Allegations that Pope Francis covered for a senior US cardinal accused of abuse have raised questions about a possible plot against the pontiff by figures within the Catholic Church’s ultra-conservative hierarchy. Pope Francis “knew from at least June 23, 2013, that McCarrick was a serial predator,” Vigano alleged. Among some ultra-conservative Catholics, the pope is regarded as a dangerous progressive who is more interested in social issues than traditional Church matters. On Wednesday, US cardinal Raymond Leo Burke — the pope’s fiercest critic within the Vatican — backed Vigano’s call for Francis to step down. Lantheaume did not respond to AFP’s questions but told the Catholic News Agency that Vigano had told “the truth”.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 30, 2018 11:48 UTC