The Pope’s council have given him their ‘full support’. Translation: trouble is brewing

A public declaration of confidence in the Pope? As Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith points out here, When the embattled politician hears that, he knows his days are numbered:

No one accuses or could accuse the Pope of not caring about the welfare of children, but evidence is building that his handling of the child abuse crisis that continues to challenge the Church has been less than sure. First we had the setting up of a Commission for the Protection of Minors, whose success has been mixed to say the least. One member left the commission, saying it was meaningless unless Bishop Barros of Osorno, Chile was removed from his diocese. Bishop Barros faced angry accusations from Chilean Catholics of protecting an abuser, but he is strongly supported by the Pope. If this were not enough, we also have the case of the convicted abuser Don Mauro Inzoli, whose priestly faculties were first taken away and then returned, with the approval of the Holy See and according to The Week, with that of the Pope.

If all this were not enough, we have had ample evidence of the Pope showing great personal favour to Cardinal Danneels, despite the latter’s history in the sad case of the Bishop of Bruges’ abuse of his nephew.

Needless to say, any one of these cases would have been enough to sink anyone in public life apart from Pope Francis; it is remarkable that none of these stories have attracted much attention in the English-language media. Because each one represents his personal judgment, each also means that his judgment can be called into question.