Clean hands in the Church! This expression came from the reform of Italian politics in the 1990’s when politicians implicated with the Mafia and corruption in general were cleaned out. I mentioned to my wife this morning that I had understood how the Pope is now beginning a major reform of the Catholic Episcopate, and she brought up the Italian words Mani Pulite, since she had lived in Rome in the 1980's as an au pair girl. This is most welcome. This morning, I read several articles in the French blog Osservatore Vaticano. Two have drawn my attention today. One is from yesterday, what the Holy Father is doing about the scourge of paedophilia in the clergy. Some journalists have ranted on about “crocodile tears” referring to the Pope’s act of penance in regard to the Irish Church. But, like crocodiles, these tears have teeth! His hands were tied under the previous Pontificate by Curial men in high office who didn’t want the boat to be rocked, and he was hampered at every turn by the incompetence and bad will of so many diocesan bishops.

Like the tricoteuses (old ladies doing their knitting) at the foot of the guillotine during the Terror, we can see the basket fill up with chopped-off heads! The Archbishop of Miami, John C. Favalora, has resigned. Bishop James Moriarty of Kildare and Leighlin in Ireland is gone. The Holy Father lapped up these voluntary resignations without hesitation. The most recent is Bishop Roger Vangheluwe of Bruges in Belgium who admitted to personally abusing a child (it would seem he was just about to be exposed). He has just resigned, and will spend the rest of his life worrying about how he is going to find the money to repair for his crime! Perhaps, if I were his banker, I would lend him the money — but for 300% interest, and then give the interest money to a deserving Ordinariate.

Unworthy, incompetent and inapt bishops will follow. With Benedict XVI, it is zero tolerance – and good riddance to the chaff that has plagued the Church for decades and “cancelled out” the entire history of the Church and the mission of Christ. Now, we’re in business…

More recently, another bit of encouraging news is the improved content of the Ecclesia Dei Commission in Rome with the nomination of Monsignor Patrick Descourtieux of the Archdiocese of Paris, a good man, whom I once met in the organ loft at St John Lateran. I probably still have his visiting card somewhere in my papers. Without going into detail, the Commission is now entrusted with sorting out the doctrinal discussions with the Society of St Pius X and everything to do with the old liturgy in communion with Rome. This is nothing new, but it is all being streamlined. But, there is still the problem of getting Summorum Pontificum implemented in the dioceses where the local Bishop refuses any concession to the most moderate and loyal traditionalists.

There is a feeling in the air that the Holy Father is about to engage a course of action involving a reform of the Episcopate, as happened in the sixteenth century in the wake of the Council of Trent. Spring is at last here!

Watch the Internet, especially the best watchdogs I know of: Osservatore Vaticano, Fr. John T. Zuhlsdorf, Whispers in the Loggia, Damian Thompson. Many of us hope for the nomination of strong men, with kindness and human virtue, but firm. It is possible – - and it is extremely urgent.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord : or who shall rise up in his holy place?
Even he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart : and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour.
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord : and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of them that seek him : even of them that seek thy face, O Jacob. (Psalm 24)

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