When some spectacular scandals broke out (Groër in Vienna in 1995, Paetz in Poznań in 1999, Law in Boston in 2001), the Pope was already old, and his coworkers were trying to spare him, especially on the intrusive rumors about the controversial figure of Father Maciel, founder of the congregation of The Legionnaires of Christ – alone being divided: some Cardinals, such as Sodano, Re or Castrillón Hoyos , they wanted to solve these scandals “internally” in individual dioceses, while Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith tried to convince John Paul II to address this issue, which he did in 2001 …
“At this time too, as priests we are personally and profoundly afflicted by the sins of some of our brothers who have betrayed the grace of Ordination in succumbing even to the most grievous forms of the mysterium iniquitatis at work in the world. Grave scandal is caused, with the result that a dark shadow of suspicion is cast over all the other fine priests (…) As the Church shows her concern for the victims and strives to respond in truth and justice to each of these painful situations..”
(John Paul II, Letter to Priests, Holy Thursday, 2002)
“…there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young. (…) The abuse which has caused this crisis is by every standard wrong and rightly considered a crime by society; it is also an appalling sin in the eyes of God.”
(John Paul II, speech to the Cardinals of the United States, April 23, 2002)
“…the Bishop is bound to intervene in a timely manner, according to the established canonical norms, …for the reparation of scandal and the restoration of justice, and for all that is required for the protection and assistance of victims. “
(John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation “Pastores Gregis”, October 2003)
With the permission of Bernard Lecomte “The world according to John Paul II” Tallandier, Paris 2018
