Cunning plan of Cardinal Fernández to avoid any responsibility or blame in the sexual abuse scandals, with the added bonus he does not have to implicate the Pope in the Rupnik scandal

Dispensing justice is essential, but it is even more essential to prevent others from having to suffer the same tragedy in the future”

 

Víctor Manuel Fernández: “The fight against paedophilia will continue in full force”

“I can assure you that the disciplinary section of the Dicastery has very good professionals who work very rigorously. "I am close to them, not to interfere in their work, but to support them so that they work freely and without pressure."

“I want to assure that the tendency of the disciplinary section is not to be lax, weak or undemanding towards those accused of crimes against minors. On the contrary, they rather receive reproaches from people who consider them too harsh with priests.”  (Cathcon:  Does this include the Pope of Mercy?)

"I have the peace of mind to see that they work very well and their pulse does not tremble. I can assure that and I do not think it is convenient for a theologian to interfere in their specifically canonical work."

Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), the dicastery headed by neo-cardinal Víctor Manuel 'Tucho' Fernández, has just published on its website a document in which the new prefect is left out of most of the cases to which the article concerns 6, those referring to abuse of minors by clerics. The decision announced in the aforementioned text is being assessed by some victims' associations, consulted by RD, as a weakening of the disciplinary section, deprived of the support of the highest authority of the dicastery that deals with abuses by the clergy.

To clarify the issue as it deserves, we have had an informal conversation with Cardinal Fernández, who begins by defending the professionalism and good work of the disciplinary section of his dicastery: “I can assure you that the disciplinary section of the Dicastery has very good professionals who work with great rigor. I am close to them, not to interfere in their work, but to support them so that they work freely and without pressure. I offer them what they need and in fact the disciplinary section will continue to have many more officers than the doctrinal section, in addition to the resources they need."

Doctrine of Faith

 According to the prefect of the DDF there is, therefore, no weakening of the disciplinary section and, much less, a weakening in the relentless fight against the plague of abuse: “Without a doubt the fight against pedophilia will continue in full force, not only in the dynamics of zero tolerance, because I believe that we have to advance much more in a task of prevention, in the transformation of the preparation of new priests and in the accompaniment of young priests.”

And he added: “This is not a specific task of this Dicastery but of the entire Church, with the help of specialists from various disciplines.”

 Asked about the coordination of the DDF with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCTM), to ensure that justice takes prevention into account and thus avoid a greater incidence of such crimes, Monsignor Fernández explains: “Those who work in protection of minors have made progress. Although it is an area that is under the umbrella of this dicastery, it does not strictly depend on the authorities of the dicastery, but rather has autonomy and refers to the Holy Father. We have the specific task of providing justice in cases of abuse. In any case, I believe that this dicastery can collaborate with them and with the other entities of the Holy See in delving into the causes of pedophilia. Imparting justice is essential, but it is even more essential to prevent others from having to suffer the same tragedy in the future.

Doctrine of Faith

The Cardinal prefect wants to make it very clear that the disciplinary section of his dicastery is not lowering its guard or intensity in the persecution of abuses: “I want to assure that the tendency of the disciplinary section is not to be lax, weak or undemanding towards those accused of crimes against minors. On the contrary, they rather receive reproaches from people who consider them too harsh with priests.”

For this reason, Fernández once again insists on the confidence that he has in the disciplinary section, in whose canonical work it is not convenient for a theologian to interfere:

“They keep me informed and I constantly encourage them to deliver justice with conviction. But I have the peace of mind to see that they work very well and their pulse does not tremble. I can assure you of that and I do not think it is convenient for a theologian to interfere in their specifically canonical work.”

  And finally, Víctor Manuel Fernández concludes the conversation by remembering that "on the other hand, the Dicastery also collaborates by sending experts on site, as has been done these days by sending an officer to Chile and Peru and then to Central American countries."

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