Holy smoke! It appears that the ruby red Prada slippers that Benedict XVI wore are now on the other foot.

How ironic that members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were complicit for decades about protecting known abuser priests. The same feckless organization, however, was totally enthusiastic to participate and endorse the Apostolic Visitation into America’s provinces of nuns — a witch hunt in every sense begun to ease the fears of U.S. bishops that the nuns were running amok, what with their abandonment of religious garments and living independently outside of convents, not to mention forming radical feminist ideas about their organizations.

What were the results of the investigation?

The Vatican takeaway was a total vindication affirming the good works of the nuns with the possible exception of one finding (hold on to your mitres!) some of the orders practiced reiki in their hospitals and retreat presentations.

One can only hope that the same office of the Vatican concerned with monitoring religious orders and vocations can muster the same zeal into investigating and ending once and for all the shameless cover-ups and failure to expose dangerous predators masquerading “In Persona Christe.”

MARY LOU WALTER
Shaler

First Published: August 27, 2018, 4:00 a.m.