12,000 Euro Fine for Child Porography in the Possession of Married Deacon

Edit: some will recall the media assault on Bishop Tebartz-van Elst that completely ignored truly decadent prelates like Cardinal Marx, the fast cars, the 10 million Euro villas in Rome, for example. He has been given a fairly light sentence.

The former bureau chief of the Bishop Bätzing of Limburg had child pornography images on his service computer in the bishop's palace
 

Limburg (kath.net) As bureau chief of the Limburg Bishop Georg Bätzing, he had stored child pornography on his service computer. The District Court of Limburg has issued a penalty order against the married theologian and canon lawyer with a conviction to a total daily fine of 150 daily to 80 euros each. The employee, who has since been released from the diocese, has accepted the punitive order, he is thus considered to have a criminal record. According to the Attorney General, the photos showed no brutal scenes, but mostly children in sexual poses, reported the "Nassauische Neue Presse." The diocese is now continuing a canon law case against its employee, at least until then he remains exempted from his work. The Congregation of the Faith is already involved in the lawsuit.

The permanent deacon and father of his own children had already told the "Nassauische Neue Presse", that he deeply regretted his offense and  that he was undergoing therapy.

At the beginning of February 2017, the offices of the clerical employee in the bishop's palace and in the seminary had been searched, as well as his apartment.

The former office manager was the dean, he was a judge at the episcopal marriage court and training director of deacons. In addition, the 57-year-old was the president of the nationwide active consortium Permanent Diaconate, from which he resigned from office shortly after publicity of the first suspicions.

Tran: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

The Certificate to Kill Can be Received at the Diakonie (Catholic Social Services)

Bishop Dr. Franz Kamphaus was one of the decisive force among the German bishops, who is in conflict with those who oppose the continuatinon of life-threatening counseling of pregnant women. Only the instruction of Pope John Paul II of 7 March 2002 put an end to the issuing of certificates in Limburg. The instruction is certainly undermined since then, resulting in the death of numerous unborn children.

The diocese of Limburg was prohibited on 7 March 2002 from issuing  Pope John Paul II issued certifications with the children can be murdered impunity. Pro-lifers have now pointed out that the diocese of Limburg not only promotes abortion, but counseling centers of the diocese even puts pregnant women in conflict with institutions such as the Diakonie, who provide the issuance of the certifications for the murder of the unborn child that is excused from punishment by the law.

This does not happen in ignorance of the leadership of the diocese, but is explicitly praised by it. Speaking to the Hessian Rundfunk spokesman Stephan Schnelle said that it had indeed removed the advertisement for abortion from the diocese page according to reporting by Katholisches.info, "the revision is no criticism of the work of Diakonie," they have been collaborated confidently together for years. Since there are numerous counseling institutions that counsel pregnant women in conflict to Catholic teachings, the promised collaboration with Diakonia can only mean the issue of abortion certificates, which was explicitly forbidden by Pope John Paul II. At any rate, the head of the diocese does not mind that the Diakonie issues certificates to kill unborn children.

This is in line with the reports of counselors from organizations that work according to Catholic standards. Many pregnant women in the conflict are dissatisfied because of the poor advice and, above all, make contact via Internet with more sound counseling centers. It is often said by the women that they are sent fairly quickly by the counselors, who are not allowed to issue a certificate, to other places so that they receive the abortion certificate there.

Just one parenthetic observation. During the image research, the author came to the press photos page. A picture of Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst can not be found, whereas Bishop em. Dr. Franz Kamphaus appears. This too is a clear statement.

Text: Linus Schneider 
Photo: Bistum Limburg

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

New Bishop of Limburg Afraid to Move Into Diocesan Rectory

The bishop's residence hit the headlines far beyond Germany's borders.

Trier / Limburg (kath.net/KNA) The future Bishop George Bätzing will not dwell in the Limburg bishop's residence, but work there. The current Vicar General of Trier said this on Sunday evening after his official acceptance of his new office in Trier, answering one of the most frequently asked questions in recent weeks. The residence on Cathedral Hill will be the official headquarters of the bishop, except for the living quarters, stressed Diocese spokesman Stephan Fast on request of the Catholic News Agency (KNA). The approximately six million euro home extends over two floors and comprises a total of 283 square meters. [Why no mention of Cardinal Marx's lavish dwellings?]

The bishop's residence made headlines  far beyond Germany. [Cardinal Marx's did not.] A wave of indignation about the huge increase in costs of ultimately 31 million euros and the [alleged] concealment of these costs had significantly contributed to the resignation of Bätzing's predecessor, [the unjustly maligned]  Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst in March, 2014.

The private rooms, which had a been the cause of particularly large discussions, was "being considered for sensible and appropriate alternative uses", as in cooperation with the adjacent Diocesan Museum. In addition, the total of 1,750-square-meter building complex should continue to be used on Cathedral Hill for meetings, events and gatherings. The diocese stressed that the overall solution has now been found to make permanent use possible at no additional cost.

Bätzing who will be introduced on September 18, as bishop of Limburg will temporarily live in the original cathedral sacristy- and later sister's house on Cathedral Hill, which also belongs to the building complex. 

More permanently the 55-year-old cleric would live in a nearby detached house. It was in this house, which is part of the diocese, that  Limburger Bishop Walter Kampe had lived for many years and passed away in in 1998. Currently, Franz Kaspar (78) resides there, who was from Vicar General from 2009 to 2013 and one of the closest collaborators of Tebartz van Elst.

Even right after his appointment as bishop of Limburg by Pope Francis on July 1st,  Bätzing who is currently Vicar General in Trier, was asked whether he would be eating in the bishop's house. At that time he had replied that he had not yet looked at the house, but the apartment would suit him. And because he had "a bit of doubt."

The diocese also announced it will provide Bätzing a leased Audi A6.[Nice touch. Why not a more humble VW or a Prius?]

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Broadcaster: Archbishop Gänswein Suggests Resignation of the Cathedral Chapter of Limburg

Curia Archbishop Gänswein: "Whoever has responsibility and makes mistakes, should also take appropriate action."

Frankfurt (kath.net/KNA) The German curial Archbishop Georg Gänswein is suggesting the resignation of the Limburg cathedral chapter, according to Hessischer Rundfunk (hr). As the station announced on Tuesday, Gänswein responded in a radio interview on the question whether the chapter  should resign as a consequence of the financial affair of the Limburger bishop's residence and the local cathedral chapter: "You could say yes to that of the gentlemen of the chapter ." On inquiry,  the prefect of the Papal Household and private secretary of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.according to HR,  agreed with this request for resignation.

  As was said, Gänswein stressed: "Whoever has responsibility and makes mistakes, should also take the appropriate action." The first part of the discussionn is in the show "Horizont" on the HR television on 25 December at 10:10, the second part on 26 December at 10 o'clock.

When asked why he had defended the former Limburger bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst for a long time, Gänswein told HR he had done so out of the clear sense that Tebartz had been treated unjustly.

Tebartz-van Elst had offered the Pope his resignation as bishop in October 2013. Five months later, the Pope accepted his resignation. In addition what was a perceived by many as an authoritarian administration, a wave of indignation over the construction costs of the episcopal residence  on the Limburger Cathedral Hill in the amount of approximately EUR 31 million and the [alleged] concealment of these costs had contributed decisively to the resignation. (C) 2015

CBA Catholic News Agency. All rights reserved. Photo (c) kath.net/Petra Lorleberg
Link to Kath.net
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Faithful Bishop Tebartz-van Elst Will Not Have to Pay Damages to His Former Diocese

Edit: no one is asking Cardinal Marx to foot the bill for his 51 million EURO wreckovation.

The Roman Bishops' Congregation in agreement with the  Secretary of State, considers that an examination for compensation payments as well as the opening of a corresponding canonical process would be inappropriate.

Limburg (kath.net/KNA) The resigning Limburger Bishop, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst (archive photo) need not pay compensation to his former diocese. The Roman Congregation for Bishops in consultation with the State Secretariat considers that an examination of compensation payments as well as the opening of a corresponding canonical proceedings would not be appropriate, according to the Diocese of Limburg on Wednesday. The diocese had raised the question of material reparation due to the [allegedly] high construction costs to the diocesan palace by the ordinary, Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg.

According to information provided by the Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the decision of the Vatican Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Limburg, Bishop Manfred Grothe, now in a personal meeting in Rome. "Now the decision has been made, it will also make clear what the next steps of rehabilitation should be," said Grothe on Wednesday in Limburg.

He and his Permanent Representative, Cathedral Rector, Wolfgang Rösch had stayed in Rome for the past week for talks at the Vatican. Grothe considered the meetings held in Rome in sum as constructive and purposeful. The common goal of the Holy See and the Diocese of line either, "the way has been cleared so that a new bishop can get a good and unencumbered start in his new office as soon as possible," Grothe said.

Currently, it's unclear when Limburg will again get a new bishop. "I hope and we are working towards that," says Grothe, "that by the summer of 2016 the chapter canons will have elected a bishop of Limburg to be appointed by the Holy Father."

Tebartz-van Elst had offered the Pope his resignation on October 2013 as Bishop of Limburg. Being perceived by many [Diocesan personnel and journalists] as having an authoritarian administration over the construction costs of the diocesan residence amounting to approximately 31 million EUR and the concealment of these costs, leading to general indignation [From professional Catholics and journalists] had contributed decisively to this step being taken.[Not true. Everyone knows that Cardinal Marx spent more money on his Diocesan wreckovation projects for 51 million EURO or his cute residence in Rome for 16 million. To date, there has been no outrage or calls for Cardinal Marx's resignation.  Furthermore, it's really disappointing to see the Neoconservative commerce website take this line, but it's not surprising.] On 26 March 2014, the Pope accepted the resignation. Last December, Tebartz-van Elst was appointed the 'delegate for catechesis, of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization.' The end of March, he began his work in Rome. (C) 2015 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH. All rights reserved. Archive photo Bishop Tebartz-van Elst (c)

kath.net/Paul Badde

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst: New Job in Vatican

BILD: Tebartz van Elst will now take up the post of Secretary to the "Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization" in Rome

Rome (kath.net) Obviously, there should be a "comeback" for the former Limburger Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst after 15 months of a forced break. This was reported by the Bild newspaper on Friday. According to the newspaper, Tebartz van Elst will now take up the post of Secretary to the "Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization" in Rome. Two weeks ago, there was apparently a discussionin the Vatican. Tebartz van Elst's spokeswoman Eva Demmerle was unable to deliver on a BILD request to make comment.

Unexciting Turn in "Luxury Building" - Case Limburg, Which Costed a Bishop His Head

Case Limburg with amazing "end"

A National Treasure
 Limburg Cathedral

(Limburg) What was that again that happened in Limburg? Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst was harassed in the autumn of the previous year by the German media as the "Bishop of Bling". The outraged "humble" in church and media went into jealous criticism of the "luxury bishop," who was building a "monstrous opulence palace" ( Der Spiegel). As expected, the hounding of Bishop Tebartz van Elst ended in October 2013, the papal dismissal and with it his deposition, officially called for his resignation in March 2014 resignation.

But now the reigning Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese, Bishop Manfred Grothe is becoming surprisingly well known. He has turned on the faithful of the diocese with a "Position Statement in Advent." There is a lot mentioned about "realignment", "fresh start" and "reorganization" and that the diocese is felt to be "no longer the headlines in the media."

Letter from the Apostolic Administrator

The "Renovation" of the Diocese of Limburg - "The Building is to be Used for What it Was Built" 

The administrator then writes as follows: "Separate working groups with representatives of various bodies are intensively studying - out of the public view - about a use for the building complex on Cathedral Hill in Limburg. The ensemble was built as a home for the Bishop of Limburg and should basically be used. We want to employ the coming months to open it up for an open house and demythologizing. Therefore, there will be guided tours for employees and for groups from the Diocese of Limburg. It is planned that the rooms are to be used for conferences and meetings of various committees. In addition there could be exhibitions of theological and other cultural events. So we want to include the Bishop's house for events of the Diocese of Limburg in the planning. The living rooms will be excluded from the opening in view of their private nature."

"German bishops Took Advantage of Collegiality to Get Rid of Unwanted Bishop"

The construction in Limburg initially hyped by the media as a church and state affair, which led to the bishop's fall in disgrace, will now simply used for that which it was built. Not another indignant word about "swank and pomp." By public tours the construction will be "demythologized." This will allow the administrator a last breath from an artificially inflated campaign. Auxiliary Bishop Grothe has written that "luxury building" critique was advanced toward Bishop Tebartz van Elst only to overthrow the bishop. "The German bishops used collegiality to get rid of an undesirable because of the bishop's positions," said Secretum meum mihi.

Whoever wanted to see through the smokescreen, could have always done so. Few did, few wanted to do so. The scandal headlines in the media have a magical power of suggestion on the "little man on the street". This is calculated at the "top." The campaign machinery is well oiled.

There was a media campaign waged against Bishop Tebartz van Elst until he was gone. Not a word of criticism, however, was heard for the little "luxury" Archbishop Reinhard Marx allowed himself in his indulgent 13 million euros stays in Rome - which it may be added have become more frequent. This unequal treatment shows that the real reasons for the attacks in the case Limburg were to be sought elsewhere.

It is often heard frequently that Bishop Tebartz van Elst had "not always behaved joyfully." Who would not say this of themselves. On the merits, but that does not matter. The bishop had in fact never got a chance behind the scenes since his head was asked for.

The Angry Bishop Tebartz-van Elst

Following the "Demythologizing" of the Building and Will the Demythologization of the Bishop's 'Guilt'Follow?

The internally torn diocese has no bishop and the involuntary Bishop Emeritus Tebartz van Elst doesn't have a new task. Maybe he should not have to wait to get a transfer. The example also the "collegially" disposed of Bishop Rogelio Livieres of Ciudad del Este shows that there is the possibility to defend one's own initiative and remain vocal about Church doctrine. With the initiative Adelante la fe, he proves even after his fall, why he is superior to his brother Bishops and therefore, was not loved by them.

It was no secret that the Limburg bishop had held a "conservative" position in the Episcopal Conference, more than the majority of his confreres. It was also no secret that in his diocese in some circles he came, as the successor of Bishop Franz Kamphaus, into fierce resistance. Now, will someone demystify the "guilt" of Bishop Tebartz van Elst? Doubtful.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi image: Wikicommons / Diocese of Limburg
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches....
 AMDG

Record Building Costs in the Archdiocese of Munich and No "Swank Cardinal" - Campagne -- The Background

Expenditure Politics of the German Bishops' Conferene

(Munich) "Are punitive measures soon to be weighed against the power hungry Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Cardinal of Munich and Freising?" Asks Corrispondenza Romana . Will the German press launch a campaign against the "Swank-Cardinal"? Will Rome exile Cardinal Marx   for a break in a monastery and then  cashier him coldly? If you read the numbers on the cost of construction for the Archdiocesan campus in Munich, one would have to expect a repeat of the outrage, as occurred in the case of Limburg, only harder.

The Archdiocese is currently building a chancery  in the city on the Isar. Now, the costs have been published. 51 million euros for the beautification of the Archdiocese, says Vicar General Peter Beer. At seven and a half million more than recently estimated, because the roof was to blame. Whether you have reached the end of the story, it seems not yet to be clear.

The diocesan employees were outsourced for the construction and distributed to six locations with additional costs. There they have to stay longer than planned. Probably until the end of the 2015.

Limburg Bishop Subjected to Public Lynching

However, it is surprisingly quiet in the media forest. The calm before the storm? Not at all. Really amazing when you think back to the smear campaign against the Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz who went through all the tabloids last year. From the "bishop of bling" was the kind of talk  which was circulated by the media or better by the cocoa poured to the amusement of the "people".  There was talk about a gilded bathtub  and particularly brave, intelligent contemporaries   actually made a determined search, but they could find nothing.

The bishop was summoned to Rome and is supposed, according to his own claims, to have had an encouraging conversation with Pope Francis. And so it happened: the "hopeful" bishop had been banned by the Pope to a convent and after being allowed to mull  over the matter with some Montegras, so that the pious people of God might not yet even think of an uprising, he was deposed.

If in Doubt It's Against the "Conservatives"

The reason was suddenly no longer the money. The bishop had divided the diocese. In fact, it was because the bishop was, according to the progressives, a  "conservative",  "pious" and "normative", they have broken away from him. But in the German Conference of Bishops in Rome and saw it differently. They wanted to see it differently anyway. The maxim is too long: in  a case of doubt for the faithful shepherd. Since we in our time should but always consider the positive things, can also be applied to the devise: translated "When in doubt, for the Progressive". Ideal are bishops who find themselves  easily "in the middle of society," so when in doubt they rub elbows with "progressive" secular elites too much.

Cardinal Meisner defended his brother Limburger and praised his "theological depth and decidedly Catholic orientation". A description of the Tebartz van Elst that already stood out from the majority of the German bishops. But nobody wanted to hear, media, liberal laity and priests and Brothers in the Episcopate had tasted blood. The hypocrites indeed railed mightily  about the money, but in reality it was about a factional dispute within the Church. The mob, which calls for the crucifixion, is there  always.

Behind Money Debate There Was Factional Dispute in the Bishops' Conference

It was just Cardinal Marx, who vehemently and also in Rome campaigned for the removal of Tebartz van Elst. So loudly that Cardinal Joachim Meisner, Archbishop of Cologne at that time  pointed to the lack of "episcopal fraternity" being exhibited at the time for the Limburger Pastor, who was actively exposed by  some clergy and lay church officials to a public lynching. Meisner called out Cardinal Marx explicitly by name. And what the attitude of the German bishops was really  concerned with: Only a handful of bishops in the Bishops' Conference had resisted the Marx-Woelki-Langendörfer-Synod which attempted to enforce the sexual revolution in the Church.

The Archdiocese of Munich is to rebuild its chancery for 51 million euros. Maybe even more. Nevertheless, there will be neither a front page on the Bild newspaper with a portrait of Cardinal Marx and the accusatory headline "Swank-Cardinal". There is neither a cost-campaign, nor accusations of being in a race to spend  against the President of the German Bishops Conference. The indifferent silence to Munich's case reveals the "Bling" campaign directed against Limburg as a hypocritical intrigue.

Limburg's deposed Bishop Tebartz van Elst belonged to the disruptive minority in the Episcopal Conference, which defends the priest celibacy, which is against a "democratization" of the Church with free elections of bishops and priests, who is against women priests, against the genuflection before the zeitgeist,  against the sale of the marriage sacrament in favor of remarried divorcees, and against  "gay marriage," wild marriages and all other "gradual" forms of cohabitation.

Cardinal Marx, however, is DBK President, he represents the majority. He may, as a members of the Synod in Rome continue unabashedly to represent a "new openness" and "new charity",  demanding a change in pastoral practice and even the Church's teaching on the sacrament of marriage. Any questions?

What happens to bishops, who disturb too much that "episcopal unity", seem to have become a very valuable commodity among Zeitgeist sailors, at least where Progressives set the tone, that's well known, especially since the dismissal of Bishop Rogelio Livieres of Ciudad del Este .

Text: Andreas Becker
Image: Corrispondenza Romana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches..

AMGD

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst Contradicts Bishop's Report

Vatican Has Lost its Investiture Struggle

In the press release of the 26th of March 2014, Rome has stated that Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst has tendered his resignation.  -- Thus the anti-Clerical media and the anti-Roman laity decide over Episcopal appointments.

In the Diocese of Limburg Enemies of the Church
and the Faith Have Imposed Themselves Even Against
The Pope [Photo: (cc) K_Engel]

"Press Release in Reference to the Diocese of Limburg

With regard to the administration of the Diocese of Limburg, Germany, the Congregation for Bishops has studied in detail the report of that Commission, which was established by the will of the bishop and the cathedral chapter for making detailed investigations with regard to the responsibilities involved in the construction of the diocesan Centre "St. Nicholas". Given the fact that a situation has come in the diocese of Limburg   that prevents a fruitful exercise of the episcopal office by   Msgr. Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst, the Holy See has, on the date of 20 October  2013, accepted the resignation offered by the bishop,  and appointed an apostolic administrator  in the person of His Exc. Manfred Grothe. The outgoing bishop, Rt. Tebartz van Elst, will be in due time entrusted with another task. The Holy Father asks the clergy and the faithful of the diocese of Limburg, to accept the decision of the Holy See and be willing to strive on the way back to a climate of compassion and reconciliation.

 From the Vatican, March 26th 2014  

Unnecessary pseudo-transparency 

The second white flag was hoisted by the unnecessary German Bishops' Conference: The internal church report for the renewal of the diocesan see  in Limburg was inexplicably released:

Press Release 

 Diocese of Limburg: published audit report on the construction projects on the Limburg Cathedral Hill 

The report retained since February 14, 2014 report 

 Introductory Remarks
 Final report in text 

The third white flag is from the diocese of Limburg:  It plans to release the Diocese  Finance Report

Diocese wants to disclose assets

Counter-statement of SE Tebartz van Elst A reply to the audit report can be found at: Opinion on the report of the examination committee of the German Bishops' Conference [kathtube] Which follows in English, here:

Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst has criticized Tebartz the report of the German Bishops' Conference - The opinion in his own words

Limburg (kath.net)  Regarding contradiction to statements of DBK-test report that were made in statements by the Bishop Emeritus (since March 27th) of Limburg, Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst, which were reported on Wednesday evening by a variety of media. With remarks on five subject areas as well as the St. Georg work he refers unexpected counter-position to the report of the German Bishops' Conference. 

Opinion of Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz the report of the examination of the German Bishops Conference in text 

1 Complex: Regarding the imputed discrepancy between the understanding of the bishop and the data compared from His Eminence Cardinal Lajolo (. NG. p. 46; p. 51 para 25 and 29; p.103) is as follows:

Already in October 2013, I had responded to  the questions asked me, submitted under No. l |  6. that I was truthfully informed  during a conversation with His Eminence Cardinal Lajolo, on 10 September 2013, that the differentiated total sum calculation was not available.  In the previous meetings of the Financial Board of Directors of the  Episcopal chair it was of the necessity and the effort to discuss again and again, possible depreciation be taken into account, which would then lead to reductions in terms of the construction cost total.

In the report referred to by the meeting of the Board of Directors of assets on 28 August 2013, after I had a discussion  about which informed regarding expansion of the scope of credit, I wasn't present for  the report because I  was at a meeting with the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet in Rome.

Also the assertion of the report, according to the signing of the minutes of the meeting of the Finance Board of 28 August 2013 was made by me on 11 September 2013, can not be cited as proof of my knowledge of the differentiated sum of total construction costs. The conversation with His Eminence Cardinal Lajolo took place the day before and on the day the minutes of the meeting of 28 August 2013  were delivered to me Vicar General Dr. Kaspar, so that only at that time  that an assessment on my part in any detail was possible.

Rome's approval was shown to be a unnecessary precaution, however, by  the representative of the Holy See in Germany, who was Archbishop Jean-Claude Périsset, since the start of construction in 2010/2011, who was informed several times by Vicar General Dr. Kaspar (see the attached in the appendix letter of attorney Professor ignor forward November 5 2013, and my answer to the specific questions that were put to me in October 2013 by the Congregation for Bishops, see here: Nr. | .5, 6).

2 Complex:

As far as canonical concerns are expressed, they are based on compliance with the written form (see test report p 15 and p 37) and related to  the respect of the business meeting.Both objects formal nature fell under the responsibility of the Vicar General. As a non-expert in the field of church administration since  my expertise is in pastoral theology, I had to leave the responsibility for this to the Vicar General, Dr. Kaspar, the "as the only (besides the Managing Director of the  Diocese) was found to have a comprehensive insight into the asset structure the Episcopal chair."(cf., audit report p. 50 para. 21).

Incidentally, the path taken represents a continuation of the preceding exercise of the cathedral chapter in this field.

 3 Complex: 

On the alleged ultimate responsibility of the bishop in the report, I understand this has always been so that they themselves as the successors of the apostles are to head the Church by the Lord   (witness to the truth),  not just as an expression of administrative detail and total competence. A differing understanding would invest the dignity of the Episcopate with criteria where it is seen  primarily as an administrative professional, engineering and accounting profession, instead of focusing on its doctrinal, pastoral, spiritual and charitable mission.

4 Complex:

The responsibilities of the Vicar General (see p 35, p 39 and p 101): At the beginning of my episcopal ministry in the diocese of Limburg in January 2008, I arrived in a situation that was in many ways unordered,   primarily of a personal aspect of administration.  This prompted me not least on the explicit advice of my predecessor in the episcopate, Bishop Emeritus Dr. Franz Kamphaus, back in September 2009, recommending  Vicar General Dr. Franz Kaspar for the social and public recognition of his management experience and his standing in the office of vicar general.

He urged for greater administrative efficiency that directly allocated the building department and care for art  in the Diocese which had become detached from  integration to the financial department.

He also stressed the role of the diocesan  economist in the diocese, contrary to the previous practice of the appointment of the head of the finance department with this responsibility.
He has taken in its jurisdiction and the banking business. Based on the construction of the Bishop's house, he has operated the change from the second design (architect Hamm) to the design of Professor Schattner as essential. 

Regarding the art assigned in the bishop's house, he took the initiative to engage the artists Professor Johannes Schreiter (glass window), Karl-Matthew Winter ( Features of the chapel) and Professor Thomas Duttenhofer (gate), with which he had complete personally awareness.

 Among the existing historic furniture from storage, he had acquired furniture on his own initiative and without my knowledge. 

As to  the supposition of the requirement of secrecy it is known, that  the relevant provisions in the service contracts between the Diocese and the Episcopal chair are identical (see the attached in the annex two service contracts). Also, in practice, there was no divergent handling by me.

 Specific issues in the diocese of Limburg, which was characterized before my arrival by indiscretions (see letter from Professor Christoph Mackler of 20 August 2008 on the construction of the cathedral chapter, see also audit report S . 100), it nevertheless suggested to repeatedly refer to a self-evident confidentiality obligation. Because also the previous history of the construction of the  the Bishop's House demonstrates  how difficult transparency was to come by,  which  came out later only with difficulty. 

Deciding to undertake the settlement with KPMG (see p 69 and p 88 ), struck me as a forward-looking measure (outsourcing) as well as to counter the allegation of a mere internal self-control.

Moreover, the administrative capacity of the Episcopal Ordinariate was not enough to accomplish this task.

 5 Complex: 

On listing the drivers of cost  and cost-increasing issues (pp. 79-82) is noted: 

 In the audit report a  representation of the total cost, which is exaggerated in a methodological error, that  names the absolute amounts  as constituting additional costs, while they  are proven to be the total cost of individual positions. The  impression  thus is created that leads to orders of magnitude, which must irritate. 

For each of the points mentioned in the report,  a position could be taken by the responsible employees. As for the responsibility as a bishop, while the constraint has to be seen that I, as bishop, am neither a financial nor a construction expert.  In so far as the specific information with the individual items mentioned in the report for which I was  personally responsible, I have this spoken on this  in the discussions 4 and 5 March 2014 at the Congregation for Bishops. On the background of my predicament with experiences of other construction projects in the Diocese, I was involved with from the beginning in terms of the quality and sustainability to be considered in the overall project. 

Digression to the St. Georg work (p. 32f.): 

True, the report notes that "the judgment, that the statutory  purpose of the work in 2011 can not be met, which falls to the bishop. (Cf. 5:32). The report's authors consider a need to clarify whether the Episcopal See’s  funds were used for the specific purpose of the founding. You see in the abolition decree of the bishop there is a restriction of the original purpose. 

For this purpose, however, it is different from the external  repeal Decree of 27 September 2011, the minutes of the Board of Directors of the assets Episcopal chair of 2 November 2011 shows that even after the dissolution of the St. Georg Work, that the assets devolving to the Episcopal See will and must be used furthermore for "religious, charitable or benevolent purposes". 

This shows that there is nothing in the foundation's intention of the St. Georg work that has changed, regardless of the question whether the work's foundation in the immediate postwar period foresaw the construction of a diocesan meeting center. The open question of law in this context, the demand by the authors of the report to clarify,  considers the fact that there can be no accusations of an intentional violation of the purpose (See minutes of the VVR November 2, 2011). 

The person responsible for the decision, Vicar General and Diocesan Economist Dr. Franz Kaspar, was in fact obviously aware that the founding intention of the work is still covered by the assets of the Episcopal See and is guaranteed.  I was sure of this certainty. 

The opinion in its text as a PDF file: http://www.kathtube.com/player.php?id=34231

Link to Kath.net...

Edit: the good Bishop has since apologized of course.  We haven't seen the apology, but are certain that all of this is sensible and unnecessarily complicated by the media's nastiness.

AMGD

"With Love" From Freiburg -- Zollitsch Attacks Müller!

 In the Case of Tebartz van Elst Zollitsch  Cardinal Zollitsch addressed what was sad said by  Curial Cardinal Müller: "It amazes me that the old saying of Wittgenstein, 'Whereof one can not speak, thereof one should remain silent' is ignored"

Mannheim (kath.net / CBA / red) The outgoing chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, regrets overlooking the Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst, "that this particular case has become a central theme and overshadowed the really important questions. " In an interview with the "Mannheimer Morgen" (Thursday) Zollitsch said,  the test report issued by the Episcopal Conference was, "a good foundation, so that the Congregation for Bishops may decide fairly in agreement with the Pope." That   Zollitsch could as he says  "discuss in Rome in detail with the Congregation."

 Zollitsch criticized the German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller. Accoding to the Assessment, The Report Showed no Wrongdoing by Tebartz van Elst. Zollitsch expressed this: "It amazes me that the old saying of Wittgenstein, 'Whereof one can not speak, thereof one should remain silent' is ignored."  On the question of the influence he had on the decision on Tebartz, Zollitsch said: "The Holy Father knows my opinion. I have full confidence in him that he will make the right decision. "Zollitsch had handed over the report on Carnival Monday on the controversial construction projects in the diocese of Limburg to the Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops in the Vatican, Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

 The Emeritus Archbishop of Freiburg also commented to another question, in which he has fallen out with   Prefect Müller.  Asked about the "contradiction" and others of the Curial Cardinal on the  admission of married divorcees to the Sacraments, Zollitsch said:" The manual of our pastoral ministry is trying to rewrite the practice in most German dioceses in Austria and Alsace. It's also about how we look into each individual case according to how we can serve the whole community. Cardinal Kasper thinks  similarly in this direction and represents the theological perspectives. For that I am grateful to him." Zollitsch concluded with the comment: "I was told Francis had praised Cardinal Kasper's presentation highly. " 

(C) 2013 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH. All rights reserved.

Link to kath.net....

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

Newspaper: Limburger Bishop Not Criminally Guilty

"It's only affected by canon law,” the "Welt am Sonntag” Cites a Writer of Unpublished Church Audit Report. 

Berlin (kath.net / KAP)

The allegations against Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz overlooking the construction of the new diocesan center Limburger are not criminally relevant according to a newspaper report. "It's only affected by canon law,"  the "Welt am Sonntag" cites a writer of the unpublished church audit report, who does not want to be named. In the report to the building cost increases, there were no established violations of state laws or regulations. Now, a canon will be tasked to check if the bishop did the right thing.

Tebartz van Elst was subject to criticism because of his office and because of the amount, ranging from at least 31 million euro construction costs. Since the end of October 2013 he has been indefinitely held   as a result of the Pope's decision to remain indefinitely outside his diocese. The German Bishops' Conference had used enlisted  five theologians, construction, financial and legal professionals commission led by the Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn Manfred Grothe to review   the funding of the construction project, the cost of development and decision-making.

The report has been in the possession of   the Chairman of the Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch,  since Friday. He will now study it intensively and consult with Rome, Zollitsch said. He denies  that  a decision will be reach decision  Rome even before the start of the Spring Plenary Assembly of the Bishops' Conference on 10 March in the matter of Limburg bishop.

According to "Welt am Sonntag", the report has no reviews according to several authors, but consists only of facts and the representation of processes. There had been no disagreement among the examiners. "The factual arguments speak for Tebartz van Elst, but not for the chapter that is partially responsible," the paper said quoting its sources.

In the "Welt am Sonntag" Hesse Ex-Minister of State Jochen Riebel (CDU), a member of the finance committee of the Episcopal See in Limburg, has leveled new allegations against the bishop. He claimed to have been lied to by Tebartz van Elst as to the question of how many antique and artistic figures had been purchased for the diocesan center. "Tebartz van Elst has promised me in a confidential meeting high and swore that all the figures that are placed there, came from the pool. That was a lie," the paper quoted Riebel. "Only two of the figures are from the collection, all others were purchased."

Copyright 2014 Catholic News Agency, Vienna, Austria (www.kathpress.at) All rights reserved. 

Link to kath.net...

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst Often Back in His Diocese of Limburg

The "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" reported, citing "Church circles" remaining anonymous  that the Bishop of Limburg  residing more often in his diocese again. UPDATE: Opinion of the diocese

Limburg (kath.net) According to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (FAS), the Limburg Bishop Franz-Josef Tebartz van Elst  (photo) is back in his diocese on a regular  basis. The bishop, who had been temporarily relieved of his residence obligation by the Pope Francis, apparently spends at least several days every month  in the Episcopal House [Palace] of the Diocese of Limburg. The FAS has received this information from unnamed "church circles".  

Tebartz van Elst's driver cooks for him at his official residence, apparently he also celebrates  Holy Mass occasionally in the Bishop's Chapel, says the FAS.

The FAS also pointed out that the presence of the Bishop of Limburg  "is critically eyed in German church circles", [a good sign] since they are concerned  that Tebartz van Elst will have "influence on official business". The FAS wrote, but without any reference to sources: "In fact, he issues instructions to the new Vicar General. Wolfgang Rösch, who officially leads the diocese, in the background." 

From the environs of the bishop it is also to be learned that he  continues to strive for his full reinstatement to Limburg. In this he will be assisted by the Archbishops of the Curia Gerhard Ludwig Müller and Georg Gänswein and who also had actually become very cautiously positive for the Limburg Bishop.  Gänswein, Prefect of the Papal Household, had also said to "Mittelbayrischen Zeitung"   in mid-January that the Commission of Inquiry will exonerate  Tebartz van Elst  kath.net has reported . 

The Limburg Bishop had also received support from Cardinal Walter Brandmüller in Rome. In an article in the "Daily Post" of last Friday, Brandmüller blamed the difficulties in the diocese of Limburg not of the current bishop, but his predecessor, Bishop Franz Kamphaus. This one is said to essentially support an "anti-Roman sentiment" that has spread in the diocese. Kamphaus has defended, for example, the Church advising consent to abortion  to pregnant women against the Vatican. 

Brandmüller had been quoted in the "Daily Mail": "There can be no doubt that this attitude of a bishop will have destructive consequences for the relationship of the faithful of the diocese of Limburg to the Magisterium of the  church - and the  successor of Franz Kamphaus." 

And this was Brandmüller's diagnosis on the events in Limburg for the "Daily Mail": "But what had happened in Limburg, was basically nothing more than the transfer of the partnership model, the form of government of modern democracy, to the Church. Such attempts at transmission  - and that is secularization in the proper sense  - have been made ​​several times in history and each time has done damage. The Church is, after all, neither monarchy [?] nor dictatorship, nor aristocratic republic or corporate state - it is simply the "Church", though in this world, but not of this world. It is a mystery of faith and follows her own, her own law legislated by  Jesus Christ." 

In the mean time now  an article by the "Focus" with news from Rome has become public, after which the results of the investigation conducted by the Church will be shown to have largely exonerated Bishop Tebarz-van Elst. "Focus" has  also reported that the diocese of Limburg may even be disolved by Roman considerations, as kath.net has reported .

 UPDATE: Statement of the Diocese of Limburg: The Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz regularly stays in his diocese. A report of the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (FAS) confirmed by Diocese Spokesman Stephan Fast on Sunday for the Catholic News Agency (KNA). The bishop among other things, being criticized the way he managed and because of the cost of a construction project on the Limburg Cathedral Hill, has returned briefly to Limburg  for "personal reasons". 

But this was neither an interdict nor libelous because he lived "neither in exile nor in restriction", even if it the Pope had granted an break at the end of October for an indefinite period  outside his diocese. FAS further reports that Tebartz van Elst imparts instructions to the new Vicar General Wolfgang Rösch, who leads the ongoing administration of the diocese during the absence of the bishop. To that, KNA was quick to reply that of course Rösch is in contact with the bishop, but is "solely and exclusively" accountable to the Vatican."

Foto Bischof Tebartz-van Elst: (c) Bistum Limburg

Gänswein: Commission Will Exonerate Tebartz-van Elst

Prefect of the Papal Household, "I do believe that the investigation will clear up allegations of wasting money, non-communication and skipping of controlling bodies in favor of the bishop" - Cardinal Lehmann: "media campaign."

Regensburg (kath.net / KNA) The Prefect of the Papal Household, Archbishop George Gänswein (photo), expects the exoneration of Limburg's Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst by the Episcopal Conference Commission. "I do believe that the investigation will clear up allegations of a waste of money, non-communication and skipping of controlling bodies in favor of the bishop," Gänswein said in an interview with the online edition of the "Mittelbayerischen Zeitung" in Regensburg.

The result must then be submitted to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome, continued the private secretary of Benedict XVI. "Only then, and after careful consideration, the Holy Father will himself make the decision."

Gänswein took part on Sunday in the celebration of the 90th birthday of Georg Ratzinger in Regensburg, representing the emeritus pope. "For him, it was comforting that I have come to his side. But it is also naturally a bit difficult for him." Benedict XVI. will no longer journey to Regensburg, not even secretly, says Gänswein. "After so many years of experience, I think that's impossible."

Georg Ratzinger turned 90 years old on 15 January. Today he celebrated Mass  along with his brother in Rome, who is four years younger. On Sunday in Regensburg, a Pontifical Mass in his honor was held in the cathedral. There, the Cathedral Choir led by the former Director of Music for one of his own compositions on the Mass "L'Anno Santo". On Saturday they had surprised the former Director of Music with a serenade outside his home. Georg Ratzinger headed the world-famous choir from 1964 to 1994.

Cardinal Lehmann took a position in the CBA interview about Tebartz van Elst and replied that after a visit with Pope Francis, the matter should be made clear as soon as possible, so that it should not endanger the Church's spirit of optimism. Because the process fosters mistrust and a hostile sentiment against the Church.

"I told him that I think the Limburg Bishop is a very intelligent, well educated, communicative and polite man, of whom I have never experienced anything of wasteful swank," said Lehmann as to his view of the Pope's audience, however, a certain policy of secrecy is said to have burdened the process, and. «a media campaign has stoked it." 90th birthday of Monsignor Georg Ratzinger - With Curia Archbishop Georg Gänswein and Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer - Celebration in Regensburg Pontifical Mass in Regensburg Cathedral in honor of Domkapellmeister em.

Georg Ratzinger (C) 2013 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH. All rights reserved. Archbishop Gänswein Photo (c) Paul Badde

++Müller Complains Against the Lack of Solidarity With Bishop Tebartz-van Elst

Curial Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller: It is not Christian, "if you duck for cover from one of the dirtiest and most inhuman campaigns against a man, fellow Christian, pastor and bishop"

Passau (kath.net / CBA / PNP / pm) Curia Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller has lamented a lack of solidarity with the Limburg Bishop Franz-Peter van Elst Tebartz again. It is not Christian, "if you duck for cover at one of the dirtiest and inhuman campaigns against a man, fellow Christian, pastor and bishop," the prefect of the Congregation of the Roman told "Passau Neue Presse" (Thursday). But he did not address his criticism in more detail.

In the affair of the construction of the Limburg diocesan center some individual German Bishops also distanced themselves from Tebartz van Elst. The Limburg Bishop has been given a time outside of his diocese pending to a decision of the Pope since the end of October for an indefinite time. During this time, a church commission shall review the allegations to the construction project on the Limburg Cathedral Hill. The administration of the diocese during the absence of the bishop has taken on behalf of the Holy See by Vicar General Wolfgang Rösch. Mueller also made a statement back to the Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who said the prefect of the Congregation could not end the debate on the remarried divorcees. The former Bishop of Regensburg had previously stressed in an article in the Vatican newspaper "Osservatore Romano" that the discussion on re-married divorcees, must take place in accordance with the Church's teaching. However, Müller now says, "as one can easily see, we are not to speak of a termination of the discussion, but their foundations in the teaching of Christ and the Church, which are not under discussion for a plebiscite on questions of faith". The Creed was "not to be confused with a party program that can be variably developed in accordance with the wishes of the members and voters." . A "responsible pastoral" is always built "on sound doctrine".

For a presentation of the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit", in which he has been called "the most stubborn opponents" of Pope Francis, the Prefect of the Faith kept with the words: "Rational arguments do not help against bad fantasies." For considerations of the Church critic Hans Küng to the point, Müller is shining to the fact that Benedict XVI. could act as a "shadow Pope," the archbishop explained that he was "a little proud, that is still grown in pure opposition to yours truly from a bitter opponent to an ardent supporter of the Pope". Müller continues: "What a pleasure is is to see Hans Küng still rave in his old age, to be seen by the followers of Christ and visible head of the whole Church', as it says in the Second Vatican Council."

The Prefect of the Faith issued a rejection to an initiative of priests and laymen, who aim to participate in the election of the future Archbishop of Cologne. He relied in this on Pope Francis, who again and again warns against "misunderstanding the Church as if it were an organizations made by people". When ordering bishops it doesn't involved "an ideological power struggle, power distribution and power purchased by narrowed factions which destroy the unity of the Church". Although it was important "the testimony of all that a candidate is worthy," but ultimately applies that "the bishop is chosen by Christ and appointed by the Holy Spirit"

(C) 2013 Catholic News Agency KNA GmbH. All rights reserved. Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Kath.net....

AMGD

Preliminary Result of Papal Reconstruction of the Curia -- Nine Members of the Congregation for Education Dismissed

(Vatican) The conversion of the Roman Curia continues. In the Congregation for Catholic Education, there was even a small earthquake. Pope Francis dismissed the same nine cardinals who were members of the Congregation. "It is certain that the reform of the Roman Curia by Pope Francis will go in depth and therefore  their time is up," commented the Vatican expert Sandro Magister. Cardinal Maradiaga, coordinator of the C8-Cardinal Council said after the second three-day meeting last week that it needed "patience,"  cryptically adding: "Great things can not be improvised. The Church brings major problems along that affect many people. The participation of the world is so large that you have to discuss in order to arrive at a synthesis ".

Personnel Decisions of the Pope

In anticipation of the great reform of the Curia,  Pope Francis began since last August on a personal level with interventions in the Roman dicasteries. Since taking office, all Curia offices are occupied only temporarily. The prelude to the personnel decisions for the congregations were made on 31 August, the dismissal of Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone and his replacement by Archbishop Pietro Parolin in the Curia. The other leading positions in the Secretariat of State, Curial Archbishop Angelo Becciu  and substitute "Foreign Minister" Archbishop Dominique Mamberti were confirmed.

Since then, Pope Francis has made  some transfers and new appointments, the heads of three of the nine Roman Congregations. This was confirmed on 21 September, the head of the Congregation of the Faith and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples , as well as on 30 November, the Congregation for Education.  On 21 September, however, Mauro Cardinal Piacenza was dismissed as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy , who was replaced by Archbishop Beniamino Stella.

So far only the heads of two of the eleven Pontifical Councils have been confirmed at the moment, namely the Lay Council and of Justice and Peace . Both decisions were announced on 24 September.

Confirmations, Layoffs, Promotions

Thus, the leading heads of five Congregations and nine Pontifical Councils, and thus the bulk of the Roman Curia, are only "donec aliter providetur" and thus continue provisionally in office. This applies to the Congregation for Liturgy, the Congregation for Bishops, Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Congregation for the Eastern Churches and the Congregation for Religious. Both for the Congregation for Bishops, with the Brazilian Bishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari and the Congregation for Religious with the Spaniard Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo  the Pope appointed new Secretaries, however, replacing the number two for these dicasteries. In addition, personnel cuts, layoffs, transfers and new appointments in the Vatican Bank, the economic administration of the Holy See, including the construction of new commissions, the Diplomatic Academy, the Consultants for  the liturgical office of the Pope and of the Pontifical Commission, Ecclesia Dei .

Differentiated Intervention in Congregation of Education

In particular, the  Pope has dedicated his special attention to the Congregation for Catholic Education.  As, then, the Argentine journalist Elisabetta Pique documented in her recently published book, "Francis Life and Revolution," Archbishop Bergoglio had some difficulties in 2009 with the Congregation for obtaining the approval of the appointment of Bishop Victor Manuel Fernandez, Rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. Exactly two months after his election as Pope, he promoted Fernandez to Titular Archbishop. A clear message to the Church in Argentina, who stands close to the Pope and now has weight there.

In 2012 Rector Fernandez was awarded at the suggestion of Archbishop Bergoglio, an honorary doctorate from the university for his friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka. The uncontradicted statements at Skorka's  ceremony sparked criticism. (See separate report decisions in Argentina -  Bergoglio's Silence and Fernandez on Jewish Libel of the Church ).

While Pope Francis confirmed the CDF and the Propaganda Fide , the entire Pontifical Council and yet, however, no one was confirmed for the Congregation of the Clergy,  the intervention in the Congregation for Education happened differently. Some members of the Congregation were confirmed, appointed anew, others  dismissed.

The Polish Prefect, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski,  who will turn 75 on October 2014, will be confirmed. Likewise, as secretary, the Italian Archbishop Angelo Vincenzo Zani, the French Dominican Jean-Louis Brugues were only replaced only in November 2012 by the Pope Benedict XVI. yet appointed archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church and as such is on the waiting list for the award of the dignity of Cardinal. At the end of February 2014, Pope Francis will appoint his first appoint cardinals.

The Newly Appointed Members: Cardinal Koch

The pope confirmed 23 members of the Congregation for Education , but dismissed eleven members and appointed eleven new. Among the newly appointed cardinals include the Brazilian Odilo Scherer of San Paolo, the American Timothy Dolan of New York, the Filipino Luis Tagle of Manila, the Swiss Kirt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is the Kenyan John Njue of Nairobi, the Lebanese Bechara Boutros Rai, Patriarch of the Maronites and the Chinese John Tong Hon of Hong Kong. These four archbishops: the Italian Beniamino Stella, the new prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and probably soon cardinal, the Mexican Jorge Carlos Patron Wong, new  n charge of seminaries Secretary of this Congregation, Archbishop Riccardo Ezzati Andrello of Santiago del Chile, also aspiring to the dignity of Cardinal and the Polish Marek Jedraszewski of Lodz.

The Confirmed Members: Cardinal Schönborn and Cardinal Marx

Among the confirmed members include Vienna's archbishop, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, who is also coordinator of the new C8 Cardinal Council,   Canadian Marc Ouellet, not yet confirmed Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, the Indian Oswald Cardinal Gracias and Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, both also members of the C8 Council. Among them are still the Italian, Leonardo Sandri, Cardinal and the Brazilian Joao Braz de Aviz, both also not yet confirmed Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Church or of the Congregation of Religious. Among the confirmed members of the Congregation for Education can be found Prefect Gerhard Müller of the CDF also an archbishop, and with the Swiss Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne-Geneva-Fribourg a diocesan bishop.

The Dismissed Members: Cardinal Woelki

Among the eleven unconfirmed members include the Cardinals, who are over 80: Belgian Godfried Danneels, the Mexican Juan Sandoval Iñiguez and the Italian, Raffaele Farina, but also the Archbishop Emeritus of Milan, Dionigi Cardinal Tettamanzi, who  is 80 only on March 2014. The Cardinals Levada and Piacenza have not been confirmed by Pope Francis. Both were replaced by their successors. The resignation of Cardinal Levada as Prefect of the CDF was still under Pope Benedict XVI., the Bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Müller, was appointed in his place. Cardinal Piacenza was replaced by Pope Francis as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy by Archbishop Stella.

However, the Cardinals Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow and former personal secretary of Pope John Paul II, Rainer Maria Woelki of Berlin and Giuseppe Betori of Florence were not confirmed. The latter two were appointed just a year ago, after Pope Benedict XVI. had made them cardinals in February 2012.

Campaign against Cardinal Burke: "Too Conservative and Traditionalist"

The Congregation for Education after Pope Francis is therefore less Italian (minus three) and less European (minus four), but more Latin (Plus two) and Asian (plus three).

How it proceeds to the other Departments, is likely to show in the coming months. Meanwhile, the progressive National Catholic Reporter has launched a campaign with the Pope Francis, for the dismissal of the American Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, the reason being because he is "too conservative and traditionalist".So far, Pope Francis has proved very resistant to campaigns. The final decision on the confirmation or removal from office of the Bishop of Limburg Tebartz van Elst will give a final answer.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Settimo Cielo

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMGD