Fr. Gerald E. Murray: Vatican Failures in Cardinal Ouellet’s Case

By Fr. Gerald E. Murray, The Catholic Thing, Aug. 20, 2022

The Rev. Gerald E. Murray, J.C.D. is a canon lawyer and the pastor of Holy Family Church in New York City. His new book (with Diane Montagna), Calming the Storm: Navigating the Crises Facing the Catholic Church and Society, is now available.

Pope Francis issued a letter on August 20, 2018 in the aftermath of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report on sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and cover-ups by bishops. He wrote: “’If one member suffers, all suffer together with it’ (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons.”

He didn’t stop there: “Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults.” …