UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism
Jerry Slevin
Bad news at the Oscars this weekend for the pope. Best picture went to the movie starring “superhero”, Michael Keaton, whose “Spotlight” movie covering the Boston Globe’s powerful 2003 expose of infamous Cardinal Law’s priest child abuse cover-up is nearing its global release. Law is still an honored guest at Vatican events. Papal apologists, like David Pierre, have apparently even already begun their desperate attack on the Globe’s prior management, which will only increase the movie’s ticket sales. Instead of receiving an Oscar this weekend, the pope received a box of Bach CDs and an ominous and untimely visit from the world’s most powerful woman.
Will this daughter of a Lutheran minister, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, tip the scales on the pope’s “retreat agenda” this week, as a religiously divided Germany paradoxically prepares to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Luther’s “revolt” in less than two years?
The pope had been preparing, before Merkel arrived, for a week long Lenten retreat with his Vatican officials. This was to be a “spiritual break” after an intense period that began with the pope’s public Christmas blast at his administrative team, continued with his Philippine trip, and ended with unusual secretive meetings with all of his cardinals. Did he and his likely successor, Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, really want to or even need to spend so much time now with Merkel and her entourage of 15 German officials?
Of course, the Pope and Parolin did have to listen if Merkel insisted on it. Germany is the largest single “guaranteed source” of Catholic Church financial support, with over $7 billion in annual direct governmental subsides. When Angela talks, the pope better listen, no?
The talks reportedly (in the words of the polite diplomatic script mutually agreed likely by Merkel and the pope) focused on international crises, including the conflict in eastern Ukraine, women’s rights and equality, children’s health issues in developing countries, etc.
Women’s rights. childrens’s health …,? The pope talked to a woman about women and family issues? Almost unprecedented, no? Are these terms “code words” for issues like changing the ban on the Pill and for holding bishops accountable for protecting priest child abusers? Merkel may have trouble pushing Putin,Russia’s president, but she pays many of the pope’s bills. As Greece is learning, she surely knows how to apply her economic power. She also recently met in Washington with President Obama so likely knows where he stands on reining in this popular, but internationally meddlesome, pope, no?
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.