Every day, Aleteia offers a selection of articles written by the international press about the Church and the major issues that concern Catholics around the world. The opinions and views expressed in these articles are not those of the editors.
Thursday 27 January 2022
1 – Will ‘zero tolerance’ eventually cause more problems than solutions?
2 – Apps that reserve the right to sell your prayers
3 – Mexican cardinals found guilty of trying to influence federal elections
4 – The role of catechists for the Church in Africa
5 – In Gaza, a church dating from the 5th century AD is unveiled to the public
1Will ‘zero tolerance’ eventually cause more problems than solutions?
In his blog Monday, Vatican Italian journalist Andrea Gagliarducci reflects on whether the position of “zero tolerance” when it comes to abuse in the Church makes it too easy to wrongly accuse someone. He wonders if this may turn against Pope Francis one day. Gagliarducci takes issue with the reports investigating abuse commissioned by external bodies, such as the Munich report, which includes Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The journalist comments that these reports risk “turning into the opposite of what they are meant for.”
“More than truth operations, they become marketing operations, with the bishops busy apologizing and expressing shame to gain credit in public opinion,” Gagliarducci explains. He states that while there is “no doubt” that abuse in the Church should be properly investigated and condemned, these reports are not judicial truth, and do not necessarily have a solid methodology.