A recent investigation has uncovered a disturbing Catholic Church cover-up involving seven prominent cardinals in the United States. These cardinals are accused of whitewashing unspeakable sex crimes committed by predator priests, instead of taking appropriate action to address the issues.
Among the accused cardinals are Timothy Dolan of New York, Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., and Joseph Tobin of Newark. The probe, conducted by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), alleges that these cardinals were aware of predatory actions by priests but chose to protect the church from exposure and civil claims.
The investigation also implicates cardinals Kevin Farrell, James Harvey, Robert Prevost, Raymond Burke, Daniel DiNardo, and Wilton Gregory. Shockingly, all of these clerics are eligible to vote in the conclave of cardinals to elect the next pope, and some may even be considered as potential candidates for the position.
According to SNAP’s Sarah Pearson, none of these cardinals are fit to lead the Catholic Church, especially considering their history of covering up abuse. The investigation reveals troubling incidents involving these cardinals, such as Cardinal Dolan allowing priests accused of sexual assault to continue in their ministry and Cardinal Tobin appointing individuals with ties to sexual abuse to positions of authority.
Cardinal McElroy is accused of refusing to cooperate with authorities investigating a criminal complaint against a priest who later pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a layperson. Cardinal Cupich oversaw the secret transfer of a priest under criminal investigation for possession of child pornography to a location near a Catholic school.
In response to the investigation, Cardinal Cupich issued an apology and took swift action to address the situation. However, the overall findings of the probe raise concerns about the accountability and transparency within the Catholic Church leadership.
The timing of the investigation is crucial, as it aims to prevent a cardinal with a history of covering up abuse from becoming the next pope. The Catholic Church is in need of a leader who prioritizes justice, accountability, and transparency to address the ongoing issues of sexual abuse within the institution.
