Sources report that Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, will not be made Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops after all. Two reasons are listed: 1) bad health, and 2) a false charge of sexual impropriety that was investigated years ago and dropped. Damian Thompson claims that “Cardinal Pell is the victim of a smear campaign designed to stop him reforming the world’s bishops.” If this is true, it would reveal a powerful coterie that is very anti-reform-minded, and pro-status-quo. Excerpt:
My question: why should this campaign of black propaganda succeed? Not since the election of Benedict XVI has an appointment so horrified the smug, lazy, liberal establishment in the Vatican and the dioceses. That’s because Cardinal Pell has detailed knowledge of the situation not only in Italy, where many bishops do about as much to earn their positions as British MPs did before the Reform Act of 1832, but also in Latin America and Asia.
Cardinal Pell’s message to the bishops woud be: “Sorry, gentleman, but this is not a job for life. You must exhibit evangelical dynamism and obedience to the Holy Father – and, if you don’t, then there are holy priests ready to take your place.” Hence this foul campaign.
Blessed Mary McKillop, soon to be canonized as Australia’s first saint, pray for us!
