The ousted ‘foreign minister’ of the ancient lay Catholic order, the Order of Malta, has appealed against his suspension to the knights’ internal tribunal, marking a new twist in the standoff between the Vatican and the order.
Albrecht von Boeselager was suspended on December 8 after he defied a demand by the knights’ leader to resign, following reports that the order’s charity branch distributed tens of thousands of condoms in Burma on his watch.
In a statement Mr Boeselager said that he had filed an appeal with the knights’ tribunal. The appeal argues that “not even one of the conditions” governing suspension of members applied to his case.
In particular, he said there was no justification for launching a disciplinary procedure against him, and that the one used to remove him was invalid anyway.
The Pope has intervened in the row, establishing a commission to investigate what Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, described as an “unprecedented crisis” within the order.
The leadership of the knights, however, will not cooperate with the inquiry, arguing that it is a sovereign entity under international law.
The fall-out has attracted greater scrutiny because of the involvement of Cardinal Raymond Burke, who is papal ambassador to the Order of Malta and who has been an outspoken critic of the Pope’s apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia.
Mr Boeselager has claimed that he was told during a meeting where Cardinal Burke was present that Pope Francis wanted him to resign as grand chancellor over the condoms affair. Sources in the order, and Cardinal Burke, reportedly deny this.
Cardinal Parolin said the Pope did not want Albrecht von Boeselager’s resignation but wanted the dispute to be solved through dialogue.
The Order of Malta has several markers of a sovereign state. It issues its own passports, stamps and licence plates and enjoys diplomatic relations with 106 states, including the Holy See. But when the Vatican announced its investigation on December 22 it cited its status as a “lay religious order”, meaning that it remained at the service of “the faith and the Holy Father”.
The knights trace their history to the 11th century with the opening of an infirmary in Jerusalem that cared for pilgrims of different faiths. It now claims 13,500 members and 100,000 staff and volunteers.
Archbishop: ‘unparalleled’ savagery has gripped Nigeria
The head of the Nigerian bishops’ conference has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to act against a culture of savagery “unparalleled” in the country’s history.
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos spoke after suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked indigenous farmers in southern Kaduna state earlier this month.
The Diocese of Kafanchan, located in the area, estimated that more than 800 people had been killed in the attacks.
“We are becoming so sadistic that we do not see that such brutality creates a culture of impunity, chaos, anarchy and doom; as if the needless killing by Boko Haram is not enough,” said Archbishop Kaigama.
“The manner [in which] lives are being taken right now in southern Kaduna and many other troubled areas of our nation is tantamount to a declaration of war against helpless and innocent Nigerians.
“How can human lives be so casually terminated, with pictures of dead bodies, decapitated or disfigured corpses shown in the social media?” he asked. “For how long will killings, associated with demented or irrational reasoning, continue to be witnessed before a concerted effort is made to stop such carnage?”
McDonald’s to feed Rome’s poor
A Mcdonald’s newly opened just outside the Vatican has announced that it will donate burgers to the poor and hungry.
Medicina Solidale (“Solidarity Medicine”) announced that it was joining forces with the fast food chain and the papal almoner’s office to distribute 1,000 meals to poor people who found shelter in and around St Peter’s Basilica.
Volunteers will hand out 100 double cheeseburgers as well as apples and bottles of water every Monday for 10 weeks.
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