Protestors get results.
In consultation with His Eminence, Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, The Paulus Institute has agreed to seek another celebrant for the Pontifical Solemn High Mass taking place on April 24th [at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception]. This action will help maintain the solemnity, reverence and beauty of the Mass.
The Paulus Institute was formed for the propagation of sacred liturgy. The Traditional Latin Mass planned for April 24th honoring Pope Benedict on his five-year inauguration anniversary is a liturgical event much bigger than the individual celebrant. Cardinal Castrillon was approached to celebrate the Mass early in what has been a three-year effort because of his special experience in celebrating this form of Mass and his efforts under Pope John-Paul II and Pope Benedict XV I in encouraging the traditional form of the Mass, full liturgy and sacraments.We are in the process of seeking another Bishop to celebrate a Pontifical Solemn Mass on Saturday and are confident that one will agree. However, in any event, a beautiful, dignified Traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday at 1PM and will be the first time in nearly a half century this has occurred. All Catholic faithful are encouraged to attend.
That’s today’s message from pontimass.org.
BBC:
The decision to cancel the cardinal’s participation came after a number of local priests said they would not attend the service. On Tuesday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests called on Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl to stop the cardinal from celebrating the Mass, saying it would send the wrong message.
The back story from USA Today:
Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, 80, who once ran the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy, was going to be the star celebrant at the first Latin Mass to be offered in half a century at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Thousands of worshipers are expected at the service Saturday at the massive basilica in Northwest Washington.
But it came to light last weekend that the senior cardinal once praised a French bishop for protecting, not reporting, a pedophile priest.
…
While noting agreement that “all bishops should report crimes of sexual abuse to the police in accordance with the requirements of civil law,” the organizers had no comment on recent media reports about Hoyos.
Reuters reports,
Summarizing his weekend trip to Malta at his weekly general audience in St Peter’ Square, Benedict said:
“I wanted to meet some people who were victims of abuse by members of the clergy. I shared with them their suffering and with emotion I prayed with them, promising them action on the part of the Church.”
Victims groups had demanded the pope say something directly in public instead of using indirect reference and generalities.
A statement Sunday in Malta after his meeting with eight abuse victims said the pope promised them the Church would do “all in its power to investigate allegations, to bring to justice those responsible for abuse and to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future.”
That was one of the clearest statements yet from the Vatican that it wanted local bishops to cooperate with civil authorities in prosecuting priests who abused children.
There is no indication that action will be taken against Hoyos. Or Cardinal Law.
Cooperation with civil authorities has only been clearly and narrowly defined as reporting to them if it is required by law. What if reporting is not required by law? Does the church then claim “competence” to investigate and punish?