Abuse survivors angry over Pope’s praise for fallen cardinal
By Daniel Burke | 12 October 2018
CNN — Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the embattled archbishop of Washington. But the Pope’s high praise for Wuerl in the wake of two clergy sexual abuse scandals angered some abuse survivors.
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the embattled archbishop of Washington and one of the church’s most powerful Americans. But the Pope’s high praise for Wuerl in the wake of two clergy sexual abuse scandals angered some abuse survivors.
Wuerl is the most prominent American Catholic to step down since the abuse scandal reignited this summer.
But Francis has asked Wuerl to remain as the archdiocese’s apostolic administrator — akin to an interim manager — until a successor is named. And in a letter released Friday, the pope praised Wuerl for his “nobility” in handling the criticism against him.
The Pope wrote that Wuerl has “sufficient elements to ‘justify'” his actions “and distinguish between what it means to cover up crimes or not to deal with problems, and to commit some mistakes.”
“However, your nobility has led you not to choose this way of defense. Of this, I am proud and thank you,” the pope wrote.
Significantly, while Wuerl is resigning as archbishop of Washington, he will remain a cardinal. He is still part of the powerful College of Cardinals and is one of only 10 American cardinals who could choose the next Pope. […]
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