VATICAN CITY
Religion News Center
Josephine McKenna | May 27, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis has warned he has “zero tolerance” for child sex abuse in the Catholic Church and revealed that three bishops are currently being investigated by the Vatican.
But the pope did not name names, and Vatican officials on Tuesday (May 27) declined to comment.
So who are the three bishops under Vatican investigation? The speculation is that the pope likely was referring to three clerics, including:
* Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who resigned in February 2013 on the eve of the conclave that elected Francis. O’Brien later admitted that “there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.”Cardinal Keith O’Brien
* Polish Archbishop Josef Wesolowski, who was accused of child abuse in Poland and during his period as papal nuncio in the Dominican Republic until his dismissal last August;
*Chilean Bishop Cristian Contreras, who has been accused of abuse by other priests in his diocese
Francis made his comments to journalists aboard his return flight to Rome on Monday as he wrapped up his first visit to the Middle East.
“Sexual abuse is such an ugly crime … because a priest who does this betrays the body of the Lord,” the pope said emphatically. “This is very serious. It is like a satanic Mass.”
When the pope said one of the three bishops had been found guilty, that led to immediate speculation he was referring to Bishop Robert Finn from Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., who was convicted in 2012 for failing to report a priest for child pornography. But so far there is little indication Finn — who remains in office — is facing Vatican review.
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