Fields Questions During Visit to U.S.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, AUG. 16, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone says that politicians should have the right to follow their conscience, even if their views are not in accord with the stance of their political party. The Vatican secretary of state said this at a press conference during his visit last week to Nashville and the annual Knights of Columbus convention.
During the cardinal's time in the United States, he celebrated the opening Mass of the convention, gave its keynote address, received the Knights' "Gaudium et Spes" Award and met with journalists to give an overview of his trip.
Cardinal Bertone was asked about pro-abortion Catholic politicians, whether they should receive Communion, and if the Vatican plans to give guidelines to bishops for these cases.
"I don't think that it is necessary to repeat new norms because the norms are well explained in the doctrine of the Church," he said. "I don't understand how a person in public office or one engaged in political activity can be obliged to renounce his Catholic identity because the party, be it in the U.S. or in other countries, imposes an ethical choice on the basis of the party's program.
"This, according to me, does not respect freedom of conscience. It even seems to me to be an oppression of conscience. Where is the freedom of conscience that is so proclaimed and defended in America?"
Cardinal Bertone also spoke of his phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"The telephone conversation should really remain private," the cardinal said, "notwithstanding the fact that some of those conversations may be able to be tapped. The conversations dealt primarily with the state of Christians in the Middle East.
"I told her that her travels by plane, in her efforts for peace, are accompanied by the angels. If they weren't accompanied by the angels, then she would never be able to knit back together all of these relationships that have been so fragile and difficult."
Dignity and courage
The Vatican secretary of state was also asked about the scandal of sexual abuse by priests.
"First of all, I would like to say the Church in the United States has suffered deeply because of this situation, has responded with great dignity, and invites everyone to truly commit themselves to a reversal of this situation," the cardinal said. "While I was still at the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and as the archbishop of Genoa, I accompanied the Church in the U.S. through the period of trial and, I repeat, they faced this trial with dignity and courage."
Cardinal Bertone then made two observations about the issue: "First, the business which has accompanied the sex scandals has nothing to do with respect of the human person, with helping the victims, nor with the recovery of the guilty -- whom we cannot abandon to hell. The business created in the United States around this scandal is really unbearable.
"Secondly, I hope that other institutions and social agencies will face this same problem with their members, with an equal degree of courage and realism as the Catholic Church has done. I wonder if the other agencies or institutions have also provided financial consideration for victims as the Catholic Church has done; if they have taken care of the victims and those who are guilty."
The 72-year-old cardinal told journalists about his impressions of the Church in the United States, noting that he'd met "good bishops and good cardinals" and also calling attention to his visit to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, noting especially the youthfulness of the nuns.
"What do you think is the average age of the Dominican Sisters I just visited? The average is 33 years old," the cardinal exclaimed. He encouraged the Knights to foster work with young people, as did Pope John Paul II.
The cardinal's homily at the Knights of Columbus convention dwelled on certain aspects of the life of the founder of the Knights of Columbus, Father Michael McGivney, a priest of the Diocese of Hartford who died in 1890.
The cardinal said that the Congregation for Saints' Causes "is currently studying the life of this servant of God, with a view to recognizing his sanctity and presenting him to the faithful as a model Christian, worthy of imitation."
Lay vocation
During his address on Aug. 8, Cardinal Bertone spoke to the Knights about the importance of laity in the Church.
He commented that the theme of the conference -- "Faith in Action: Witnessing to the 'Yes' of Jesus Christ" -- helped laypeople to know how to live this "yes."
"This 'yes' is quite simply the 'yes' of faith," the cardinal said. "It is our full, unmitigated acceptance of Jesus as Lord and our commitment to follow him as master and teacher."
Cardinal Bertone alluded to Benedict XVI's encyclical, saying that such faith leads to love.
"Only by living the life of faith -- that is, only by deeply immersing ourselves in the love and mercy of God as revealed in Jesus Christ -- are we able to love and forgive our neighbor as ourselves," he explained.
The cardinal encouraged members of the Knights of Columbus to foster teamwork in parishes between pastors and laity.
He said, "Our integral and persuasive witness to the truth of the Gospel depends heavily on the ability of bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity to work together for the spread of God's kingdom by acknowledging the distinctive role of each vocation within the Body of Christ."