A standard mention earlier this week in the Vatican's daily RINUNCE E NOMINE (Resignations and Nominations) within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church attracted little attention, except among those who knew what was behind the Holy Father's acceptance of one African bishop's resignation. The story behind it is actually indicative of a not insignificant cultural problem for the Church in Africa.
Papa Ratzinger's iron fist
on the double life
of some African bishops
by Andrea Bevilacqua
Translated from
May 28, 2009
It's an atavistic problem among some Catholic bishops (not many but nonetheless there) in various parts of the world who have mistresses
and/or 'secret' families.
It is a problem that Benedict XVI has decided to resolve with firmness, asking for the resignation of those who find themselves in such an illicit situation, while at the same time taking steps to make the guilty ones 'hibernate'.
The last news in this regard comes from Africa. The Pope has, in fact, accepted the resignation of Archbishop Paulin Pomodino of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). Pomodino, 54, who enjoyed the support of the local clergy, was named a bishop in 2004 by John Paul II.
This followed an investigation which concluded that the archbishop "had adopted a moral attitude that was not always in conformity with his commitment to follow Christ in poverty, chastity and obedience".
The inquiry, conducted by Archbishop Robert Sarah of Guinea, and secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, concluded not only the bishop but also many local priests in the CAR had wives and children.
In a letter to the clergy of the CAR, Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation, said "Many bad things have been done against the Body of Christ because of scandalous and decadent behavior".
He continues: "it makes no sense to deny what everyone knows. And there is no need to judge the motives and circumstances for the wrongs that been committed. Members of teh national clergy, secular and religious, you have been in one way or another complicit in the current situation, and each of you must assume the fault in proportion to your personal responsibility."
According to sources from the Holy See, the problem of priests violating their vow of celibacy is most common in Africa, where many priests take on 'wives' and have children. The worst fact is that such priests are in fact convinced that this is not 'such a grave offense'.
The Church in Africa is in need of more stringent formation in the seminaries where, it appears, the significance of celibacy in priesthood is little or badly explained.
[I am surprised the writer does not mention the fact that the problem also has to do with indigenous African culture, in which men are expected to have children, and in which, obviously, the Catholic idea of priestly celibacy is not understood.]
Before Pomodino, the most famous case of 'inappropriate behavior' by a Catholic bishop was that of President Fernando Lugo, whose resignation as bishop was accepted by special dispensation of Benedict XVI last year after Lugo won the presidential elections in Paraguay. He had asked to resign before campaigning for President because of the Catholic prohibition of bishops and priests from engaging in civilian politics.
However, last April, his 'double life' came to light, when he accepted paternity of a two-year-old son. Subsequently, two other women have come out claiming to also have had a child with him.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 30/05/2009 10:18]