The fix is in: The Bishops Need...Wait for It...a Procedure.

Cardinal McCarrick's case is really opening up the floodgates of coverup, lies and corruption in the episcopal see.

Pope Francis is known for running into the public square and without thinking things through, sharing the undisciplined thoughts swirling in his head about everything under the sun. Several weeks have passed since Cardinal McCarrick lost his faculties for decades of predatory sexual misconduct. And just like that, the crickets can be heard in St. Peter's Square.

Maybe he's waiting for all the trial balloons to fly.

Our good Bishop Tobin's balloon never got off the ground.

I was sorry to see Bishop Tobin leave twitter, but this was definitely not the time to dismiss the exposure of corruption by raising a glass of cheer to toast the USCCB. This is the time for lavender mafia to be outed, overthrown and defrocked.

One hardly knows what to say, but people are upset because packing up your toys and getting out of the sandbox after exercising a bad strategy is just another form of enabling.

The bishops in the US have been leading Catholics into temptation and sin for decades.    Millions have died in that state.    Catechesis is a trainwreck.  They promote politicians who ethnically cleanse children of the poor.  The genocide is meaningless to them.   Our people have gone mad from diabolical disorientation.    There is absolutely NOTHING to congratulate them about.    And I do mean nothing.

Earlier this week, Cardinal O'Malley gushed over Boston's Catholic Mayor Marty Walsh 'leadership':

"We are blessed by the wisdom and vision of the Mayor’s leadership."

The wisdom and vision of a senior bachelor living with his girlfriend crusading for gay marriage and abortion. A real 'blessing' for a Catholic Cardinal in the US.

Cardinal O'Malley issued another doozy yesterday on the reasons Cardinal McCarrick was allowed to harvest victims for four decades.  This gives us a glimpse to the endemic lies and excuses that have to come to an end:

Statement of Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM Cap Archbishop of Boston 

 Tuesday, July 24, 2018 

"For the past several days, articles in the national media have reported accusations of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s sexual improprieties with several adults and his criminal violations of the sexual abuse of minors. These alleged actions, when committed by any person, are morally unacceptable and incompatible with the role of a priest, bishop or cardinal. 

I am deeply troubled by these reports that have traumatized many Catholics and members of the wider community. In one case involving a minor the Archdiocese of New York, after investigation, has found the accusation to be credible and substantiated. While another accusation concerning a minor is yet to be investigated, the reports are devastating for the victims, their families and for the Church itself. Each new report of clerical abuse at any level creates doubt in the minds of many that we are effectively addressing this catastrophe in the Church. 

These cases and others require more than apologies. They raise up the fact that when charges are brought regarding a bishop or a cardinal, a major gap still exists in the Church’s policies on sexual conduct and sexual abuse. While the Church in the United States has adopted a zero tolerance policy regarding the sexual abuse of minors by priests we must have clearer procedures for cases involving bishops. Transparent and consistent protocols are needed to provide justice for the victims and to adequately respond to the legitimate indignation of the community. The Church needs a strong and comprehensive policy to address bishops’ violations of the vows of celibacy in cases of the criminal abuse of minors and in cases involving adults. 

My experience in several dioceses and my work with the members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors have brought me to this conclusion. The Church needs to swiftly and decisively take action regarding these matters of critical importance. In every instance of claims made by victims of sexual abuse, whether criminal violations or the abuse of power, the primary concern must be for the victim, their family and their loved ones. The victims are to be commended for bringing to light their tragic experience and must be treated with respect and dignity. Recent media reports also have referenced a letter sent to me from Rev. Boniface Ramsey, O.P. in June of 2015, which I did not personally receive. In keeping with the practice for matters concerning the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, at the staff level the letter was reviewed and determined that the matters presented did not fall under the purview of the Commission or the Archdiocese of Boston, which was shared with Fr. Ramsey in reply. 

These accusations are understandably a source of great disappointment and anger for many. These cases, involving a cardinal, must be viewed in light of the last two decades of the Church’s experience with clerical sexual abuse. It is my conviction that three specific actions are required at this time. First, a fair and rapid adjudication of these accusations; second, an assessment of the adequacy of our standards and policies in the Church at every level, and especially in the case of bishops; and third, communicating more clearly to the Catholic faithful and to all victims the process for reporting allegations against bishops and cardinals. Failure to take these actions will threaten and endanger the already weakened moral authority of the Church and can destroy the trust required for the Church to minister to Catholics and have a meaningful role in the wider civil society. In this moment there is no greater imperative for the Church than to hold itself accountable to address these matters, which I will bring to my upcoming meetings with the Holy See with great urgency and concern."

 ###

A procedure? They need a procedure?

I've repeatedly voiced my exasperation over the current 'procedure' of chanceries responding to misconduct by sending letters to complainants filled with meaningless drivel and platitudes.

I believe this Press Release says Fr. Kickham received Fr. Ramsey's letter, made an independent judgement and decided the proper course of action was to send a response to the complainant that his gripes had nothing to do with the Archdiocese of Boston or Cardinal O'Malley's position on the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors. And that was the end of that.

I find it really hard to believe that Fr. Kickham didn't bother to bring the letter to the Cardinal's attention and say "You have no episcopal authority over this turd, but it needs to be brought to your attention because we now own it and you need to give me the instructions on how you wish me to respond to the complainant, what is the name of the person responsible to investigate and act upon it and how you wish me to forward it. "

Wouldn't that be the response of any reasonably-prudent person?

I don't blame Fr. Kickham. The real problem is much bigger. Cardinal O'Malley and the Bishops in the USCCB didn't need Fr. Kickham to forward a letter telling them what they already know.   Whether or not Cardinal McCarrick's conduct involved minors, his behavior was predatory and abusive and he should have been taken out of commission long before Fr. Kickham received the letter.

Truth be told, the above is not the most disturbing thing about this press release.

The most disturbing thing is, the very bishop who explains he screwed this up to a fare-the-well because he is incapable of coming up with procedures in his office on when to pull a trigger on information and when to send a corny letter and file it in the recycling bin, is now telling us he intends to be the heroic champion to keep us safe from predator bishops.   It's all so duplicitous.

And of course, they will need to assemble a committee of luminaries to "study" and develop the procedures. It will take years to produce a document that says "Send the complaint to the superior of the accused, notify appropriate legal authorities and fax a copy to the nuncio and pope at the following numbers.  And for the love of our Blessed Lord, stop ordaining and elevating them."

What they'll never do is come up with a list of sexually active homosexual priests and bishops and defrock them instead of promoting them.  

The only thing more frustrating than corny letters coming out of chanceries, are the press releases filled with this kind of nonsense.

UPDATE:    The National Catholic Register ran a puff piece on Cardinal O'Malley's statement.    The comments section unanimously indicts the Cardinal's statement of intellectual dishonesty.   People are furious.