Former Vatican official calls for Pope's resignation amid sex abuse scandal
A former Vatican ambassador to Washington has called for Pope Francis to resign over his handling of sexual abuse allegations against a prominent cardinal in 2013.
In a statement seen by CNN Sunday, former Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano said he told the Pope about allegations of sexual abuse against high-profile American Cardinal Theodore McCarrick five years ago, but that the Pontiff did nothing about it.
"He [Pope Francis] knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was a serial predator," Vigano said in the lengthy statement dated August 22, adding, "although he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered him to the bitter end."
"It was only when he was forced by the report of the abuse of a minor, again on the basis of media attention, that he took action [regarding McCarrick] to save his image in the media," Vigano continued.
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Vigano also says Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl was aware of reports of sexual abuse by his predecessor McCarrick.
"Cardinal Wuerl, well aware of the continuous abuses committed by Cardinal McCarrick and the sanctions imposed on him by Pope Benedict, transgressing the Pope's order also allowed him to reside at a seminary in Washington D.C.," said Vigano.
"In doing so, he put other seminarians at risk," he added.
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