We, the church, the people of the body of Christ deserve the full and unvarnished truth. Bishop Strickland is to be commended for asking for the truth even when he admittedly doesn’t have the authority to do so.
Yesterday, Bishop Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler released a statment regarding the allegations made by Archbishop Vigano, former Nuncio to the United States, credible and worthy of investingating. The Pope said to the media to read the document, and draw our own conclusions, and on this he said, “I will not say one word.” So here’s the document. Here’s the Pope’s full comments in his own words. So at the Pope’s invitation, here we are, drawing our own conclusions, and it stinks.
Among other allegations, the most damaging are that Pope Francis was aware that “Archbishop [Theodore McCarrick] ‘shared his bed with seminarians,’ inviting five at a time to spend the weekend with him at his beach house,” and that Francis scaled back sanctions previously put in place by Pope Benedict.
Archbishop Vigano says that he informed Pope Francis of McCarrick in 2013 and the Pope continued to provide cover for him. The Pope finally accepted McCarrick’s resignation last month, July 28, 2018.
Furthermore, in more Texas ties to these allegations, Archbishop Vigano names former Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, Kevin Farrell, now Cardinal Farrell in the allegations. He casts doubt that Cardinal Farrell didn’t know of McCarrick’s misdeeds. It’s worth noting, Farrell, ordained by McCarrick was close enough to McCarrick that he incorporated elements of McCarick’s coat of arms into his own.
“Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who was recently interviewed by the media, also said that he didn’t have the slightest idea about the abuses committed by McCarrick. Given his tenure in Washington, Dallas and now Rome, I think no one can honestly believe him,” said Vigiano.
Thank you Bishop Strickland for your stand and leadership.