Honesty Counts: Cardinal Sarah and the Withdrawal of His Signature from the Appeal

What a sad state of affairs. If you read my post earlier today, you know about the Vigano letter/petition, APPEAL FOR THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD to Catholics and all people of good will. 

Among the several dozen original signers was Cardinal Robert Sarah. But after the letter was published, he denied signing it which led to a letter of fraternal correction from Archbishop Vigano.

According to the timeline described by Archbishop Vigano, the cardinal agreed to support the petition on May 4th in a telephone conversation. Archbishop Vigano recorded it. On May 7th at 8:43 a.m., Vigano called Sarah to get the phone number of Cardinal Mueller who apparently also agreed to sign since he's listed on the letter. At that time, according to Vigano, Sarah didn't ask to have his name removed. 

At 3:00 p.m the same day, Vigano officially released the letter to the press and others. 

At 5:48 p.m. almost three hours after the letter was already circulating. Sarah sent a text message to Vigano asking to have his name removed. Vigano didn't see the message for a few hours, but it was obviously already too late.

What happened next is truly shameful! Cardinal Sarah tweeted that he never signed the petition, an act of casuistry if there ever was one. I can see a Jesuit like James Martin saying with a straight face. "I never signed the letter." (Heh, heh....I just gave permission to include my name verbally, so I'm not really lying.)

I'm glad Vigano recorded the conversation. Like Edward Pentin, who fortunately recorded Cardinal Kasper's disparaging comments about the African bishops during the Synod on the Family, Vigano's reputation is also under fire. Cardinal Sarah's denial made every name on the list of signers suspect and slandered Archbishop Vigano. 

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano

How could he do it? Why not just admit he had a change of heart?

His response to Vigano's letter of correction was a sanctimonious tweet:

I will not speak to this petition, which today seems to occupy a lot of people. I leave to their conscience those who want to exploit it in one way or another. I decided not to sign this text. I fully accept my choice. + RS

What kind of answer is that? He did decide to sign and then changed his mind. He doesn't deny or attempt to correct Vigano's claims. One can only assume that he did exactly what the archbishop described in his letter.

That the slander was committed by a man many of us hold in high esteem is the epitome of disappointment. I've read two of Cardinal Sarah's books, The Power of Silence and God or Nothing. I'm almost finished with From the Depths of Our Hearts and The Day is Now Far Spent waits in the queue on the bookshelf. I'm not sure I'll read it now. 

The situation is profoundly ironic in view of the accusation against Sarah claiming he manipulated and misrepresented Pope Emeritus Benedict as co-author of their book on the celibate priesthood, From the Depths of Our Hearts. Sarah was rightly incensed, and he came back with a strong defense insisting that the pope did, indeed, co-author the book. So how could he turn around and commit the same injustice against Archbishop Vigano that was done to him? I'm heartbroken. I'm always heartbroken when I witness betrayal. And I no longer trust Cardinal Sarah.

That's the problem with lying. You betray trust. And trust is hard to win back. 

Cardinal Sarah, we never knew ye....until now. And now...well...It doesn't appear that Vigano is lying....which leaves only one alternative. 

The credibility of one more bishop bites the dust. Pragmatism, once again, trumps honesty and truth. We just never expected that of Cardinal Sarah.

Lord Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, have mercy on us!