Pope Francis’ decision not to launch a canonical inquiry into Cardinal Marc Ouellet comes as no surprise, according to experts, who recall that the Vatican has already done so in several similar scandals.
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“It confirms what we’ve seen for years. He is a pope who defends his cardinals tooth and nail,” launches author and religious news specialist Alain Pronkin.
The latter refers in particular to the case of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who, despite decades of rumours, was expelled from the clergy only after being convicted of numerous sexual assaults.
He also points out that the Holy Father “just put on hold” the role of Cardinal George Pell – charged and convicted of pedophilia – pending his trial before he was acquitted.
“It sends out the message that the pope will defend the interests of the church above all else,” Mr Pronkin said.
Usual procedure
“Of course, it gives the impression that the Church is not taking this seriously, that it is protecting its world,” agrees Louis Rousseau, professor emeritus at the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM).
However, he points out that due to the complexity of the court process, this is the procedure the Vatican uses most often in cases like this one.
The presumption of innocence is also very important for this Pope, specifies Mr. Rousseau, stressing that Cardinal Ouellet has still not responded publicly to these accusations.
“But if there is a guilty verdict by a court, what is certain is that Pope Francis will change his mind and the cardinal will have to face the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,” claims Alain Pronkin.
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