Defenders of the Faith
When it comes to charges of covering up for child sexual predators in the Catholic church, that there are some who will defend the indefensible, with any argument they can muster, probably surprises few. And when charges are leveled against the current Pope, the sophistry of his defenders can stretch the bounds of absurdity to the breaking point. Consider the following quote from a piece by Ratzinger apologist George Weigel:
The New York Times made available on its own website the supporting documentation for the story. In those documents, Cardinal Ratzinger himself does not take any of the decisions that allegedly frustrated the trial. Letters are addressed to him; responses come from his deputy.
Oh, the evil happenings that were taking place right under the future Pontiff’s nose without his blessed knowledge or holy acquiescence! If only somebody of moral rectitude and the wisdom of foresight had been there at the time to warn the good Cardinal of the wicked actions of his deputy, this whole unfortunate mess could surely have been avoided.
(Via Andrew Sullivan)
I’m sure the Vatican isn’t doing this to duck any major league liability from the fallout all around the world. (“My what nice paintings you have. How much are they worth?”)
From my limited (very limited) knowledge of the RC church’s internal politics, isn’t Ratzi the canonical (but unofficial) leader of the reactionary Conservative faction (Opus Dei types)?
dan brown’s next book:…. “if i did it”
In those documents, Cardinal Ratzinger himself does not take any of the decisions that allegedly frustrated the trial. Letters are addressed to him; responses come from his deputy.
So, Ratzi’s years in the Hitler Jugen weren’t entirely wasted.
“Uh-oh, looks like somebody got raped by Father Flanagan… again!”
NOJO • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! @ManchuCandidate: So, can you guys annex us now?
MANCHUCANDIDATE • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! PP is done. 51st state, my ass.
NOJO • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! @FlyingChainSaw: No, but my government was.
FLYINGCHAINSAW • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! @nojo: Were you kidnapped?
NOJO • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! @FlyingChainSaw: I’ve spent the past five weeks looking like Astronaut Dave going through the…
FLYINGCHAINSAW • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! NOJO - HOW COME WE'RE NOT COVERING KRASNOV?
NOJO • The Reckoning Four years later: Uhhh, how’d that work out?
JNOV • Hanging by a Thread @nojo: yeah. I had a feeling you’d say that.
NOJO • Hanging by a Thread @JNOV: Haven’t touched a thing — checked it the other day, worked from here. But that’s my…
JNOV • Hanging by a Thread Oh! My edits worked! Praise nojo!