S olemn and pious, each cardinal and bishop summoned to Rome, to sit before the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF), slowly filed into the Palace of Holy Office, quiet and tense. Summoned by the Pope himself, they had gathered at the Holy See to discuss the rash exposure of child molestations sweeping the United States, devastating the Church’s reputation and credibility around the world, costing millions of dollars in lost contributions and out of court settlements.
The CDF was the oldest, and most active, of the nine congregations of the Roman Catholic Church, that managed church affairs and oversaw the Roman Curia’s operations.
From his studies of the Apostolic Constitution on Roman Curia, Cardinal Polletto recalled Article 48, which defined the duties of the CDF as a mandate to safeguard the doctrine of faith and morals throughout the world of Catholicism, and to defend the integrity of the faith, a broad directive that encompassed much.
Cardinal Polletto, draped in a new cardinal red vestment, wore his favorite twenty-two carat ring, with a blood red ruby surrounded by twenty half carat diamonds. He followed the stream of nervous, concerned holy men, feigning the same trepidation that was plastered on their faces, knowing full well that many of them had more interest in the Church’s economic and political well-being, than for the injured children.
Cardinal Polletto gave pious nods and smiles to several men he counted in the service of The Order. He pretended to acknowledge several cardinals he knew would vigorously oppose his drive to destroy the Church if they knew his true intentions. He even tossed a smile and bow of his head to Cardinal Maximilian, the man he would destroy if given a speck of an opportunity.
Nobody in the chamber now taking their seat worried or gave him reason to fret. Especially since only forty-eight hours before, he’d stood with a chill running down his spine, as Father Tolbert pointed a loaded revolver at his head.
On the edge of a breakdown, Father Tolbert had pulled a gun after Cardinal Polletto told him that the two Samuel look-a-likes, Eduardo and Felipe, as well as Samuel himself, were the priest’s genetic clones.
Father Tolbert took a shot at him, but the bullet whizzed by the cardinal’s right ear and lodged in the wall. Father Ortega rushed inside and tackled Father Tolbert, knocking the gun from his grasp. Cardinal Polletto fumed, stomped forward, his hand drawn back to deliver a hard slap, but before he could, Father Tolbert collapsed and passed out cold.
Fortunately, Father Tolbert’s living quarters were near empty, with most of the men living there at a special presentation at the Vatican Museum. Those who did hear it had probably dismissed it as something other than gunfire, because nobody came running or asked any questions.
Father Ortega quickly snatched up the gun and slipped it in his pocket. Cardinal Polletto removed the bullet from the wall with a knife and told Father Ortega to repair the wall himself. Father Ortega slapped Father Tolbert into a barely lucid state, then pulled him to his feet.
Cardinal Polletto followed them to the car.
“Take him to Bracciano Castle until further notice. Sedate him,” the cardinal ordered. “Keep him under until I arrive.” Everyone sat quietly as the ten cardinals, who were members of the CDF, Cardinal Angelo Ottaviani, and to Cardinal Polletto’s dismay, Cardinal Maximilian, all took their seats up front behind a long sixteenth century gothic table on a riser above them.
Cardinal Polletto eased back in his chair and soaked in the scene, sizing up each cleric in the room. Ten bishops, five archbishops, and five additional cardinals had been ordered to Rome. Most of the bishops invited were executive committee members of the National Bishops Organizational Committee (NBOC) from the United States, who had recently adopted a policy recommending expulsion for any priest who molested a child. The policy was non-binding, without the approval of the Vatican, and the discussion and debate that was about to take place was the beginning of a process that would take years to complete.
The cardinals attending included Cardinals Polletto and Maximilian from the United States, Cardinal E’Tienne Rousseau from France, Cardinal Abubakar Osagiobare from Nigeria, and Cardinal Niklas Bauer from Germany.
Cardinal Polletto hadn’t laid eyes on the men who ran the CDF, now glaring down at them from the stage, in more than a year. Five of them were over the age of eighty, past the limit set by the Church to participate in a vote for a new Pope should the need arise, but every bit the influential force in Rome, with direct contact to the ear of those who mattered most at the Holy See.
When everyone was in place, Cardinal Angelo Ottaviani rose and thanked them for coming on such short notice, extended warm regards from the Holy Bishop of Rome, and turned the meeting over to Cardinal Maximilian. Cardinal Maximilian’s piercing brown eyes softened as he stood, his face a pallet of sincerity. He asked everyone to stand and opened the meeting with a prayer. Cardinal Polletto let the corners of his mouth upturn slightly.
When he finished, Cardinal Maximilian remained standing as everyone else took their seats, and gave a brief summary of why they were assembled, as though common knowledge had slipped their ears.
“The credibility of the Church has taken a severe global beating,” said Cardinal Maximilian. “I believe the edict passed by the NBOC is just the beginning. We should encourage a more thorough background investigation for all candidates of the priesthood, and close psychological analysis and treatment for any offender under our roof.” A buzz reverberated throughout the room, and several hands rose into the air.
Cardinal Maximilian pointed to a hand on the front row. “Bishop Wilmington.”
Bishop Curtis Wilmington, studious, wise for his age, and overseer of the diocese in Dallas stood. “Thank you, Cardinal Maximilian. I wonder if adopting such an immediate, harsh policy is in concert with the Holy Scriptures.”
“Certainly you’re aware that the scriptures speak against such abominations as harming children,” responded Cardinal Rousseau. “The Church can’t be seen as condoning such behavior.” Amused, Cardinal Polletto bit his tongue, not wanting to chime in too early. Since initiating and carefully nurturing the public exposure of one of the Church’s age old skeletons, priests and young boys, he’d found that the mire of debate and confrontation deepened if he just kept quiet and nudged it along at the opportune time.
“The Bible also speaks of forgiveness,” added Bishop Timothy Rogers of Philadelphia. “If second chances apply to parishioners, then why not to those who serve them?”
“Not to mention that canon law doesn’t allow for the random expulsion of priests,” droned Cardinal Bauer, in a heavy German accent.
“For that, new laws must be structured, carefully studied and passed.
Laws that will apply to the entire Church, not just our brethren in the States.”
The murmuring and loud whispering swelled. Cardinal Maximilian, gentle but firm, asked for quiet, which slowly returned. “I understand the need to maintain consistency in the Church precepts, but we can’t ignore the sexual violation of children.”
“We understand,” responded Cardinal Osagiobare, his baritone voice and distinct African accent booming, “but many sins plague us from hell.
How does this outrank other pressing issues, such as homosexuality?
Surely, one sin does not outrank another.” Again, Cardinal Polletto smiled inside. He knew that Cardinal Osagiobare spoke of a faction of homosexual priests who called themselves Saint Sebastian’s Angels. Initially formed in the States, their numbers had grown substantially outside the U.S. in recent years.
“Maybe the strategy should lean more toward temporary censure, than outright expulsion? At least until we get a better handle on how to proceed,” Cardinal Polletto finally said.
“What do you mean?” asked the rotund African cleric.
“Instead of expulsion, they could be reassigned. Not allowed to preside over mass or serve in any capacity where children will be at risk.”
“That’s not new,” shot Cardinal Maximilian. “It’s been tried by many of the parishes. It makes us look as though we’re trying to hide the problem. Sweep it under the rug.”
“Exactly,” chimed Cardinal Rousseau. “We’ve tried psychological counseling, long leaves of absence, spent millions of dollars with very little success. We have to take more drastic measures.” The room percolated and buzzed, as the men argued amongst themselves.
“Quiet, gentlemen, please,” begged Cardinal Maximilian.
“And just how will we confirm every accusation?” added Cardinal Polletto, as the noise died down. “Surely, you’ll launch a full investigation into each incident before stripping a priest of his duties. Or should we just hunt them down and burn them at the stake?” Cardinal Polletto’s heavy-handed remark sent tension washing across the room like a tidal wave. Some stood, snapping at him face to face.
Others rushed to his side and fervently argued in his defense. Beautiful.
Cardinal Maximilian banged his fist on the table and begged them to stay calm. “Your enthusiastic support of the brethren is noted,” he said, behind suspicious eyes. “Please, share with us the details of how you would handle a wayward priest under your watch,” he said to Cardinal Polletto.
Every head turned toward Cardinal Polletto. He stood, back erect, serious, scanning the room.
“It’s not my intention to insinuate that such a matter is simple,” he responded. “We should immediately censure any priest caught up in strong allegations, where confessions have been garnered or the evidence is obvious and overwhelming. But since canon law doesn’t allow for arbitrary discharge, we should reassign them, assess the case, and determine if the man can be rehabilitated.”
“And how do we handle the financial liability?” asked Cardinal Maximilian. “We’ve already paid millions because of the most egregious offenders. If we don’t put a halt to this soon, it’ll turn into an international money grab.”
“Even more of a reason not to be rash,” answered Cardinal Polletto.
“If we’re too hasty to castigate and neuter our own, it’ll turn into a feeding frenzy.”
“And what would you call it now?” asked Cardinal Maximilian. “I doubt it can get any more ferocious than it is right now.”
“The media fervor will die down,” Cardinal Polletto offered.
“They’ll move on to another hot topic soon, and then we’ll be able to handle this in a manner more in line with canon law. At a pace that will foster decisions best for everyone concerned.”
“What about the authorities?” inquired Cardinal Bauer. “They could go a long way in helping us sort out these affairs since our own manpower is short, or in most cases, non-existent.”
“And how far should we allow them into Church affairs?” asked Cardinal Polletto. “Certainly their interests don’t coincide with our own.
We should employ private investigators we can control. I, for one, am not in favor of trusting outsiders, or throwing our brothers to the wolves.”
Cardinal Polletto watched the room sink into a morass of confusion and disillusionment, and took delight in seeing Cardinal Maximilian lose control of the gathering. He laughed inside as the chocolate skinned cleric begged for order he didn’t get. The discord and loss of harmony was just another in a long queue of well-spun arguments initiated at the behest of The Order, all designed to erode, disrupt and destroy.
Hedonism in the bowels of the Catholic Church was nothing new.
Since the mandate that all who serve in the priesthood abstain from sex, and only marry the Church, the opportunity to capitalize on the natural fleshly desires that wage war against all but those who share the gift of celibacy with the Apostle Paul, was to Cardinal Polletto’s delight, plentiful.
A longtime, well-known, but only recently publicized concern of Church leaders, homosexuality and sexual perversion, had long been a battleground the Church hierarchy worked feverishly to veil from public eyes. News of these incidents slipped through occasionally, but were easily covered up and dismissed under the cover of secrecy, buried by the unmatchable power and high-reaching influence of the Holy See.
But, as time edged forward, the perversions did not abate, they grew, even into the inner sanctum of the College of Cardinals, including pederasty and sodomy. In some cases, the escapades were so perverse, the Church fathers considered it an epidemic.
The Order of Asmodeus had never fully taken advantage of the Church’s obvious weakness, until Cardinal Polletto rose up through their ranks. The first stage was easy. Nurture and cultivate sexual degradation in the Church at every turn. The Order established a network that tracked each wayward priest and nun, cataloging every abortion, affair, drug user and apostate.
Cardinal Polletto watched The Order’s efforts burst forth within a wave of hedonistic fervor that rivaled Sodom and Gomorrah. Soon, the campaign fed off of itself, and sent the inner sanctum at The Vatican into an all out panic.
The next move was to expose the turmoil to the public. Sensitive information was leaked, articles written, but nothing took hold or had the devastating impact they hoped. The Vatican, no doubt with the aid of the highly surreptitious Hammer of God, managed to quell most of the fires before they really got started, until Cardinal Polletto spotted a diabolically fiendish trend.
While analyzing reports that came in from around the United States, Cardinal Polletto noticed that the number of priests caught up in, or accused of, pedophilia in America had risen sharply since the beginning of The Order’s campaign. It was the hook they’d been waiting for. Not even the upper echelon of Rome could hide decadence against children.
It worked.
The Church fought back, hiding incidents, paying off victims, sending pedophilic men of the cloth to psychiatric institutions, all in an effort to kill any mounting public outcry. Each step of the way, the Il Martello di Dio did its best to find The Order and quail the effort, but to no avail. Once the press got wind of the magnitude of molestation in the Church, it grew into all-out chaos, threatening the foundation of the Church, and the moral high ground it pretended to possess.
Cardinal Maximilian was finally able to bring order to the dim, humid auditorium, but the debate continued to rage on for another hour.
Cardinal Polletto sat quietly and watched the others try to navigate complicated and confusing canon law. Cardinal Maximilian looked dismayed up on stage, occasionally glaring in Cardinal Polletto’s direction, discomfort and disappointment on his face as he shifted back and forth in his chair. Cardinal Polletto allowed a smile to creep on his thin lips. To his surprise, Cardinal Maximilian smiled back, then stood.
As though it were a signal, the others fell silent.
“This has been a spirited debate,” said Cardinal Maximilian, his voice steady, controlled. “But one we’ll have to continue at our next meeting, ninety days from today. Notes from this meeting and an agenda for the next will be sent before that time so that our next discussion will be more productive.”
Cardinal Polletto stifled the urge to laugh. It’s all too easy. Soon, with the help of the savior we’ve been prayerfully waiting for, the Church will give way to something new, something wonderful.
“But before we take our leave,” Cardinal Maximilian continued, “I think it would be helpful if one of us would provide a specific example we can all follow as a case study of how to handle this situation.” He faced Cardinal Polletto, his eyes mischievous, penetrating. “Since Cardinal Polletto seems to have a strong handle on how we can turn around these brethren, I’d like him, with the permission of this counsel, to give us a brief explanation of how he’s dealing with the challenge of one of his own.”
Cardinal Polletto felt a sharp stab in his chest. His jaw tightened. His mouth felt dry.
“How is Father Tolbert?” asked Cardinal Maximilian, a faint smile on his lips. “Has he gotten better since his assignment here in Rome? I understand there’s been an incident.”