Pope Benedict XVI has today granted a Christmas pardon to Paolo Gabriele, his former valet who has been serving an eighteen month jail sentence for leaking confidential papal documents.
A Vatican communiqué, released this morning by the Secretariat of State, reads:
"This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI visited Paolo Gabriele in prison in order to confirm his forgiveness and communicate in person his decision to grant Mr Gabriele's request for pardon, thereby remitting the sentence passed against the latter. This constitutes a paternal gesture towards a person with whom the Pope shared a relationship of daily familiarity for many years.
"Mr Gabriele was subsequently released from prison and has returned home. Since he cannot resume his previous occupation or continue to live in Vatican City, the Holy See, trusting in his sincere repentance, wishes to offer him the possibility of returning to a serene family life".
In October, Gabriele was found guilty of stealing and copying the Pope's documents and leaking them to an Italian journalist. He said he acted out of love for the Church.
In other news today, the Holy Father appointed an American as the new Promoter of Justice, or chief prosecutor, at Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to oversee clerical sex abuse cases in the Church.
Fr. Robert W. Oliver, a canonical expert for the archdiocese of Boston, replaces Bishop Charles Scicluna who was appointed earlier this year as Auxiliary Bishop of Malta.
Earlier this month, Benedict XVI named Bishop Scicluna as a member of the CDF, enabling him to continue his work in helping deal with abuse cases.
The Maltese bishop was instrumental in ensuring that a comprehensive law was put in place to prosecute any clergy who would molest a child.
Today’s appointment will be seen as confirming that the Pope remains fully committed to taking a hard line on abuse.
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Re Fr Oliver, what’s that old saying about chickens, foxes and henhouses?
@ HRH: I am not sure what you are implying with your “henhouse” comment, but I have had the privilege of meeting Fr. Oliver and I am well acquainted with the religious community that he is from. He is a man of incredible intelligence and unquestionable integrity.
All I know is the Archdiocese of Boston’s web site directive for reporting abuse are one of the worse of all US Archdioceses. The instructions are confusing, verbose, clearly written by lawyers to protect church assets first and for most, not children. If Fr Oliver had anything to do with this web site, we are black to the same old obfuscation.
..we are back to the same old obfuscation. sorry.
The fact that Fr Oliver could not be reached by the Boston Globe for an interview is a worrying sing.
Anyone that takes such a position should be able to explain to the laity where he stands.
Monsignor Charles Scicluna made himself readily available to the press.
So Fr Oliver: where do you stand?
It seems, from reading your archdiocese web site, that for Boston Catholics, the “laws of the archdiocese” supersede laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, when it comes to alleged criminal acts by clergy. Is that the case? Please explain.
As an aside, that fact the Butler was pardoned is a relief, he should have been thanked. Now when are Bishops going to be censored for their cover up?
In this season of peace and grace the Holy Father has extended the olive branch of a pardon to a man who served him faithfully until the moment he decided to do otherwise.
May God bless the Holy Father and may his act of mercy serve as an example of forgiveness to a world that has grown increasingly unforgiving, cynical and cold of heart.
Merry Christmas to one and all.
What is Fr. Oliver’s religious community?
Does anyone know who is overseeing the issue of priests who are cleared or who have the accusation(s) against them withdrawn? It seems to me that they have an unnecessarily difficult time being returned to ministry.
I believe Fr. Oliver is a diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Boston. He is the Assistant for Canonical Affairs for the Archdiocese of Boston.
He has been a Professor of Theology and Canon Law at St. John’s Seminary, Massachusetts.
He earned a J.C.D. and J.C.L. in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America and an S.T.D., S.T.L. and S.T.B. in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Quite an extensive educational background.
We should all wish him well in his new post.
Father Oliver is a member of the Brotherhood of Hope. He is incardinated into the Archdiocese of Boston because the Brotherhood is an association of the faithful, lacking the ability to incardinate its own priests.
I looked at the Boston website, it has been revamped and is much better, I stand corrected. Merry Christmas.
Albert Mary.
Thank you for the clarification on Fr. Oliver’s order. Again, he seems like the right man for the job.
Merry Christmas to all.
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