Will someone at the Vatican please explain to Catholics -- who respect its authority but are sincerely puzzled by its passivity -- how telling the O'Briens of the American church not to resign protects its integrity and autonomy? Church officials didn't want to cave to undue pressure from the state? Well, that's now what they've got: the state peering into the office of bishop because church officials wouldn't let a bad one leave it.
On Tuesday's "O'Reilly Factor," a Catholic professor surmised that the Vatican wanted O'Brien to clean up his own "mess." If that's true, the reasoning is mind-bogglingly reckless. Did Ken Lay get to clean up his own mess? How could it be in the interests of the victims of a mess to let the mess-maker take a crack at cleaning it up? Having O'Brien clean up his own mess makes about as much sense as elevating Jayson Blair to ombudsman at the New York Times.
....."A diocesan Bishop who, because of illness or some other grave reason, has become unsuited for the fulfillment of his office, is earnestly requested to offer his resignation from office," say Canon Law. By not following its own law, the Catholic Church invites the intrusion of the state's.
Also from the Spectator, apparently the Voice of the LA Archdiocese has had enough of Neumayr's Mahony-Flogging:
When it comes to his misinformed and specious claims that the church is not seeking reconciliation and healing, Neumayr might as well be talking about himself. He doesn't give a hoot what happens to victims, as long as he gets to use them to pummel the church back into the 14th century, where he undoubtedly believes it should have stayed.
