Pope Francis has ordered an inquiry after a controversy broke out at the highest levels of the Order of Malta. Albrecht von Boeselager, the Grand Chancellor of the order, was asked to resign after allegations that he had concealed problems in a previous role. He refused, which Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing called a “disgraceful” act of disobedience. Fra’ Matthew and other senior members of the order, including Cardinal Burke, dismissed Boeselager and named a replacement.
What the disputants are saying
Boeselager believes that he was removed partly because of allegations about his previous role as Grand Hospitaller, leading the order’s charitable outreach in 120 countries. It has been alleged that Boeselager failed to prevent condoms being distributed, as part of a scheme with which the order was linked. According to The Tablet, Boeselager says he has been unjustly suspected of being a “liberal Catholic”.
But Fra’ Matthew said the dismissal was down to a lack of transparency. In a statement, he said there were “severe problems which occurred during Boeselager’s tenure as Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta and his subsequent concealment of these problems from the Grand Magistry, as proved in a report commissioned by the Grand Master last year.”
What commentators are saying
Canon lawyer Kurt Martens tweeted that it was unclear whether the Vatican had a right to conduct such an inquiry, as the order is a sovereign entity: “We’re talking now about one sovereign entity investigating another sovereign entity. Very interesting question of international law.”
At Church Militant, one member of the order claimed the Vatican investigation might be an attempt to “discredit” Cardinal Raymond Burke, the order’s patron. Cardinal Burke is one of four cardinals who have asked the Pope to reaffirm Church teaching.
At wdtprs.com, Fr John Zuhlsdorf described the row as a “diplomatic tiff between the world’s two smallest countries”. He wrote: “My spies tell me that San Marino may get involved with peacekeeping troops … Andorra remains, for the time being, neutral.”
The most overlooked story of the week
✣ Reporter claims Pope said he ‘might split the Church’
What happened?
A German journalist has claimed that Pope Francis told his inner circle: “It is not to be ruled out that I will go down in history as the person who split the Catholic Church.”
The comments were reported by Walter Mayr, longstanding correspondent for Der Spiegel, one of Europe’s most influential weekly publications.
Why was it under-reported?
There is certainly room to doubt that the Pope has ever said such a thing. Mayr says the remarks were “apparently” made to the Pope’s “inner circle”, without indicating how he had heard them, or how sure he was of their accuracy.
In some ways the words are unlike Pope Francis: he recently criticised “malicious resistance” from “misguided minds”. The Pope has rarely sounded a self-critical note in public about his role in current Church debates – let alone mused about splitting the Church.
What will happen next?
Although the Pope and other senior figures avoid public personal attacks, the temperature is rising. Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, one of the four cardinals who have asked the Pope to reaffirm doctrine, himself told Mayr that any attempts to change Communion discipline were heretical and “foster schism”. There is speculation that the Pope may “purge” the membership of the Pontifical Academy for Life and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Rome’s internal divisions seem likely to get ever more entrenched.
✣The week ahead
The US Bishops’ National Migration Week begins on Sunday with the theme “Creating a Culture of Encounter”. The event, founded 25 years ago, aims to raise awareness of the value of migrants. It has extra resonance this year, since President-elect Donald Trump has promised to deport up to three million undocumented immigrants.
Many of the world’s Orthodox will be celebrating Christmas tomorrow (led by Patriarch Kirill). The Orthodox stick to the Julian calendar introduced under Julius Caesar rather than the Gregorian calendar the West adopted in 1582.
On Wednesday Westminster Cathedral is marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Count Beckendorff, a Russian diplomat and Catholic convert who is the only layman to be buried in the cathedral. The usual 5.30pm Mass will be dedicated to the count. The evening event includes two talks and a drinks reception. Call 020 7798 9059 for tickets (£30).
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