Welcome to Monday. The Polish church reels from new claims against St. John Paul II, a figure long considered beyond criticism in the country. The U.S. bishops are gathering virtually for their annual meeting starting today. NCR's editorial says that naming Archbishop Wilton Gregory a cardinal is an historic, wise choice.
When a long-awaited report on the case of disgraced ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was published by the Vatican last week, it had a special resonance in Poland.
The extensive document highlighted mistakes by the last three popes, but particularly questioned judgments by St. John Paul II, a figure long considered beyond criticism in his homeland.
The role of the Polish pontiff's long-serving secretary, retired Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, has also been examined by a Polish TV documentary, citing damning evidence that he connived in covering up sex abuse by Catholic clergy both in Rome and in Poland.
The revelations come during a hot autumn for Poland's predominant Catholic Church, already facing multiple abuse-related investigations, the disgracing of its oldest cardinal and angry protests over its backing for new curbs on abortion.
Read more of the story here.
More background:
- The report on McCarrick makes clear that John Paul II decided to appoint the priest as archbishop of Washington despite repeated warnings from high-level advisers.
- In NCR's editorial, we say that given what we know now about the long-lasting repercussions of the decision-making of Pope John Paul II, the U.S. bishops should seriously consider whether American Catholics can continue practices that publicly celebrate him.
- Janusz Szymik claims that between the years of 1984 and 1989 he was sexually abused almost 500 times by Fr. Jan Wodniak in a Polish village outside of Krakow. Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Polish bishops, and the Vatican's ambassador in Poland have been accused of covering up that abuse.
- All of NCR's coverage of the McCarrick report can be found here.
The U.S. bishops' conference begins its virtual plenary session today. The average Catholic in the pew may not care who leads the Communications Committee at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, or the Pro-Life Activities Committee, but it matters a lot to the direction the conference will take in the years ahead, says NCR political columnist Michael Sean Winters.
Besides the elections of bishops to various committees, the bishops are expected to discuss the Vatican's report on ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick and the challenges to Mass attendance posed by the pandemic.
"Overall, one question has hung over the conference's meetings for seven years now: Will the U.S. bishops continue to resist the direction Pope Francis is trying to steer the church or will they engage his evangelical vision?" Winters writes.
Read the rest of Winters' column here.
More background:
More headlines
- In NCR's editorial, we say that beyond the history-making nature of the decision, there are many other reasons to praise Pope Francis for choosing Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory as one of 13 new cardinals.
- At Global Sisters Report, some congregations of women religious in the U.S. have their own versions of the Liturgy of the Hours — the daily prayer of the church.
Final thoughts
NCR Forward members are regularly invited to special member-only events. Join us on Thursday for a discussion with three Black leaders who will share their reflections on how their ministries help them continue the journey of Black Catholics in the U.S. Catholic Church. Become a member today to be part of this event.
Until Tuesday,
Stephanie Yeagle
NCR Production/Online Editor
[email protected]
Twitter: @ncrSLY
