Week, which starts tomorrow!
You’re jumping the gun a week, tracyinkc.
And if I may be so bold as to say, there is our time and there is God’s time. Inexplicable, perhaps, but again, not ours to question.
…and right there is the problem: too many people regard the putative feelings/musings of a imaginary deity more important than the horrendous depredations inflicted upon their children. Gayle’s stance –certainly reflecting the majority of practicing catholic’s, n’est-ce pas? — deftly limns the drawbacks and dangers of the historically unfettered power of the catholic church.
As I opined at the time, had it been my kid(s) for which Finn cared nothing, the matter would already be concluded, Finn long gone.
No reply link available for Will Notb, so here will have to do. Wowsers, Jimmy–give that elegant man an award! He went “out on a limb” and worked in the little used word “limn”!!!! Or give him a light for his Noel Coward cigaretto.
Possible prize:
engraved silver lighter?
Incense purloined from the church? (Noted he refused to capitalize Catholic. Altho the church certainly does, upon their flock.)
Tell me, Jimmy, had you ever even considered using “limn” in any story for the Star, or would Casey Jones have talked you out of it, whilst Paul Haskins was laughing his ass off?? Now John Dauner would have appreciated it, I feel sure. Our secret “Mission Hills” correspondent.
I was equally impressed with putative and the French (albeit common) phrase, while quietly sighing and smh. Finn will be dealt with, Will, but not by you.
Gayle:
…regarding the link; I try not to spam other people’s comments section, but since you asked, here it is.
Once there do a search for ‘H. monastic’ or ‘Finn’ or even ‘catholics’; there will be plenty of substance there for you to avoid commenting on as well.
Meow, Will Notb. A learned man such as yourself might be happier to just embrace your own basket of beliefs, and stop goadingGayle. Go eat a peep.
I have no idea what you’re talking about; re-read Tracy’s comment regarding links. I have no interest in getting into a Holy War with you and refuse to be goaded into it; sorry to disappoint you.
Jim, quick — new subject!
Good catch, Gayle–yes I figured out when Holy Week begins, last night. So glad I hadn’t scheduled my visit to Costco…for Easter fixin’s.
And then this morning I found three more clocks that had not been reset on Daylight Savings time. So in the US, there is God’s time, our time, and then–those reluctant little clocks on their own time…
It’s never too early for Peeps — gotta get that “drying out” time in!
Amen to that, Gayle. Now here is another question of deep spiritual portent. Throughout the year now, at Joanns fabric and etc. and Michaels stores, they sell Peeps for other seasons. Halloween ghosts, Santas, leprechauns, etc.
So Popess Gayle, is that a sacrilege?
I haven’t checked Hobby Lobby, figuring they, being uber-Christian store owners, (with “Testamints” for sale at each cash register, oh get over yourselves) would say yes. Hobby Lobby doctrine: only yellow chick Peeps. And if you buy any other seasonal Peeps, then one must pay an indulgence and do penance.
I must confess (irony intended) that I too, think Peeps ripen to new heights of sugary greatness, when air-dried.
We may be now turning Jimmy C says into a foody blog. But at this point, it’s just you and me writing. All the boys are either out fertilizing their lawns or already watching March Madness.
Sacrilege? Yes. They are as Springtime as the living, breathing ones, and daffodils.
And at the risk of starting another Holy War: Go Shockers!