Uncle Joe
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Pope Francis Says Sex Abuse Victims Are Slandering Catholic Bishop They Say Helped Commit Sex Crimes

www.newsweek.com/pope-francis-ch…

Pope Francis accused sex abuse victims of slandering a Catholic bishop they said was complicit in their abuse, angering Chileans at the end of his visit to the South American nation.

The pope’s shocking comment referred to Bishop Juan Barros, whom victims and advocates condemned for covering up sex crimes committed by Rev. Fernando Karadima. The scandal has rocked Chilean trust in the Catholic Church.

Until he saw proof that Barros was complicit, the pope said on Thursday, accusations against him were “all calumny,” or false slander against his reputation .Chileans were angered when Pope Francis named Barros the bishop of the southern diocese of Osorno in 2015, so much so that many Catholics and priests in the diocese refuse to recognize him as their bishop and mounted a protest when he arrived to his post. The pope called the controversy in Osorno “stupid” but looked to smooth things over during his visit this week.
Uncle Joe
Dear Jim,
A poll by Santiago-based think tank Latinobarometro this month showed that the number of Chileans calling themselves Catholics fell to 45 percent last year, from 74 percent in 1995. www.reuters.com/…/pope-francis-ar…
Is this the result of Communist influence or something more? Communism is surely the enemy of Catholicism or any other religion. But, is it the main cause of the decline …More
Dear Jim,
A poll by Santiago-based think tank Latinobarometro this month showed that the number of Chileans calling themselves Catholics fell to 45 percent last year, from 74 percent in 1995. www.reuters.com/…/pope-francis-ar…

Is this the result of Communist influence or something more? Communism is surely the enemy of Catholicism or any other religion. But, is it the main cause of the decline of Roman Catholicism in Chile? Has the abuse scandal and coverups had an impact as it has around the world?

Abortion in all forms is still illegal and heavily criticized in Chile. I've read that churches look out over almost every plaza and the majority of Chileans celebrate Easter and Christmas.

However, underneath these devout Catholic characteristics lies a culture that has deviated from this once strong Spanish religious influence. While Chile may be culturally and politically Catholic, the majority of its citizens are not practicing nor do they believe in Catholic doctrines or thought. The starkest example may be the Chilean president herself, Michelle Bachelet. Her judgment should be questioned at least partially. She is a socialist
steemit-production-imageproxy-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/DQmQFjJwhxx5YQH… and openly agnostic.
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It is great to have someone 'on the ground' in Chile to give an up close view of what's going on there.

I have a few questions for you, Jim.
Is there a free and open media in Chile that presents more than simply the “party line” of political issues in the country?

Are conservative views suppressed by the media (TV and print) to the point of being practically non existent? (I am referring to what is referred to as “hate speech” e.g., conservative views regarding homo-marriage, questioning Islam being a religion of peace, mass immigrant migration)

Are citizens including college students free to express their opinions openly without fear of out of control violent protests or punishments from their schools or sanctions by the government?

Are citizens legally permitted to own firearms?
Uncle Joe
Dear Jim,
As a non Chilean I can only look from afar and attempt to draw a few conclusions about what occurred in your country several days ago. As you've written, who knows what Juan Barros did or did not do years ago? However, given the abuse scandals that have rocked the Church worldwide, one could justifiably ask whether it was prudent to appoint such a man bishop who was surrounded by controversy …More
Dear Jim,
As a non Chilean I can only look from afar and attempt to draw a few conclusions about what occurred in your country several days ago. As you've written, who knows what Juan Barros did or did not do years ago? However, given the abuse scandals that have rocked the Church worldwide, one could justifiably ask whether it was prudent to appoint such a man bishop who was surrounded by controversy when there were other choices that could have been made by Francis.

But the hits keep on coming from this pope. Giving an honor to an abortion rights activist, an obvious PR move of marring a couple on a plane, praise for communism ("it is communists who think like Christians") and now this. I don’t remember any pontiff speaking or acting like this man, Francis. His whole pontificate has been a confusing hash of leftist politics and little spiritual guidance beyond contradictory statements.

Add to it is Francis' belligerence and 'in your face' tone when his pastoral mask slipped a little and - regarding the accusations against Barros - he said to the people of Chile (not only the protesters) “It’s all calumny. Is that clear?”

If we can't know the truth of what actually happened years ago re: Barros, how can Francis?

The festive atmosphere of the pope's arrival failed to conceal the hurt experienced by many Catholics over the Barros affair, a scandal that has gripped Chile and fueled growing secularization, which is hurting the Church in Chile. A poll by Santiago-based think tank Latinobarometro this month showed that the www.reuters.com/…/pope-francis-ar… from 74 percent in 1995.
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In 1984 a group of parishioners reported to archbishop, Juan Francisco Fresno, later cardinal, about Father Karadima's "improper conduct." The letter was "torn up and thrown away," according to a court statement by the parishioner. In those days, Karadima had managed to install one of his own as the Cardinal's secretary. This priest was Juan Barros Madrid. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karadima_case
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Here's some additional relevant information:

Jan 11, 2018 03:49 PM CST
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) The Vatican was so concerned about the fallout from Chile's most notorious pedophile priest that it planned to ask three Chilean bishops accused of knowing about his decades-long crimes to resign and take a year's sabbatical a revelation that comes just days before Pope Francis makes his first visit to Chile as pope.

A confidential 2015 letter from Francis, obtained by The Associated Press, details the behind-the-scenes maneuvering by the Vatican and Chile's bishops to deal with the prelates connected to the disgraced Rev. Fernando Karadima. And it reveals the bishops' concern about Francis naming a Karadima protege, Bishop Juan Barros, to the helm of the diocese of Osorno an appointment that roiled the diocese, with hundreds of priests and lay Catholics staging protests against him.
One more comment from Uncle Joe
Uncle Joe
Pope Francis: Until he saw proof that Barros was complicit, the pope said on Thursday, accusations against him were “all calumny,” or false slander against his reputation.
Slander/calumny/defamation is not slander if the allegations made are true. Although the testimony of an eyewitness is not always 100 accurate, it nevertheless can afford proof admissible in court especially when that testimony …More
Pope Francis: Until he saw proof that Barros was complicit, the pope said on Thursday, accusations against him were “all calumny,” or false slander against his reputation.

Slander/calumny/defamation is not slander if the allegations made are true. Although the testimony of an eyewitness is not always 100 accurate, it nevertheless can afford proof admissible in court especially when that testimony is corroborated by other victims/witnesses.
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"As if I could have taken a selfie or a photo while Karadima abused me and others, and Juan Barros stood by watching it all," tweeted a Barros accuser named Juan Carlos Cruz. "These people are truly crazy, and the pontiff talks about atonement to the victims. Nothing has changed, and his plea for forgiveness is empty."