Pope Benedict speaks about sex abuse scandals in forthcoming book

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Pope Benedict speaks about sex abuse scandals in forthcoming book

Rome, Italy, Nov 3, 2010 / 02:55 pm (CNA/EWTN News).-

Ignatius Press says that all people—believers and unbelievers—will be fascinated by the content of a new book, which documents "a lively, fast-paced, challenging, even entertaining exchange" between Pope Benedict XVI and the German journalist Peter Seewald. “Light of the World: The Pope, The Church and the Signs of The Times” is due for release on November 24.

The book not only presents Pope Benedict's thoughts on sexual abuse but also gives his answer about whether he thought about resigning over the scandals. The revelations of abuse resulted in some calling for the Pope to resign for his supposed inaction in the face of abuse when he served as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and later as Pope.

The Holy Father addresses other complicated questions within the Church today, such as the celibacy of priests, contraception, women priests, same-sex relationships, Communion for the divorced and remarried, Papal infallibility, the possibility of a Third Vatican Council and the question of whether or not genuine dialogue is possible with Islam.

Seewald’s first book interview with then Cardinal Ratzinger, “Salt of the Earth,” was published in 1996. I enjoyed it and found it helpful for understanding the future Pope’s mindset. This latest book, the first such since he was elected to the Papacy should make for an interesting read.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Can you give us sources for these books, Monk?

Two have been written by Alejandro Espinosa, a former Legionary who documents the abuse he suffered, TITLE, PUBLISHER

one is written by an academic with no ties to the Legion and is extremely critical. NAME, TITLE, PUBLISHER

The fourth, not long published is a “fictionalized” story of the Legion’s spirituality and pedagogy, written by one of Fr. Maciel’s former secretaries. It is not overtly critical but it provides an excellent picture of how Legionaries are taught – from the Apostolic Schools – and it describes their spirituality. NAME, TITLE, PUBLISHER; November 17, 2010 at 3:54 PM
The Monk said...: 1. - "El Legionario", by Alejandro Espinosa, Editorial Grijalbo
2. - "El Ilusionista Marcial Maciel", by Alejandro Espinosa, Digital version only, available from the author at alextefan63@hotmail.com, (I think it costs 200 MX pesos = $20 USD)
3. - "Marcial Maciel, Los Legionarios de Cristo: testimonios y documentos ineditos", by Fernando M. Gonzalez, Tusquets Editores Mexico. Autor is a UNAM based psychiatrist
4. - "La Legion de Cristo en la mira del poder", by Rubén Magaña Luna, Editorial VBM (available in bookstores Mexico and Spain).; November 17, 2010 at 5:03 PM

Post a Comment

The story that inspired "Driving Straight on Crooked Lines"

“A long time ago, a Monk set out on his travels accompanied by his assistant, a Brother. Night was falling when the Monk told the Brother to go on ahead to find lodging. The Brother searched the deserted landscape until he found a humble shack, in the middle of nowhere. A poor family lived in the hovel. The mother, father and children were dressed in rags. The Brother asked if he and the Monk could spend the night in their dwelling. “You are most welcome to spend the night,” said the father of the family. They prepared a simple meal consisting of fresh milk, cheese and cream for the Brother and the Monk. The Brother felt moved by their poverty and even more by their simple generosity.

When they finished eating, the Monk asked them how they managed to survive in such a poor place, so far away from the nearest neighbors and town. The wife looked to her husband to answer. In a resigned tone of voice he told them how they managed to survive. ‘We have one cow. We sell her milk to our neighbors who do not live too far away. We hold back enough for our needs and to make some cheese and cream-that is what we eat.”

The next morning, the Brother and the Monk said their good-byes and set out to continue their journey. After the Monk and the Brother had walked a few miles, the Monk turned to the Brother and said, “Go back and push the cow off the cliff!” “Father,” the Brother replied, “they live off the cow. Without her, they will have nothing.” The Monk repeated his order “go back and kill the cow.”

With a heavy heart, the Brother returned to the hovel. He worried about the future of the family because he knew they depended on the cow to survive. His vow of obedience bound him to follow the orders of the wise Monk. He pushed the cow off the cliff.

Years later, the young Brother became a Monk. One day he found himself on the same road where he found lodging so many years ago. Driven by a sense of remorse he decided to visit the family. He rounded the curve in the road and to his surprise, he saw a splendid mansion, surrounded by landscaped gardens, in the place where the hovel used to be. The new house exuded a sense of prosperity and happiness. The Monk knocked on the door.

A well-dressed man answered. The Monk asked, “what ever became of the family who used to live here? Did they sell the property to you?” The man looked surprised and said he and his family had always lived on the property. The Monk told him how he had stayed in a hovel on the same spot, with his master the old Monk. ‘What happened to the family that lived here?” he asked.

The man invited the Monk to stay with him as his guest. While they ate, the host explained how the family’s fortune changed. “You know Father, we used to have a cow. She kept us alive. We didn't own anything else. One day she fell down the cliff and died. To survive, we had to start doing other things, develop skills we did not even know we had. We were forced to come up with new ways of doing things. It was the best thing that ever happened to us! We are now much better off than before.”

This is a blog of the memoirs of an Irishman - from Dublin - who is a former member of the Legion of Christ.

"Driving Straight on Crooked Lines: How an Irishman found his heart and nearly lost his mind" is available on Amazon.com and other outlets.

I look back at the events in the Legion that made me who I am today. It's a fun read with a serious message: positive change can come from adversity.

When I first heard the story of the Monk and the cow, my job - a job I truly loved - was eliminated at the multinational corporation which employed me. My cow was taken away from me, through no fault of my own. The person who told me the story was suggesting I could find new peace, happiness and financial well-being in my adversity, just as the family did when the Monk stole the cow.

A few years later, revelations about the double life of Fr. Marcial Maciel the Founder of the Legionaries of Christ, killed another cow in my life and in the lives of tens of thousands of people.

There is a Spanish saying: "God writes straight on crooked lines". "My Legionary Life" is about trying to not get lost in the crooked lines of our own - or others - making. It is about discovering the straight lines that reveal the true purpose for which we exist.

It is the the story of the first Irish Legionary of Christ to set foot in Mexico. It begins in Dublin, Ireland, passes through Spain, then Mexico, Italy, the U.S.A and Gabon, in Central West Africa.

When I am not writing, I make a living as an international managment consultant.

The Monk who Stole the Cow

Tuesday, November 16, 2010