It seems absurd at first thought. But read this article in The Atlantic, on Papalgate: The Pope’s Nixon Problem, which starts this way:
The ever-widening scandal over Pope Benedict XVI’s handling of Church sex abuse cases has an eerily familiar ring: it’s unfolding in much the same way that Watergate played out for Richard Nixon. Each day brings new revelations, to which the Pope and his supporters respond with carefully crafted explanations and pointed counterattacks.
Is this Watergate with holy water? Here’s a look at some of the ways in which Pope Benedict XVI has found himself caught up in a scandal of Nixonian proportions…
As author Tom McNichol explains, there are four ways this is similar:
- The nagging question: What Did He Know and When Did He Know It?
- It’s Not the Crime, It’s the Cover-up
- Shooting the Messenger
- The Dangers of Infallibility
I see alot of #3 happening right now. Obvious the Pope has risk #4 in a big way. As more and more investigation happens in various countries, #2 is becoming a bigger and bigger concern. Which leads more and more to #1.
Difficult times for the Pope and the Church lie ahead.
Smart People I Know 