There has been much criticism of Pope Francis’ foot-dragging response to the revelations of widespread institutionalised sexual abuse of children by members of the Catholic clergy.
Francis – you know, the cool Pope – has compounded that image by moving to have a conference of bishops to discuss the issue in February rather than, say, right now.
But don’t blame him. Apparently this is all Satan’s fault.
Seems like a decent guy.
“In these times, it seems like the Great Accuser has been unchained and is attacking bishops. True, we are all sinners, we bishops. He tries to uncover the sins, so they are visible in order to scandalise the people,” Francis reportedly said at Mass on Tuesday.
Hold on a tick… so Satan’s not behind the horrific abuse of children, but Frank’s blaming him for the uncovering of the abuse?
In other words, he’s arguing that the Devil is working his mischief through the unflinching bravery of survivors, the investigative media, and law enforcement?
That’s making Satan look pretty much like he’s on the side of good with this particular issue, surely?
Maybe we’ve been all backwards on this “good” and “evil” thing.
And sure, he was literally preaching to the choir but Francis’ rebranding of the church as being the real victim here, rather than the facilitator of abuses against the literal victim, is a little teensy weensy bit jaw dropping.
Cool popes are still popes, in other words. And history’s likely to have an opinion on that coolness too.