The following is the full English text of Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano’s second letter regarding clerical abuse by Cardinal McCarrick and its coverup within the Vatican. To read the first letter from Archbishop Vigano, click here.
Tit. Archbishop of Ulpiana Apostolic Nuncio
Scio Cui credidi
(2 Tim 1:12)
Before starting my writing, I would first of all like to give thanks and glory to God the Father for every situation and trial that He has prepared and will prepare for me during my life. As a priest and bishop of the holy Church, spouse of Christ, I am called like every baptized person to bear witness to the truth. By the gift of the Spirit who sustains me with joy on the path that I am called to travel, I intend to do so until the end of my days. Our only Lord has addressed also to me the invitation, “Follow me!”, and I intend to follow him with the help of his grace until the end of my days.
“As long as I have life, I will sing to the Lord,
I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my song be pleasing to him;
For I rejoice in the Lord.”
(Psalm 103:33-34)
*****
It has been a month since I offered my testimony, solely for the good of the Church, regarding what occurred at the audience with Pope Francis on June 23, 2013 and regarding certain matters I was given to know in the assignments entrusted to me at the Secretariat of State and in Washington, in relation to those who bear responsibility for covering up the crimes committed by the former archbishop of that capital.
My decision to reveal those grave facts was for me the most painful and serious decision that I have ever made in my life. I made it after long reflection and prayer, during months of profound suffering and anguish, during a crescendo of continual news of terrible events, with thousands of innocent victims destroyed and the vocations and lives of young priests and religious disturbed. The silence of the pastors who could have provided a remedy and prevented new victims became increasingly indefensible, a devastating crime for the Church. Well aware of the enormous consequences that my testimony could have, because what I was about to reveal involved the successor of Peter himself, I nonetheless chose to speak in order to protect the Church, and I declare with a clear conscience before God that my testimony is true. Christ died for the Church, and Peter, Servus servorum Dei, is the first one called to serve the spouse of Christ.
Certainly, some of the facts that I was to reveal were covered by the pontifical secret that I had promised to observe and that I had faithfully observed from the beginning of my service to the Holy See. But the purpose of any secret, including the pontifical secret, is to protect the Church from her enemies, not to cover up and become complicit in crimes committed by some of her members. I was a witness, not by my choice, of shocking facts and, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states (par. 2491), the seal of secrecy is not binding when very grave harm can be avoided only by divulging the truth. Only the seal of confession could have justified my silence.
Neither the pope, nor any of the cardinals in Rome have denied the facts I asserted in my testimony. “Qui tacet consentit” surely applies here, for if they deny my testimony, they have only to say so, and provide documentation to support that denial. How can one avoid concluding that the reason they do not provide the documentation is that they know it confirms my testimony?
The center of my testimony was that since at least June 23, 2013, the pope knew from me how perverse and evil McCarrick was in his intentions and actions, and instead of taking the measures that every good pastor would have taken, the pope made McCarrick one of his principal agents in governing the Church, in regard to the United States, the Curia, and even China, as we are seeing these days with great concern and anxiety for that martyr Church.
Now, the pope’s reply to my testimony was: “I will not say a word!” But then, contradicting himself, he has compared his silence to that of Jesus in Nazareth and before Pilate, and compared me to the great accuser, Satan, who sows scandal and division in the Church — though without ever uttering my name. If he had said: “Viganò lied,” he would have challenged my credibility while trying to affirm his own. In so doing he would have intensified the demand of the people of God and the world for the documentation needed to determine who has told the truth. Instead, he put in place a subtle slander against me — slander being an offense he has often compared to the gravity of murder. Indeed, he did it repeatedly, in the context of the celebration of the most Holy Sacrament, the Eucharist, where he runs no risk of being challenged by journalists. When he did speak to journalists, he asked them to exercise their professional maturity and draw their own conclusions. But how can journalists discover and know the truth if those directly involved with a matter refuse to answer any questions or to release any documents? The pope’s unwillingness to respond to my charges and his deafness to the appeals by the faithful for accountability are hardly consistent with his calls for transparency and bridge building.
Moreover, the pope’s cover-up of McCarrick was clearly not an isolated mistake. Many more instances have recently been documented in the press, showing that Pope Francis has defended homosexual clergy who committed serious sexual abuses against minors or adults. These include his role in the case of Fr. Julio Grassi in Buenos Aires, his reinstatement of Fr. Mauro Inzoli after Pope Benedict had removed him from ministry (until he went to prison, at which point Pope Francis laicized him), and his halting of the investigation of sex abuse allegations against Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor.
In the meantime, a delegation of the USCCB, headed by its president Cardinal DiNardo, went to Rome asking for a Vatican investigation into McCarrick. Cardinal DiNardo and the other prelates should tell the Church in America and in the world: did the pope refuse to carry out a Vatican investigation into McCarrick’s crimes and of those responsible for covering them up? The faithful deserve to know.
I would like to make a special appeal to Cardinal Ouellet, because as nuncio I always worked in great harmony with him, and I have always had great esteem and affection towards him. He will remember when, at the end of my mission in Washington, he received me at his apartment in Rome in the evening for a long conversation. At the beginning of Pope Francis’ pontificate, he had maintained his dignity, as he had shown with courage when he was Archbishop of Québec. Later, however, when his work as prefect of the Congregation for Bishops was being undermined because recommendations for episcopal appointments were being passed directly to Pope Francis by two homosexual “friends” of his dicastery, bypassing the Cardinal, he gave up. His long article in L’Osservatore Romano, in which he came out in favor of the more controversial aspects of Amoris Laetitia, represents his surrender. Your Eminence, before I left for Washington, you were the one who told me of Pope Benedict’s sanctions on McCarrick. You have at your complete disposal key documents incriminating McCarrick and many in the curia for their cover-ups. Your Eminence, I urge you to bear witness to the truth.
*****
Finally, I wish to encourage you, dear faithful, my brothers and sisters in Christ: never be despondent! Make your own the act of faith and complete confidence in Christ Jesus, our Savior, of Saint Paul in his second Letter to Timothy, Scio cui credidi, which I choose as my episcopal motto. This is a time of repentance, of conversion, of prayers, of grace, to prepare the Church, the bride of the Lamb, ready to fight and win with Mary the battle against the old dragon.
“Scio Cui credidi” (2 Tim 1:12)
In you, Jesus, my only Lord, I place all my trust. “Diligentibus Deum omnia cooperantur in bonum” (Rom 8:28).
To commemorate my episcopal ordination on April 26, 1992, conferred on me by St. John Paul II, I chose this image taken from a mosaic of the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice. It represents the miracle of the calming of the storm. I was struck by the fact that in the boat of Peter, tossed by the water, the figure of Jesus is portrayed twice. Jesus is sound asleep in the bow, while Peter tries to wake him up: “Master, do you not care that we are about to die?” Meanwhile the apostles, terrified, look each in a different direction and do not realize that Jesus is standing behind them, blessing them and assuredly in command of the boat: “He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still,’ … then he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” (Mk 4:38-40).
The scene is very timely in portraying the tremendous storm the Church is passing through in this moment, but with a substantial difference: the successor of Peter not only fails to see the Lord in full control of the boat, it seems he does not even intend to awaken Jesus asleep in the bow.
Has Christ perhaps become invisible to his vicar? Perhaps is he being tempted to try to act as a substitute of our only Master and Lord?
The Lord is in full control of the boat!
May Christ, the Truth, always be the light on our way!
+ Carlo Maria Viganò Titular Archbishop of Ulpiana
Apostolic Nuncio
September 29th, 2018 Feast of St. Michael, Archangel
Letter obtained from LifeSiteNews.
Ah-Oh, they’ve got you now, Francesco!
Not clever to simply say, like the High School Drama Queen, “I’m not going to talk about it.” Well, sometimes that does not work, IL Papa. Stand up and speak like a man.
“St. Christopher’s” demeanor and anonymous public words are disrespectful, irreverent, un-Catholic. This is NOT the proper regard that we Catholics are called to have for any cleric, especially the Pope, whoever he may be, whatever is being alleged against him. People, remember that every word of yours will be taken into account on the day of judgment.
jon, give it a rest. You’re a lousy broken record. Must ache in your soul to have your liberal hopes dashed and the progressive catholic project come crashing down, huh?
“remember that every word of yours will be taken into account on the day of judgment.” Just as every lie that you spout will as well
bohemond, in our system of justice, a person making a claim is required to prove his/her point when called upon, unless it seems if you’re Christine Blasey Ford. So I am calling upon bohemond to quote exactly the words of mine that are a lie. Identify date and time too please.
Do you have similar words for Fr. Fessio, who also told the pope to be a man and speak up?
I was horrified by Father Fessio comment. No one should talk to the Pope like that.
Under the circumstances, anonymous, how should one speak to one who has, on the face of it, acted as if he was indeed quite guilty?
Politely. Kindly. Don’t be insulting. Don’t boss him around. Say please.
Simple civility.
Anonymous @ 2:34pm – save “horrified” to describe what McCarrick did to his victims. After what has happened, and been covered up, you are worried about tone. Wow, you really want to ignore the headline. How very clerical of you.
“That would be impudent. Wait for the statement that they said they will be releasing soon.
Stop being so impatient. Part of civility is knowing your place.” Ah — knowing your place– like in the back of the bus, maybe? Tell that to Martin Luther King. Tell that to St. Catherine of Sienna. Tell that to Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Tell that to the Dubia cardinals still alive. Don’t you know, or can’t you tell, when you are being manipulated?
God bless you.
I guess it is a matter of what one considers polite and kind and non-insulting. For instance, if I say,
“Please Holy Father, no more silence –tell us the truth” that could be considered impudent and bossy, even if in my mind I am exercising “simple civility.” And then comes the definition of “simple civility.” When the appearance is given of gross impropriety by the pope, and repeated exhortations have been met by apparent stonewalling and even deception, would simple civility be defined operationally as , “Please Holy Father, we love you but stop what appears to so many of us as stonewalling and effectively prevaricating. Your flock needs the truth”? Would that pass muster?
That would be impudent.
Wait for the statement that they said they will be releasing soon.
Stop being so impatient.
Part of civility is knowing your place.
Jon, you’re correct. This whole thing is a result of a catastrophic and willing departure from the faith of the Roman Catholic Magisterium. The laity have been led astray, but at the end of the day, we are not innocent of that departure either. Chastisement will hopefully be avoided, but if it isn’t, no one will be spared. Pope, bishop or layman. So be angry but do not sin, and fast for your sins and the sins of your families.
Chardin is wrong. The Church has NOT been led astray by the Magisterium (that is, by the Pope and the bishops) from the True Catholic faith in matters of faith and morals. There is perhaps a deficiency in how bishops have “governed” the Church (that is, how credible accusations were handled). But this is in the realm of the temporal order, in the realm of “governance.” The Church HOWEVER is indefectible and inerrant, when she– through her bishops–teach the flock on what is right and wrong, morally and spiritually. Do not assume the teachings of the Church has been lost–or that the “Church is led astray” just because flawed human being have erred in the temporal realm, in “governance.”
jon is wrong. The Church HAS been led astray by the pope. He has taught ambiguity and falsehood. Amoris Laetitia is wrong.
Anonymous, Catholics believe that marriage is a sacrament that creates an indissoluble bond between a man and a woman. Any sexual act outside of marriage is a grave sin. If done with full knowledge and consent of the will, it is a mortal sin and one cannot receive communion unless one has repented and obtained absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The media and pundits on the Internet have distorted Chapter 8 and its footnote to portray Amoris Laetitia as a green light for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion. Faithful Catholics need to oppose these interpretations, just like the Pope.
Where we are with Amoris Laetitia is that the Holy Father has not given a response to the five questions submitted by four cardinals of the Church concerning the aforementioned Exhortation. Maybe he doesn’t need to. Why? Those who read the Exhortation–as we are supposed to–in light of Scripture, the tradition of the Church, and past papal teachings (which includes Familiaris Consortio) will not find anything amiss in it. I have not been “led astray” and neither have my friends nor anyone in the parish I go to. Have you? If yes, then you are not reading it in the proper light.
Jon, weren’t you just defending your honesty a few comments above here? You did not go for more than a few comments before you started twisting someone else’s words. How stupid do you think the readers are?
Anonymous, no one was “twisting” anyone’s words. I know exactly what Chardin’s comment was trying to accomplish. Just because someone seems to have paid me a compliment (“Jon, you’re correct”), doesn’t mean I am stupid enough to agree to that person’s false and quite heretical premises (“the laity has been led astray”). The comment was an unjust, irreverent attack on the doctrine of the indefectibility of the teaching office of the Church.
jon, as a Catholic you should know that preaching homilies to the faithful is reserved to priests and deacons. Start practicing what you endlessly preach.
“Just”: there is a different between defending the faith, which all Catholics are obligated to do; and preaching which only priests and deacons can do. What I have done above is defend the doctrines and teachings of the Church such as the indefectibility of the Church’s Magisterium (that’s “teaching office” for you Protestant folks out there); and I have defended the Catholic discipline and instinct of reverence and respect afforded to its clergy, especially to the Holy Father, whatever may be alleged about him.
JUST THE FACTS, PLEASE
an online comment is not a homily.
The problem with this is that when you rock the boat, some people fall off.
.
If the altar boys fell off the boat, they would have been saved.
No they would not.
They would not have been raped. It is better to take your chances with the sharks than with homosexuals.
Outside the Church there is no salvation.
I am sure every survivor has dealt with the same issues I have. Eventually you come to the conclusion that it is a trespass and you forgive it. You don’t let the devil win because what he wants is to separate you from God for eternity.
What can Man do against us? A lot. But what is it, really? The mental stuff is worse than the physical stuff. The only way out is through. God bless you and heal you.
There is no salvation with sodomy. Sodomy brings eternal death.
Unrepented sodomy brings eternal death.
People, both gay and straight, who have committed the sin of sodomy need to obtain absolution in sacramental confession.
“for if they deny my testimony, they have only to say so, and provide documentation to support that denial.”
The burden of proof is on the accuser not the accused. Innocent til proven guilty.
Video evidence has not supported him. There is video of his meeting with Pope Francis and it does not show what Archbishop Vigano claimed in his first letter.
The statements of someone who talked to Pope Benedict about it did not support him.
When falsely accused a Christian is supposed to remain silent so how do you fault the Pope for that?
The Vatican has not released its statement yet so it is unfair to characterize the lack of response the way he has.
Vigano has the evidence. He’s just waiting for the pope and his cronies to make a misstep. The reason the pope and others aren’t denying Vigano’s charges is because they aren’t sure what papers or other evidence he has against them in a secret vault. If they deny something that he then proves is true with documentation, they will be exposed as liars. So they have chosen not to say anything. Eventually Vigano will do them all in by releasing what he’s got on them, but he’s having fun with them in the meantime to make them look even worse.
Oh so then it is evil.
Do you have a sure knowledge of this or are you just speculating?
At the end of the letter, Vigano subtly appears to render an opinion against the Pope that is similar to one that I’ve developed about Cdl. Mahony – that he acts as if he has little [or no] faith.
At the end of each man’s life, there’ll be an accounting. This accounting will be more severe for bishops who are entrusted with the care of thousands of souls. When such a man places these souls at risk by scandalous governance and is exposed, he’s compelled, for the sake of his own soul, to recognize the error and ask the Lord for forgiveness.
But when a bishop is confronted with the error and responds with subterfuge and more error, a person will wonder if the bishop actually believes in this accounting.
Why is Vigano doing this? Why release the letter to Rod Dreher who isn’t even Catholic?
2 +2 + ?
Anonymous,vigano has had to go into hidinv for self-preservation. He could trust rod dreher who unlike some catholics want him harmed and silenced.
None of this really makes any sense. He said he does not have long to live. Why would he be hiding for self-preservation.
It looks to me as if life site news is purposely provoking division within the church. Brothers and sisters in Christ there is a massive deception going on right now not only in the Holy Roman Catholic Church but also right across the entire world. Be very careful with the words you use and pray for discernment before you write or voice an opinion. Pray brothers and sisters in Christ for wisdom in these end times for none of know the hour and the day that the Son of Man is coming. But be assured Jesus Christ King of Kings Lord of Lords True God and True Man is coming in the not too distant future like a thief in the night. Our Lady of Fatima pray for this poor lost world. Pray America Pray. Pray Pray Pray!
Consecrate yourself to the Immaculate Heart.
Keep at your evangelization and service work and your prayer. Don’t let internet “news” become a stumbling block for you.
When two giants argue, the lambs get out of the way. “We should never hesitate to speak truth to power.””
Whatchman, your words are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
Let us rejoice that we can see the rot that needs to be removed! Jesus is thirsty for pure hearts. Let us give him a drink! As for me, I remove the plank from my eye, by going to confession at least once a week now! It is not easy to look at my sins and reflect on my faults and near occasions of sins. How easy to look “good” by comparing my sins to the sins of predator homosexuals of Cardinal McCarrick. I feel sympathy for the people with deep seated homosexual attractions who are struggling courageously to be chaste! Thanks be to God through Blessed Virgin Mother, Mary, I am recovering from casual Catholic modernism!
“some of the facts that I was to reveal were covered by the pontifical secret that I had promised to observe”
So that is grave sin.
Sometimes it carries with it the penalty of automatic excommunication.
No wonder no one is corroborating his story.
Not sinful in the least. When keeping the secret is more harmful to the Church than revealing it, the secret should be revealed, which is what Vigano did.
Notice no one charged has disputed his charges. They don’t know what Vigano has on them.
2491 Professional secrets – for example, those of political office holders, soldiers, physicians, and lawyers – or confidential information given under the seal of secrecy must be kept, save in exceptional cases where keeping the secret is bound to cause very grave harm to the one who confided it, to the one who received it or to a third party, and where the very grave harm can be avoided only by divulging the truth. Even if not confided under the seal of secrecy, private information prejudicial to another is not to be divulged without a grave and proportionate reason.
The Pontifical secret is not a professional secret. I do not think that applies.
Remember, Altar boy, what just happened is a Pontifical secret. If you tell your parents or the police it is a mortal sin that will send you to hell. You will never be forgiven. Bad things happen to the parents of little boys who do not keep Pontifical secrets. Keep quiet!!!!
I am sorry if you are an abuse victim and you were threatened.
If you are a Catholic Priest, you can preach in favor of contraception and your Bishop will protect you. You can give a sermon promoting abortion and your Bishop will protect you. You can talk about how wonderful homosexuality is from the pulpit and your Bishop will protect you. You can molest altar boys and your Bishop will protect you and cover up for you. You can rape seminarians and your Bishop will protect you and cover up for you. If your parishioners burn a rainbow flag, your Bishop will send thugs to threaten you with vulgar language. You will have to go into hiding for fear of being seized and imprisoned in a mental institution. Don’t mess with the homosexual mafia! They do not mess around!
Not in my diocese.
Anonymous,
I’ve one correction based on what I’ve observed and heard from friends. In regard to molesting altar boys and seminarians, your bishop will protect you if you’re liberal. If you’re conservative, your bishop will throw you under the bus.
Archbishop Vigano continues to make claims regarding the Holy Father’s knowledge of the McCarrick matter. Pope Francis must address this situation, he cannot remain silent. If there was a cover up, it must be revealed and dealt with. I believe Pope Francis has a blind spot with regards to abuse by priests and religious: He just can’t believe it! It is astonishing is it not? Unfortunately, all of us, including priests, have a dark side. The truth will set us free!