Malta's Third Cardinal in history

Mario Grech (20 February 1957) is a Maltese prelate who was Bishop of Gozo from 2005 to 2019. He was Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops from October 2019 until he became Secretary General in September 2020. On 25 October 2020, Pope Francis announced he would raise him to the rank of cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 28 November 2020. Mario Grech was born in Qala, Gozo, on 20 February 1957. His family moved to Ta' Kerċem when he was a young boy. He attended the Victoria high school and then studied philosophy and theology at the Gozo diocesan seminary. He was ordained a priest on 26 May 1984. He then obtained a licenciate in civil and canon at the Pontifical Lateran University and a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. He then fulfilled pastoral assignments at the Cathedral of Gozo, in the National Shrine of Ta' Pinu, and the parish of Kerċem. His responsibilities for the Diocese of Gozo included service as Judicial Vicar of the diocese, a member of the Metropolitan Court of Malta, teacher of canon law at the seminary, and a member of the College of Consultors, of the Presbyteral Council and of other diocesan commissions. On 26 November 2005, Pope Benedict XVI named him Bishop of Gozo. He received his episcopal consecration on 22 January 2006 from his predecessor in Gozo, Bishop Nikol Joseph Cauchi. In 2011, he joined other Maltese bishops in advising Catholics to defeat a referendum that would allow the legislature to consider legalizing divorce. He was famous for prohibiting any Tridentine Masses from being held in Gozo, unlike the position taken by the Maltese Archbishop, Paul Cremona O.P. As president of the Episcopal Conference of Malta, he participated in the Synod of Bishops on the Family in 2014 and 2015. Speaking to the Synod in October 2014, Grech said that

"the doctrine of the faith is capable of progressively acquiring a greater depth"

and that addressing people in complex familial relations, or homosexuals or parents of homosexuals, "It is necessary to learn to speak that language which is known to contemporary human beings and who acknowledge it as a way of conveying the truth and the charity of the Gospel."

With Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, Grech co-authored the Maltese bishops' pastoral guidelines on Amoris Laetitia, released in January 2017, which stated that in certain cases a divorced Catholic who remarried might receive communion after "honest discernment". The guidelines were republished in L'Osservatore Romano. The guidelines infamously said that:

"If, as a result of the process of discernment, a separated or divorced person who is living in a new relationship manages, with an informed and enlightened conscience, to acknowledge and believe that he or she is at peace with God, he or she cannot be precluded from participating in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist."

In a December 2018 interview, he said he enjoyed discussions with atheists that sharpened his own beliefs and preferred dialogue to the confrontation his critics preferred. When asked about family and sexual issues he said:

If someone comes to me, asking me for help to discover Jesus Christ... he or she could be homosexual, and even in a homosexual relationship. It doesn’t matter. I will not impede that person; on the contrary I would help. The last thing I would do is take up a position against that person.... Before, we would say: 'put your life in order first, and then we’ll begin the journey towards God'. Today, on the other hand, we would say: 'Let us approach Jesus Christ... and Christ will help us put our lives in order.' ... 'Black' and 'white' still exist; but the grey area in-between has grown. It is in the grey areas that we must search. That’s why I said that I am wary of those priests, or Christians, who feel they already know all the answers. No one can make that claim. We all have to continue searching.

On 2 October 2019, Pope Francis named him Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, in anticipation of succeeding Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri when he retired as Secretary General. Grech worked alongside Baldisseri and participated as a member in the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region. Grech was also the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Gozo until 2020. He was one of five Synod officials who served ex offico on the fifteen-person commission that was responsible for drafting the final document of the Amazon Synod. In his first interview after his appointment he stated that

"there is a movement toward which the Church can acquire a greater feminine face that would also reflect Mary’s face"

. On 4 July 2020, Pope Francis named Grech a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, with the exception of reconciliation with traditional Catholic communities. On 25 October 2020, Pope Francis announced he would raise him to the rank of cardinal at a consistory scheduled for 28 November 2020. The previous Maltese cardinals were: Fabrizio Sceberras Testaferrata and Prospero Grech OSA .

Meditation of Cardinal Prospero Grech OSA to Cardinals Gathered in Conclave

 

It's a sad end to the year 2019, with the death of Cardinal Prospero Grech OSA that was announced yesterday. Some years ago, this Blog had posted an article about this eminent son of Malta. Today, we post his meditation to the Cardinals delivered before the election of Francis as Pope. As far as we know, this is the first time that this meditation is being published on a Maltese website. We thank the former President of Pro Tridentina (Malta), Godwin Xuereb, who corresponded with the late Cardinal,who found this meditation for this Blog. This meditation remains valid, perhaps even more, than when it was delivered to the Cardinals.

 

Meditation of Cardinal Prospero Grech OSA to Cardinals Gathered in Conclave

 
At the venerable age of 87 I am one of the oldest members of the College of Cardinals, but as regards my nomination I am just a newborn; and since my life was always given to study, my knowledge of the affairs of the Curia do not exceed the third grade level. Only thus do I dare present this simple meditation in nomine Domini. What you are about to do in this Sistine Chapel is a kairos, an important moment of grace, in the history of salvation, which continues in the Church until the end of time. You are aware that this moment asks of you the greatest accountability. It does not matter if the Pontiff whom you will elect is of one nationality or another, of one race or another, what is important is only whether, when the Lord asks him the question “Peter, do you love me?” he can respond with utmost sincerity: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you”: (1)

Then the sheep entrusted to him by Jesus will be safe and sound, and Peter will follow Christ, the supreme Pastor, wherever he goes. Here I have no intention of presenting an identikit of the new pope, and much less present a work chart for the future pontiff. This delicate task is up to the Holy Spirit, who in recent decades has given us a number of great saintly popes. My intent is to draw some reflections from Scripture to help us understand what Christ wants of his Church, reflections that may help you in your discussions. During his life, Jesus sent the disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God (2) The Kingdom has many facets, but we can summarize its essence as the moment of grace and reconciliation that the Father gives the world in the person and work of Christ. Kingdom and Church are not the same. The Kingdom is the fatherly sovereignty of God which encompasses all the recipients of his grace. After his resurrection, Jesus sent the apostles into the world to make disciples of all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (3) The Church does this by presenting the Gospel without compromise, without diluting the word. In the words of Paul: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, for Jew first and then for Greek “. (4) When we descend to making compromises with the Gospel it is emptied of its dynamis, as if the dynamite contained in a hand grenade were removed from it. We should not give in to the temptation even to think that, since the Second Vatican Council has resolved the question of salvation even for those who are outside the Church, the need for baptism has been relativized. Today we add the neglect of so many indifferent Catholics who forget or refuse to baptize their children. The proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is expressed in the announcement of “Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (5) Both the divine sonship of Christ and his crucifixion are the scandalum crucis, “foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are saved, to us, the power of God.” (6) It is precisely this scandal of the cross, which humbles the pride of the human mind and elevates it to accept a wisdom that comes from above. Even in this case, relativizing the person of Christ, placing him next to other “saviours”, means emptying Christianity itself of its substance. It is precisely the preaching of the absurdity of the cross, which in less than three hundred years, reduced to a minimum the religions of the Roman Empire, and opened the minds of men to a new vision of hope and resurrection. Today’s world is thirsty for the very same hope, for it suffers from an existential depression. The crucified Christ, however, is intimately linked to the crucified Church. It is the Church of the martyrs, those of the first centuries up to the many faithful who, in certain countries, expose themselves to death simply by going to Sunday mass. But the crucified Church is not limited to its martyrs. When she reveals the person, teaching and behavior of Christ, she does no more than present the Truth, which is Christ Himself. (7) The Church, therefore, asks men to see themselves in the mirror of Christ and of herself. Everyone wants to know the truth, but when it reveals our faults it is then hated and persecuted: “Oculis aegris odiosa lux, quae sanis amabilis”, (8) Augustine says. And Jesus predicts: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.” (9) So then, persecution is a quid constitutivum of the Church, as is the weakness of her members, from which she cannot be separated without losing her individuality, it is a cross that must be embraced. Persecution, however, is not always physical, there is also the persecution of lies: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all manner of evil against You because of me.” (10)

You have experienced that recently from some of the media who do not like the Church. When allegations are false it is not necessary to give them attention, even if they cause immense pain. It is another thing when truth is spoken to us, as happened in many of the accusations regarding pedophilia. Then one must humble himself before God and men and try to eradicate the evil at all costs, as Benedict XVI did with great remorse. It is only thus that one regains credibility before the world and gives an example of sincerity. Today many people do not come to believe in Christ because his face is obscured or hidden behind an institution that lacks transparency. But if we have recently lamented so many unpleasant events that took place among clergy and laity, even in the papal household, we must think that these evils, as serious as they are, when compared with certain evils of the past history of the Church, are no more than a cold. As, with God’s help, these evils of the past have been overcome, so will the present crisis. But even a cold must be treated well so that it does not develop into pneumonia. The evil spirit of the world, the mysterium iniquitatis, (11) is continually striving to infiltrate the Church. Also, let us not forget the admonition of the prophets of ancient Israel to not seek alliances with either Babylon or with Egypt, but to follow a pure policy ex fide trusting only in God (12) and his covenant. Take courage! Christ raises our spirits when he exclaims: “Have confidence, I have overcome the world.” (13)

Let us now take a step forward in our question concerning the will of God in regard to the Church. There is no doubt that the unity of his body is the summum desideratum of Christ, as evidenced by his priestly prayer at the Last Supper. (14) Unfortunately, Christianity is still divided, both in faith and in love. The first attempts at ecumenism immediately after the Second World War are bearing fruit (I remember being present in some meetings with Romano Guardini at Burg Rothenfels), as well as the commitment that came from Unitatis redintegratio. But there is still a long way to go. Prejudices die very slowly and to reach a theological accord is not easy. We are tempted to grow weary along this road that often seems a one-way street. But to stop the dialogue would go explicitly against God’s will. Of greater service than discussions or ecumenical meetings, however, is confident and intense prayer on all sides and a common path towards holiness and the spirit of Jesus. No less easy for the next pontiff will be the responsibility for maintaining unity in the Catholic Church itself. Between ultra-traditionalist and ultra-progressive extremists, between priests rebelling against obedience and those who do not recognize the signs of the times, there is always the danger of minor schisms which not only damage the Church, but which go against the will of God: unity at all costs. Unity, however, does not mean uniformity. It is clear that this does not close the door to intra-ecclesial discussion, present throughout the history of the Church. All are free to express their thoughts about the task of the Church, but they should be put forward in keeping with the deposit of faith, which the Pope, together with all the bishops, have the task of guarding. Peter will fulfill his task more easily the more he shares it with the other apostles. Unfortunately, today, theology suffers from post-modern thought that reigns in the philosophical sphere, and we need a good philosophical foundation to be able to develop teaching with a valid hermeneutic that speaks an intelligible language to the contemporary world.

It often happens, however, that the proposals of so many faithful for progress in the Church are based on the kind of freedom that is found in the sexual realm. Certainly laws and traditions that are purely ecclesiastical can be changed, but not every change indicates progress; we must discern whether these changes serve to increase the holiness of the Church or to obscure it. Let us now turn to an even more serious chapter. In the West, at least in Europe, Christianity itself is in crisis. Europe did not even want to take into consideration its own historical Christian traditions. There is a rampant secularism and agnosticism that has various causes, to mention a few: the relativization of truth, the result of the aforementioned post-modern thought, a theme often emphasized by Benedict XVI, a materialism that measures everything in economic terms, the legacy of governments and parties that had the intention of removing God from society, the explosion of sexual freedom and that rapid advancement of science that knows no moral and humanitarian restraints.

Besides, there reigns a carelessness and ignorance not only of Catholic doctrine, but of the very ABCs of Christianity. Therefore there is felt to be an urgency for the new evangelization, which begins with the pure and simple kerygma announced to non-believers, followed by a continuous catechesis nourished by prayer. However, the Lord, is never crushed by human carelessness. It seems that, while in Europe, doors are being closed to him, they are opening elsewhere, especially in Asia. And even in the West, God will not fail to preserve a remnant of Israel that does not kneel before Baal, a remnant which we find principally in so many lay movements equipped with different charisms that are making a strong contribution to the new evangelization. These movements are full of young people, so loved by the last two popes. They are the seed that, well cared for, will grow into a new tree full of fruit. We must watch carefully, however, lest specific movements believe that the Church is contained only in them. In short, God cannot be defeated by our carelessness. The Church is his, the gates of hell can wound the heel, but they can never undo her. So far we have spoken of popes, cardinals, bishops and priests, but there is another factor of hope in the Church that we must not neglect, the sensus fidelium. Augustine calls it “the interior Master” in every believer, and St. John “the anointing” that teaches us all things. (15) It creates in the depths of the heart that criterion of discernment between truth and falsehood, it lets us distinguish instinctively that which is secundum Deum from that which comes from the world and from the evil one. (16)

According to Dei Verbum 8, the sensus fidelium is also a locus theologicus that must be taken into account by the pastors of the Church. The embers of devout faith are kept alive by millions of simple believers who are far from being theologians, but who, from the intimacy of their prayers, reflections and devotions, can give profound advice to their pastors. They are those who “will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will make void the understanding of the clever.” (17) This means that when the world, with all its knowledge and intelligence De conclavi ad eligendum Summum Catholicae Ecclesiae Pontificem 357, abandons the logos of human reason, the Logos of God will shine in simple hearts, which form the substance from which the backbone of the Church is nourished. But why am I telling you all this? It is because, while professing the common belief that the Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church, we do not always take it into consideration in our designs on the Church. He transcends all sociological analysis and historical prediction. He surpasses the scandals, internal politics, careerism and social problems, which, in their complexity obscure the face of Christ which must shine through thick clouds. Let us listen to Augustine: “The apostles saw Christ and believed in the Church they did not see; we see the Church and must believe in Christ whom we do not see. Adhering firmly to what we see, we will come to see him whom we do not now see. ” (18)

And you, why are you here? In 1961, John XXIII received in audience the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See in this Sistine Chapel. He pointed out the dominant figure of Christ the Judge in the fresco of Michelangelo, and told them that Christ will judge even the work of individual nations in history. You find yourself in this same chapel, under the figure of that Christ, with his hand raised, not to crush, but to illuminate your vote, which is to be secundum Spiritum, not secundum carnem, that is, “Non in sinistrum nos ignorantia trahat, non favor inflectat, non acceptio muneris vel personae corrumpat.” In this way the one elected will not only be yours, but essentially His. I would like to close on a lighter note. This is not the first conclave in which I have been present. I was also in the conclave of Paul VI, as a simple sacristan who prepared the altars. One day Cardinal Montini came to me and asked me to hear his confession, two hours later he was pope. When he died, the conclave was readied, and there were with us at the College of Saint Monica three cardinals, among them Cardinal Luciani. Being the oldest present, it fell to me to give them a farewell greeting before their departure for the Sistine Chapel. I remember saying: “To wish you good luck is not tasteful, to say goodbye is even worse. I say only: God bless you. ” I am a bird of good omen! The same greeting I offer to you: The Lord be with you and bless you.

1 Cfr Gv 21, 17-19.
2 Lc 9, 2. De Conclavi ad eligendum Summum Catholicae Ecclesiae Pontificem 353
3 Mt 29, 19.
4 Rm 1, 16.
5 1 Cor 2, 2.
6 1 Cor 1, 18.
7 Gv 14, 6.
8 Conf. VII, 22. 354 Acta Apostolicae Sedis – Commentarium Officiale
9 Gv 15, 20.
10 Mt 5, 11.
11 2 Ts 2, 7.
12 Cfr Is 30, 1; 31, 1-3; Os 12, 2.
13 Gv 16, 33.
14 Gv 17.
15 Cfr Ger 31, 34.
16 1 G v2, 20. 27; 4, 1-6.
17 1 Cor 1, 19.
18 Sermo 328, 3.

Source: Acta Apostolicae Sedis – 5 Aprilis – 3 Maii 2013.

Two Cardinals' lists to reflect upon...



Cardinal Ranjith

A positive news to start with: Cardinal Prospero Grech is to deliver one of the meditation sessions at the beginning of the conclave, which will start on 12 March in the afternoon.



The Blog Catholic Church Conservation has listed the following cardinal electors who have either celebrated or at least assisted at the Tridentine Mass:

• Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, born in 1947, 2005-2009 Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal since 2010 (Tridentina Malta note: Cardinal Ranjith - apparently the most papabile of traditional oriented cardinals).

• Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, born in 1938, former Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh and Primate of Scotland, Cardinal since 2003 (will be absent because of 'inappropriate sexual acts').

• Cardinal Franc Rode, Lazarist, born in 1934, former Archbishop of Ljubljana, em. Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Cardinal since 2006.

• Cardinal John Tong Hon, born in 1939, Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal since 2012.

• Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, born in 1945, former Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal since 2006.

• Cardinal Luís Martínez Sistach, born in 1937, the Archbishop of Barcelona, ​​Cardinal since 2007.

• Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, born in 1948, former Archbishop of Saint Louis, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Cardinal since 2010.

• Cardinal Francis Eugene George, Oblate of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, born in 1937, Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal since 1998.

• Cardinal William Joseph Levada, born in 1936, former Archbishop of San Francisco, em. Prefect of the CDF, Cardinal since 2006.

• Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, Capuchin, born in 1947, Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal since 2006.

• Cardinal Donald William Wuerl, born in 1940, the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal since 2010

• Cardinal Philippe Xavier Ignace Cardinal Barbarin, born in 1950, Archbishop of Lyon and Primate of the Gauls, Cardinal since 2003.

• Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, born in 1944, Archbishop of Bordeaux, Cardinal since 2006.

• Cardinal André Armand Vingt-Trois, born in 1942, Archbishop of Paris, and Primate of France, Cardinal from 2007.

• Cardinal Ennio Cardinal Antonelli, born in 1936, former Archbishop of Florence, former President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal since 2003.

• Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, born in 1943, Archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal since 2007.

• Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, born in 1938, Archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal since 2006.

• Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, born in 1935, the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, former Prefect for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, Cardinal since 2010.

• Cardinal Angelo Scola, born in 1941, former Patriarch of Venice, Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal since 2003.

• Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, born in 1933, former Archbishop of Gudalajara, Cardinal since 1994.

• Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, born in 1939, Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal since 2006

• Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, born in 1950, Archbishop of Warsaw, Cardinal since 2010.

Another group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) published a far less edifying list dubbed the "Dirty Dozen". Some of the cardinals mentioned above feature (alas) below too. According to this group:

"The following twelve papal candidates are the ones that we are most worried about becoming the next pope. These twelve were chosen based exclusively on their actions and/or public comments about child sex abuse and cover up in the church. Sources include mainstream media accounts, legal filings and victims’ experiences."

• Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Mexico

- He blamed the media for “attacks on the church,” alleging “over-reporting” of church sex cases.

- He claimed that there are no “documented” cases of abuse against minors in Mexico.

- He also repeatedly minimized and concealed multiple child sex abuse allegations against Fr. Nicholas Aguilar Rivera who traveled between his native Mexico and the Los Angeles archdiocese, molesting kids in both places. Aguilar Rivera’s current whereabouts are unknown.

• Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Honduras

- He said much of the U.S. media was anti-Catholic and that the major networks and newspapers "made themselves protagonists of what I do not hesitate to define as a persecution of the church."

- He also opposes bishops turning allegations of clerical sexual abuse over to civil authorities for investigation and possible prosecution. "I would be willing to go to jail before harming one of my priests -- I am not a policeman," he said.

• Cardinal Timothy Dolan, New York

- In August of 2011, Dolan took minimal steps against Fr. Jamie Duenas, who repeatedly abused a teenage girl who worked for him and was arrested. Instead of helping the police or the victim, Dolan attacked the victim on his official website for going back to work after the first assault.

- That same year, Dolan kept silent for nine months about the case of Brother Lawrence Gordon, an assistant principal who had child porn on his computer. Such delays and secrecy give predators ample time to potentially destroy evidence, intimidate victims, discredit witnesses, threaten whistleblowers, and fabricate alibis.

- Internal church documents released by a judge last summer show that Dolan devised a secret plan to pay pedophile priests $20,000 each to quietly leave the ministry. Some of the clerics went elsewhere, but Dolan warned no one. At least 12 priests are known to have gotten payouts.

- In 2007, Dolan publicly and vehemently denied paying off offender priests after it was discovered that one notorious priest child sex offender, Fr Franklyn Becker, was given money.

• Cardinal Angelo Scola, Italy

Cardinal Scola - hero or villain?

- In 2010, when Pope Benedict’s role in the sex abuse and cover up crisis was questioned in news accounts, Scola publicly called the coverage an “iniquitous humiliation.”

- In a 2010 homily delivered at St. Peter’s Basilica, Scola refered to the clergy sex abuse crisis, offered no apology to victims and shifted blame and minimized church wrongdoing by stressing that pedophilia “concerns different environments and different categories of persons” outside the church.

• Cardinal George Pell, Australia

- He claims that church has been a victim of “smears” in the media about child abuse, there are no cover ups, and that it is untrue that the church officials are “inefficient” in handling child abuse cases.

- He worked to secure a court file in which it allegedly states that Pell was present when a boy spoke up about being raped by a priest. Pell called the victim’s statements "irresponsible and untrue."

- Pell does not believe that the royal commission investigating clergy sex crimes and cover ups needs to take place.

• Cardinal Dominik Duka, Czech Republic

- He claimed that reporting about the abuse of kids in Irish schools was an attempt to “push the church from its position in the upbringing and education” of children

- He also claimed that only 10% of accusations against priests are proven.

•  Cardinal Tarsicio Bertone, Italy

- He does not believe that a bishop should be required to report a priest who has been accused of sex abuse, saying “if a priest cannot confide in his bishop for fear of being denounced it would mean there is no more liberty of conscience.”

- He blames the child sex abuse epidemic on the “homosexual infiltration” of the clergy.

• Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Washington D.C.

- In 2010, he refused to take action about Fr. Walter Salisbury – a priest who had been convicted twice of abusing children – who was quietly sent to Maine and continued working there, without any warning whatsoever to parishioners and the public.

- In 2004, he refused to help warn West Virginia families about an abusive Pittsburgh priest (Fr. Jack Hoehl) who was practising in that state as a counsellor.

- He refused, in two dioceses, to take the simple public safety step of posting the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused priests on his diocesan websites. (Some 30 US bishops have done this.)

• Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Quebec, Canada

- He gave a homily dedicated to clerical sex abuse, talking about the need to open pathways for victims to come forward, but reportedly refused to meet with victims.

- He claims that church’s abuse response should be a model for others.

- He was involved in the recent Cardinal O’Brien resignation, allegedly brokering the deal, which perpetuated the unhealthy practice of essentially letting wrongdoers determine their own punishment (instead of church supervisors clearly and publicly sanctioning those who commit or conceal misdeeds).

• Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Boston

- In 2008, a national church panel found that, for the second year in a row, O’Malley was violating the US bishops’ child sex abuse prevention policy. According to other church officials, O’Malley was refusing to train all kids in his archdiocese how to avoid or stop being victimized. O’Malley also failed to discipline a single individual on his staff for this violation.

- In 2006, in a case with disturbing parallels to many earlier Boston pedophile priest cases, O’Malley moved very slowly in the case of a prominent Catholic hospital official who faces multiple allegations of sexually harassing employees.

- Under O’Malley’s watch, the archdiocesan abuse policy was revised, eliminating a provision that required the immediate removal of accused priests, and severely limited survivors’ access to archdiocesan files about their cases. Also, under O’Malley’s leadership, the archdiocese “cleared” a very high percentage of accused priests (45%, whereas most diocese have a 10% clearance rate), and has also failed to rule on at least 15 cases.

- O’Malley was one of the last US bishops to post the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics on his website, and when he did, he disingenuously left off roughly one third of the priests – those who worked for religious orders.

• Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Argentina

- Sandri is closely tied to the controversial Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who was a staunch and disingenuous supporter of Fr. Marcial Maciel.

- In 2004, at a basilica in Rome, Sandri also read a letter publicly supporting Maciel and spoke of his allegedly good works.

- Sandri remains a consummate Vatican insider. He's spent roughly 40 years there.

• Cardinal Peter Turkson, Ghana

- He recently claimed that there were few child molesting clerics in Africa because they didn’t tolerate gay people there.

Malta's next Cardinal

Fr. Prospero Grech OSA with Pope Benedict XVI (Photo by courtesy of the Order of Saint Augustine)

Before the Angelus Prayer offered on the Feast of the Epiphany, Pope Benedict XVI announced the creation of 22 new Cardinals. Among them was our own Fr Prospero Grech OSA, presently and for decades a member of the community of Collegio Santa Monica, Rome. Father Grech, age 86, a well-known and highly respected Scripture Scholar will become the second Maltese Cardinal.

Letter of the Augustinians' Prior General

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

It is with great joy that I send this communication, to share with you the news that the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, announced today that our brother, Fr Prosper Grech, of the Province of Malta and long-time resident at the International College of St. Monica in Rome, has been chosen to become a Cardinal.

Today, January 6th, the Pope announced his decision to celebrate a Concistory on February 18th, with the intention of creating 22 new cardinals. Among the names of those chosen, is our brother Fr Grech. Fr Prosper, 86 years of age, entered the Order in Malta in 1943, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1950. He has served for many years in Rome, almost all of them as a member of the community at St. Monica’s. He is a well known professor of Sacred Scripture, and has been a professor at various universities in Rome, especially the Biblicum, but also the Lateran and Gregorian Universities. He is the co-founder and first President of our Patristic Institute, the Augustinianum. He has also collaborated with numerous dicasteries of the Holy See, especially the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In his proclamation made today, the Holy Father announced with great joy the Concistory for creating new Cardinals, among whom he has chosen outstanding churchmen who are especially distinguished for their service to the Church. Our brother Fr Prosper Grech was one of those chosen.

For this we are deeply grateful to God and to our Holy Father Pope Benedict. We express our congratulations to Fr Grech and we rejoice in this recognition of his many years of service, especially in his dedication to the study and teaching of the Word of God.

Fr Robert F. Prevost OSA
Prior General

Episcopal Ordination

Fr Grech will be ordained bishop in the Co-Cathedral of Saint John, Valletta, Malta, on Wednesday, 8 February, 2012. His episcopal coat of arms is diagonally divided into two equal parts with the Maltese cross on a red background on one side and the coat of arms of the Order of St Augustine on a dark blue background on the other. The motto chosen is In te Domine speravi.

Concistory

The Concistory during which the future Fr Prospero will become Cardinal is to be held on the morning of Saturday, 18 February, in Saint Peter's Basilica. The following day the new Cardinals will concelebrate Mass with the Holy Father also in Saint Peter's.

Highlights from his Biography

Born 1925 in Birgu, Malta, Grech studied at the Lyceum and served as gunner of the University Home Guard during the Second World War.

Grech joined the Augustinian Order in 1943 and seven years later was ordained at San Giovanni Laterano in Rome. After graduating Doctor of Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome (1953), Grech conducted research in Semitic languages at Oxford (1957-58) and Cambridge (1958-59) Universities.

Fr Prospero Grech served as professor at the Augustine Institute, Rome and founded the Istituto Patristico Augostinianum, Rome in 1970. He is a member of the Societas Studiorum Novi Testamenti (SNTS) and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. He has lectured for over thirty years at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome on hermeneutics.

Fr Grech was professor of Biblical Theology at the Lateran University, Rome, Counsellor to the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and Secretary of the Maltese Augustinian province. He was also nominated Apostolic Visitor for seminaries in India.

Fr Grech and the Popes

During the time of the conclave that elected Paul VI in 1963, just two hours before the Pope was elected, Cardinal Montini asked Fr Grech to hear his confession.

Fr Grech was a great personal friend of Cardinal Albino Luciani when the latter was still Patriarch of Venice. The cardinal used to take up residence at the Augustinian College in Rome whenever he was in the capital to attend meetings of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Fr Grech used to celebrate Mass and have lunch together with Cardinal Luciani.

The very first letter Pope John Paul I wrote soon after he was elected in August 1978 was one of thanks to Fr Grech for the hospitality and friendship he had always received at St Monica’s Augustinian College.

Pope John Paul II occasionally invited Cardinal Ratzinger, who was then Secretary of the Congregation of the Faith, to lunch. Fr Grech would also be invited.

Political 'involvement'

Fr Grech was also involved in negotiations between the Malta Labour Party (MLP) and the Vatican when attempts were made to solve Malta’s politico-religious dispute of the 1960s. Dom Mintoff, then Labour leader, wanted to start discussions with the Vatican about pending issues and asked Fr Grech to intervene so that negotiations could start.

Fr Grech accepted the invitation and immediately informed the Vatican’s Secretariat of State about this request. He was asked to tell Mr Mintoff to put down in writing what the MLP leader was proposing. Subsequently Fr Grech met Mr Mintoff and returned to the Vatican with the proposals.

After examining them, the Secretariat of State told Fr Grech that the proposals could be a basis for discussion. He was then instructed to inform Malta's Archbishop Michael Gonzi what had happened so that negotiations could start. However, when Fr Grech informed the Archbishop in writing and explained what had happened, Gonzi was furious.

Mr Mintoff was no less infuriated when he learned of the Maltese bishops’ reactions to his plans which had been made public. Both the Archbishop and Mr Mintoff were less than grateful to Fr Grech. According to reliable sources Fr Grech’s involvement in the whole matter could have cost the prominent Biblical scholar his chance to be nominated auxiliary bishop of Malta.

On 13 December 2011, Fr Grech received the honour of Companion of the National Order of Merit by President George Abela, in the name of the government and people of Malta. This honour and especially his nomination to the College of Cardinals more than make up for the unfair treatment he received decades ago.