Inside The Vatican

Last week, the Vatican released its report on how former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was able to rise through the ranks of the church hierarchy despite rumors swirling about him abusing priests, seminarians, and minors.

Now, survivors and advocates in countries like Poland, Chile and Mexico want detailed Vatican reports on sexual abuse in their countries to be published, too. “Many people are saying, we’ve had the McCarrick report, now let’s have the Maciel report,” explains Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell, referring to the notoriously abusive priest, Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and host Colleen Dulle look at the ripple effects the McCarrick report has had in the United States and around the world.

The two also discuss whether the Vatican can go back to normal after such an unprecedented disclosure of its inner workings. On one hand, Pope Francis has laid the legal framework for investigating anonymous abuse claims and investigating bishops, and he has now set a precedent for disclosing information about how bishops are appointed. On the other hand, he faced internal resistance to publishing the McCarrick report, and many bishops would prefer to continue business as usual. Will the calls for greater transparency and accountability coming from around the world be heeded?

Links from the show:

Inside the Vatican | Deep Dive: The Rise and Fall of Theodore McCarrick

Gerard O’Connell | Deep Dive: The McCarrick Report and the popes it implicates

Colleen Dulle | Top 5 Takeaways from the McCarrick Report

The McCarrick Report and Pope John Paul II: Confronting a saint’s tarnished legacy

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The Vatican’s long-awaited report on the rise of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was finally published yesterday. The document reveals that complaints about Mr. McCarrick’s abuse of seminarians reached all the way to Pope John Paul II, and that allegations of his abuse of children reached at least to John Paul’s top advisors.

In this deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” America’s Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and producer Colleen Dulle explain the rise and fall of Theodore McCarrick, once the most prominent prelate in the U.S. Catholic church.

The two unpack the accusations made in Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano’s incendiary 2018 letter and how those are addressed in the Vatican’s recent report. Gerry gives an up-close view of how the events of the last two years unfolded, and Colleen raises questions about whether this report will usher in a new era of accountability.

You can find a transcript of this conversation at https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/inside-vatican. 

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell | Deep Dive: The McCarrick Report and the popes it implicates

Colleen Dulle | Top 5 Takeaways from the McCarrick Report

The McCarrick Report and Pope John Paul II: Confronting a saint’s tarnished legacy

Inside the Vatican | A 3-minute summary of what the McCarrick Report reveals

U.S. Catholic leaders react to the McCarrick report

Colleen Dulle | Explainer: What the church has done to fight clergy sex abuse since 2018’s ‘summer of shame’

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Colleen Dulle gives a brief update on the Vatican’s report on former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, which was published today.

Read America Media's full report: Vatican report tracks McCarrick’s rise despite allegations of abuse and misconduct

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Many in the Vatican have kept a close eye on the U.S. presidential election, held Nov. 3. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss what advantages and disadvantages each candidate offers in the eyes of Holy See officials.

The U.S. election comes amid a surge in coronavirus cases in Italy. Over the weekend, Italy saw more than 30,000 new cases per day, up from the previous peak of 5,000 per day in March. Gerry gives an update on restrictions in Italy and the Vatican, and the hosts discuss how the Vatican plans to approach two major upcoming events: the consistory to create new cardinals in late November and the pope’s traditional Christmas Mass.

Finally, Colleen and Gerry discuss a memo from the Vatican’s Secretariat of State briefing ambassadors on Pope Francis’ widely-publicized comments on civil unions for same-sex couples.

Correction: Describing Pope Francis' civil union comments, Gerry said they came from a 2018 interview. The interview was given in 2019.

Read more:

Several American seminarians in Rome test positive for COVID-19

Vatican breaks silence, explains Pope Francis’ civil union comments

Find America Magazine’s election coverage at americamag.org

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Pope Francis made headlines last week when he endorsed civil unions for same-sex couples as part of an interview in a new documentary called “Francesco.” Almost immediately, questions emerged about the comments: Was the pope mistranslated? When did he make these comments? Had he been censored?

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell answer these questions “rapid fire,” as Colleen says, and unpack everything you need to know about the pope’s comments on civil unions for same-sex couples.

The hosts also give an update on coronavirus in Italy and the Vatican, and discuss the nomination of the world’s first Black American cardinal and, briefly, the renewal of the Vatican-China deal.

Keep an eye on our YouTube channel for an explainer video from Colleen and Gerry on Pope Francis' same-sex unions comments!

Read more:

Colleen Dulle | Explainer: What Pope Francis actually said about civil unions—and why it matters

Gerard O’Connell | Analysis: What is going on at the Vatican’s communications department?

Where homosexuality is still illegal, Pope Francis has thrown a lifeline to L.G.B.T. Catholics

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis names 13 new cardinals, including Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington D.C.

Gerard O’Connell | The Vatican is ready to renew its deal with China. Privately, officials admit they’re walking a tightrope.

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We're sharing an episode of America's 9-part podcast series "Voting Catholic."

In the series finale, Sebastian speaks with Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, a leading voice on Catholic Social Teaching in the American hierarchy. How should Catholics prioritize the issues? And what does it really mean to form your conscience?

Bishop McElroy is the author of two books: The Search for an American Public Theology and Morality and American Foreign Policy.

US Bishops teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics: "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship"

Stay up-to-date with America Media's coverage of the 2020 election: www.americamagazine.org/newsletters

You can support this media ministry at www.americamagazine.org/donate

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In a new documentary that premiered in Rome today, Pope Francis reiterated his support for civil unions for same-sex couples and slammed the Trump administration’s family separation policy.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” host Colleen Dulle and Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell discuss the new documentary, “Francesco,” directed by Evgeny Afineevsky. Gerry interviewed the director, who sought to depict Francis’ papacy through the lens of the social issues the pope has focused on.

Colleen and Gerry discuss the pope’s comments on the family separation policy coming out just weeks before the U.S. presidential election. “It’s cruelty, and separating kids from parents goes against natural rights,” the pope says in a new interview given for the documentary. “It’s something a Christian cannot do.”

They also discuss the history behind Francis’ endorsement of legal protections for same-sex couples, which dates at least to Francis’ days as archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Read more:

Pope Francis declares support for same-sex civil unions for the first time as pope

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Vatican City saw seven new cases of the coronavirus this week, marking a sudden second wave of infections in the world’s smallest nation. Four of those infected were Swiss Guards; the other three were Vatican residents. As Vatican employees attempt to trace and test those who may have been exposed to these individuals, the influx of cases has thrown into question whether it is safe to continue papal audiences, where many people ignore social distance protocols and some, including Pope Francis, do not wear masks.

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss the Vatican’s existing protocols and why Pope Francis may be hesitant to wear a mask.

The hosts also explain Cardinal George Pell’s visit with Pope Francis this week. Is it the final flourish in a “victory lap” around his former rival, Cardinal Angelo Becciu? This week on the show, Colleen and Gerry discuss what they make of the meeting.

Links from the show:

Four Swiss Guards test positive as Covid-19 penetrates Vatican

Gerard O’Connell: Why is Australia’s Cardinal Pell returning to Rome?

Pope Francis welcomes Cardinal Pell after sex abuse trial

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This week on the “Inside the Vatican” podcast, Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell and producer Colleen Dulle unpack their takeaways from Pope Francis’ new encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti.”

The hosts discuss the pope’s unique interpretation of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Pope Francis devotes an entire chapter of the encyclical to the story, calling on his readers to imagine whether they are most like the Samaritan or the priest and Levite who pass by the wounded man. He examines today’s social issues in light of the parable, saying that it is rare today for someone to give his or her time as the Samaritan did, and that the Samaritan would have been unable to care for the man without the cooperation of institutions like the inn where the man rested and was treated.

Colleen recaps the new developments of the document, including the elevation of Francis’ ban on the death penalty to the level of an encyclical and the doubt he casts on whether modern wars are able to meet the requirements of a “just war” as described in just war theory. Gerry situates the encyclical in the rest of Francis’ pontificate, and the two discuss how “Fratelli Tutti” relates to “Laudato Si’.”

The hosts also discuss the document’s impact on Catholic-Muslim relations. Pope Francis has tied “Fratelli Tutti” to the document on human fraternity he signed last year with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and he chose a Muslim judge who worked with both religous leaders to officially present “Fratelli Tutti” at the Vatican. Gerry gives some insights from his interview with the judge.

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell: In new encyclical, Pope Francis envisions ‘renewed hope’ from universal love, open to ‘every man and woman’

‘Inside the Vatican’ podcast: ‘Fratelli Tutti’ in 5 minutes

Colleen Dulle: VIDEO: Five takeaways from ‘Fratelli Tutti’

James Martin, S.J.: Pope Francis closes the door on the death penalty in ‘Fratelli Tutti’

Gerard O’Connell: First Muslim to ever present a papal encyclical praises ‘Fratelli Tutti’

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Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, was released today. The encyclical, which is the highest classification of papal document, is Francis’ diagnosis of the social problems plaguing our world—and his proposed cures.

In this brief Inside the Vatican update, host Colleen Dulle breaks down the document’s main themes.

Visit americamagazine.org for full coverage of Fratelli Tutti.

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