Commissione vaticana e SMOM

[Cav.OSSML]

Nella Chiesa Cattolica vi è una disputa tra tradizionalisti e mondialisti fino da prima del Concilio Vaticano Secondo la quale si è intensificata sotto il pontificato di Bergoglio, il quale si è palesemente schierato dalla parte dei riformisti e/o progressisti.
Quindi, aldilà delle vere ragioni che hanno portato all'evento di cui si sta discorrendo, non può seriamente meravigliare il fatto che il Papa possa non nutrire particolare simpatia per lo SMOM e per il suo attuale Cardinale Patrono, entrambi portatori di valori aristocratici e tradizionali.

[Pasquale M. M. Onorati]

Che 100 stati o giuristi non credono che lo SMOM sia uno stato non vuol dire nulla, altri dicono il contrario. Rifomare perché, per farne una delle tante Ong che edistono? Suvvia siamo seri. Il suo pensiero lo trovo ambiguo ed allineato .

Che strano, nell'elenco ufficiale delle ambasciate dello SMOM https://www.orderofmalta.int/it/attivita-diplomatiche/relazioni-bilaterali/?lang=it mi sembra che ci siano solo alcuni degli stati più importanti dello scacchiere internazionale. A buon intenditor...

[Romegas]

Il suo è un ragionamento discriminatorio e non cristiano, visto che divide gli stati in serie A e B. Forse non ha argomenti migliori oppure nutre un risentimento verso lo Smom.

[Tilius]

Il suo è un ragionamento discriminatorio e non cristiano, visto che divide gli stati in serie A e B.

11° comandamento: non dividerai gli stati in serie A e B.

[Alessio Bruno Bedini]

Non c'è dubbio che stiamo vivendo giorni che saranno ricordati in futuro .. spero nel bene.

Siamo ormai alla guerra aperta.. si aggiungono altri capitoli alla Saga.

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/6607/0/ ... -in-geneva

ORDER OF MALTA CHIEF WITHDRAWS COOPERATION AFTER ACCUSING VATICAN'S INQUIRY OF LINKS WITH FUND IN GENEVA
16 January 2017 | by Christopher Lamb

Order of Malta chief withdraws cooperation after accusing Vatican's inquiry of links with fund in Geneva
The leader of the Knights of Malta has doubled-down his opposition to a Vatican inquiry into his sacking of a top official by seeking to discredit members of the investigation and by setting up his own commission to investigate them.

In a letter the Grand Master, Matthew Festing, claims the make-up of the commission announced by the Holy See is unfit to investigate because they have links to a fund in Geneva, thus making them unable to objectively assess the situation.

The move is the latest in an ongoing battle between the Order of Malta and the Vatican over the sacking of Grand Chancellor, Albrecht von Boeselager, in a row about the distribution of condoms in Myanmar.

Festing provides no further details to back up his latest assertion and stresses “there is nothing to suggest anything untoward”. But he claims that evidence has been presented to him that warrants his action to set up his own inquiry.

“The makeup of the group of people has raised serious questions within the Grand Magistry. There are serious accusations of a conflict of interest for at least three of the members who have been proved to be linked to a fund in Geneva,” the Grand Master writes in a letter sent to the order’s leadership which has been seen by The Tablet.

“Needless to say there is nothing to suggest anything untoward, but personal and financial links make the commission members clearly unfit to address the situation objectively. The proof presented to me have prompted me to put in place a professional commission of inquiry into the situation.”

As a result Festing says the Vatican’s commission will be kept at “arms length” until his own investigation concludes, a position that further ups tension between the order and the Holy See.

The order has already refused to co-operate with the Vatican commission into von Boeselager’s dismissal as they are a sovereign entity (the group has diplomatic relations with more than 100 countries and observer status at the United Nations).

But the Vatican has insisted it has the power to inquire into the circumstances around the action against von Boeselager’s as the knights are also a Catholic religious order who ultimately owe obedience to the Pope.

Francis set up a commission before Christmas to be led by seasoned papal diplomat Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, a former envoy to the UN in Geneva.

He is being assisted by Fr Gianfranco Ghirlanda, a former rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University; Marc Odendall, an investment banker; Jacques de Liedekerke, a lawyer; and Marwan Sehnaoui, president of the Order of Malta in Lebanon.

Festing does not name the fund in question, although Odendall is listed as treasurer of the Swiss-based Caritas in Veritate Foundation which has the Holy See’s representative to the UN in Geneva as its president. The foundation’s aims are to promote the Church’s position in public debate and international negotiations.

There is no suggestion that Odendall’s involvement in this fund causes a conflict of interest, and Festing’s claims are so far unsubstantiated.

The Grand Master sacked and suspended his respected Grand Chanceller in what also appears to have been about a long running power struggle at the top of the order. Cardinal Raymond Burke, the order’s patron and prominent Francis critic was present at the dismissal with both he and Festing claiming the action was backed by the Pope and the Holy See.

But letters have revealed Francis made no request for Boeselager to be dismissed and instead called for the situation to be resolved with dialogue.

The row has laid bare the internal resistance faced by the Pope with Cardinal Burke also threatening to “formally correct” Francis over his concessions to divorced and remarried Catholics.

This dispute over condom distribution - something which von Boeselager says he stopped - reveals the clash between the Pope’s vision for a Church of compassion and dialogue, and Cardinal Burke's vision of a Church based on rules.

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/6612/0/ ... to-crisis-

VATICAN DISMISSES ORDER OF MALTA'S ATTEMPTS TO BYPASS OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO 'CRISIS'
17 January 2017 | by Christopher Lamb

Vatican dismisses Order of Malta's attempts to bypass official inquiry into 'crisis'
The Vatican has hit back at attempts to discredit its commission investigating the Knights of Malta and has called on the order to cooperate with its inquiries.

Pope Francis has set up a commission to examine events around the sacking and suspension of Grand Chancellor, Albrecht von Boeselager, in a row about the distribution of condoms.

Von Boeselager was dismissed by Grand Master of the knights, Matthew Festing, in the presence of Cardinal Raymond Burke, the order’s patron, who had claimed the action had the backing of the Holy See.

The order’s leadership has now said it will refuse to co-operate with the inquiry, while a letter from Festing has alleged some members of the commission are unfit to investigate due to conflicts of interest. Without providing evidence, the Grand Master has claimed three members cannot be objective because they have ties to a fund in Geneva - and Festing has now announced his own inquiry.

Today, however, the Vatican released a statement saying that they rejected any attempt to discredit their commission. The statement also made clear that the Holy See expects the Order to cooperate with its inquiry.

Here is the Holy See’s statement below in full:

"In relation to the events of recent weeks concerning the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Holy See wishes to reiterate its support and encouragement for the commendable work that members and volunteers carry out in various parts of the world, in fulfilment of the aims of the Order: tuitio fidei (the defence of the Faith) and obsequium pauperum (service to the poor, the sick and those in greatest need).

"For the support and advancement of this generous mission, the Holy See reaffirms its confidence in the five Members of the Group appointed by Pope Francis on 21 December 2016 to inform him about the present crisis of the Central Direction of the Order, and rejects, based on the documentation in its possession, any attempt to discredit these Members of the Group and their work.

"The Holy See counts on the complete cooperation of all in this sensitive stage, and awaits the Report of the above-mentioned Group in order to adopt, within its area of competence, the most fitting decisions for the good of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and of the Church."

[nicolad72]

Onestà intellettuale ci imporrebbe di sentirle tutte le campane... non solo quelle che sostengono una tesi...
Ma noto con sempre maggior dispiacere che l'obiettività di importanti esponenti di questo forum viene sempre più meno a favore delle tesi che essi sostengono

http://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/orde ... IH5RFPhCUm
(i grassetti le sottolineature e i colori sono miei)

Order of Malta, Holy See Remain at Odds Over Inquiry Commission

Posted by Edward Pentin on Wednesday Jan 18th, 2017 at 4:36 PM
Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing’s letter outlining the order’s position in rejecting the commission was followed by a Jan. 17 Vatican statement supporting the inquiry.
Article main image

VATICAN CITY — In the latest developments in the dispute between the Holy See and the Knights of Malta, the head of the 900-year-old order has written to its members emphasizing that his refusal to recognize a Holy See commission of inquiry is because he is trying to protect the order’s sovereignty and to safeguard the Church and the Knights from “any potential scandal.”

The Holy See has responded by issuing a statement Jan. 17 in which it reaffirmed “its confidence” in members of its commission, adding that the Holy See “counts on the complete cooperation of all in this sensitive stage” — meaning that it still expects the order to cooperate with it. The Holy See went on to say that it “awaits” the commission’s report “in order to adopt, within its area of competence, the most fitting decisions.”

In his letter dated Jan. 14, Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing also sought to offer reassurance that the legality of the process used to remove former Grand Chancellor Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager has been “clarified by numerous sources,” in particular the avvocato di stato (attorney general), who issued a statement Jan. 10 saying the correct procedure had been followed.

Boeselager was asked to resign Dec. 6 because of what the order, in a Dec. 13 statement, called an “extremely grave and untenable” situation. He refused twice, leading the grand commander, with the backing of the grand master and the order’s Sovereign Council and “most members of the order around the world,” to initiate a “disciplinary procedure” against him that saw him suspended from all offices within the Order of Malta.


His dismissal led to the Holy See announcing Dec. 22 a commission of inquiry (the Vatican prefers to call it a group), which is seeking to obtain information on the matter. It began acquiring information Jan. 16 and is mandated to complete its work by Jan. 31. The Order of Malta has refused to recognize the group of inquiry, saying it is an internal matter of governance for the order and that its religious nature “does not prejudice the exercise” of its “sovereign prerogatives.”

In an article on the matter last week, the Register revealed that the group is made up of five members, most of whom have been close associates of the former grand chancellor, including the commission’s head, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi. Further complicating matters is the fact that Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, is a friend of Boeselager. According to sources within the order, the ex-grand chancellor applied considerable pressure on the Holy See to set up the commission immediately after his dismissal.

In a Dec. 13 statement, the order defended its reasons for removing the German-born Boeselager, saying it was “due to severe problems which occurred during Boeselager’s tenure as grand hospitaller of the Order of Malta and his subsequent concealment of these problems from the grand magistry, as proved in a report commissioned by the grand master last year.”



Order: ‘A Failure of Trust’

These severe problems primarily related to the distribution of contraceptives, but the order has also referenced other issues that it says remain confidential. The order’s spokesman, Eugenio Ajroldi di Robbiate, told the Register Jan. 13 that Boeselager was “ultimately responsible” for the contraceptive distribution, as reported by the first Register article on this story, but there are other issues amounting to “a failure of trust.”

The issue of contraceptive distribution was nevertheless a considerable factor that eventually led to Boeselager’s dismissal. According to a firsthand testimony given by a former employee with Malteser Werke, the order’s humanitarian arm in Germany, the organization “definitely distributed condoms within its refugee service facilities” in the German towns of Xanten, Hemer, Hamm, Willich and Viersen and “perhaps also in other localities” as far back as the early 1990s. Boeselager was grand hospitaller of the order at the time and responsible for overseeing the work of the Malteser agency, a position he held from 1989 to 2014. The employee found the distribution of condoms at odds with his conscience and faith, but when he raised the matter with his immediate superior, he said he was threatened with dismissal.

Although a number of the order’s national associations have publicly backed Fra’ Festing, others are concerned that such a long-serving and senior member should have been dismissed without any kind of tribunal. They have also been critical that he has been replaced by two “unelected” members, which they describe as a “coup” attempt.

Robbiate said such a statement “is nonsense,” as the interim grand chancellor, Fra’ John Critien, was elected in May 2014 to the Sovereign Council, a body that assists the grand master, and then elected as grand chancellor in December. The other “unelected” member in question, Christophe Drzyzdzinski, has not changed his role as director of the grand master’s cabinet, a position he has held since 2014.

Robbiate also stressed that all members “are committed to faithfully comply with its laws” and that no disciplinary action has been taken other than that against Boeselager. He also said the grand master “regularly consults the constitutionalists before making major decisions” and that this was specifically done before Boeselager’s dismissal.

Boeselager is not giving comments to the media until the commission has finished its work, but in Jan. 11 comments to the Register, his spokesman, Max Hohenberg, drew attention to the fact that Boeselager had taken his case to the magistral tribunal of the order to appeal against his suspension and in particular his removal from the function as grand chancellor. Hohenberg said his suspension went against the constitution and argued that “no disciplinary procedure has validly been initiated.”



Conflict-of-Interest Accusations

In his Jan. 14 letter, Fra’ Festing said the makeup of the Holy See commission had “raised serious questions,” including because of “serious accusations of a conflict of interest for at least three of the members who have been proved to be linked to a fund in Geneva.” The Register previously reported three commission members — Archbishop Tomasi, Marc Odendall and Marwan Sehnaoui — had been involved with Boeselager regarding a mysterious 120-million Swiss Franc ($118 million) donation to the benefit of the order.

According to documentation the Register has obtained, the order appears to be connected to a Swiss trust. The Register contacted the trust, but did not receive answers to questions related to such connections. Instead, reference was made to Swiss law and criminal penalties if the name of the trust or its members, or allegations about the trust, were published.

The Register has contacted Archbishop Tomasi, Odendall and Boeselager to request information about their apparent involvement in the trust (their names are also in the documentation), but all three have declined to comment ahead of the Jan. 31 completion of the commission of inquiry’s work.

In his Jan. 14 letter, Fra’ Festing said regarding the fund that “there is nothing to suggest anything untoward, but personal and financial links make the commission members clearly unfit to address the situation objectively.” He added that what he has learned of the trust has prompted him to set up an Order of Malta commission to look into it. The Register understands that the trust, like many of Boeselager’s activities, were unknown to Fra’ Festing, who was elected grand master in 2008.

In its Jan. 17 statement, the Holy See reaffirmed its “confidence” in the five members of the commission and said it “rejects, based on the documentation in its possession, any attempt to discredit these members of the group and their work.”



The German Association

The Order of Malta’s leadership has long struggled with its German association. Sources within the order say the association — the wealthiest of all of the order’s national bodies — is seeking to “disenfranchise” the highest rank of the order — its religious — who take a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience, and ultimately take over the running of the order.

Due to its lack of vocations, the German association does not have a single professed member, so none of their members can become grand master and be involved in the order’s highest level of decision-making, which is why some say the German members wish to see an end to religious vows. “The Germans want to remove the grand master and take over the entire Via Condotti [the Knights’ administrative headquarters in Rome],” said a source inside the order who wished to remain anonymous.

“The Germans play a huge role and don’t play by rules,” said another source speaking on condition of anonymity, while sources in Rome and Germany have indicated that Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich was highly active in helping to influence the decision to set up a papal commission of enquiry.

The German association denies allegations of wanting to rid the order of its religious character. Its president, Erich Lobkowicz, told the Register Jan. 7 that it is “completely absurd to claim that we do not, with all our heart, support the professed knights as the core of the order.” He added, “We think they should come from the old aristocracy or like-minded generous Catholic people” and said that the order’s lay nature “depends on the professed knights.”

“We have not the slightest inclination to change this,” he said, and he put the current dispute down to a “battle between all that Pope Francis stands for and a tiny clique of ultraconservative frilly old diehards in the Church — diehards that have missed the train in every conceivable respect.”

He added that the German association was “being bad-mouthed as too liberal, because that's easier than attacking the Pope.”

Lobkowicz also said it “pains us deeply to be defamed by certain persons, doing nothing but sitting around in luxury, as lacking in faith or spirituality.”

The German association president added, “We actively help and do our best to live and proclaim our Catholic faith. There is no teaching of the Church we do not adhere to! Ask our cardinals and bishops, most of whom know us well.”



Papal Concerns

Despite these firm denials, the Register has learned that the Holy Father has taken the claims seriously and has asked Cardinal Raymond Burke to review the order’s constitutions specifically to address the allegations of a German strategy to remake it into what some fear would become a quasi-non-governmental organization. The aim of the review would be to affirm the religious nature of the order, especially with respect to its highest ranks, which, until Boeselager was elected grand chancellor, used to be filled only with professed knights who have taken vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

The review instruction came after the order’s last elections in 2014, when the German association succeeded in placing three very senior positions (grand chancellor, grand hospitaller and receiver of the common treasure) into the hands of non-professed knights. The second rank, to which Boeselager belonged, is a contemporary introduction into the constitutions and is seen by some members, from the most senior ranks down, as a means of diminishing the importance of the professed knights, especially when their vow of obedience seems to be misunderstood, as critics of Boeselager maintain.

Lobkowicz’s response to the order’s opposition to the Holy See commission, which he called an “open rebellion” against the Pope, was not well received by some associations, most notably the Italian association. And according to a source inside the order, further “horrible” messages from German members attacking the grand master are likely to provoke “disciplinary action” against them when this dispute ends. Such behavior contravenes the order’s constitution.

Some in the order speculate the Holy See commission already has reached an internal conclusion, given the very short time it has been given to complete its work. But with its longstanding ties to the Holy See, it's hoped a resolution can be reached in which all sides save face.

Cardinal Parolin was invited again to answer questions on the issue by the Register, but his office did not respond.



‘Let Us Pray Together’

In his Jan. 14 letter, Fra’ Festing stressed he would “not allow the rebellion of a few influential members of the order to succeed in their aim, for whatever reason, to drive a wedge between the Holy See and the order and the Holy Father and me.” And he urged members not to misunderstand his intentions, “nor question my unflinching loyalty to the Holy Father.”

“Let us pray together, that this needlessly fluid situation is quickly resolved and that unity can be restored to the order,” he said. “The only truly disturbing consequence of the removal of the former grand chancellor is the distraction of some members of the order from their defense of the faith and their service of Our Lord, the sick and those in need.

“I call upon all of you to unite in prayer and service to witness the strength and unity of the order, and to ensure that those few who are trying to drive a wedge between the Holy See and the order for their own interests meet with failure.”

“I personally need your loyalty and support now more than ever,” Fra’ Festing’s letter concluded. “Please pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, for the continuation of our good relations with the Holy See, and for me.”

In its Jan. 17 statement, the Holy See reiterated its “support and encouragement for the commendable work” that the order carries out in various parts of the world in defending the faith and serving the poor and the sick.

Edward Pentin is the Register’s Rome correspondent.

[Alessio Bruno Bedini]

Caro Nicola, ti ringrazio per il tuo contributo.
Una fonte in più che seguirò in questa vicenda che, ora, giorno dopo giorno ci appare forse più chiara.

Mi piacerebbe, come anche Maurizio ti ha detto, sentire il tuo parere non solo sulla vicenda, ma anche sul come venirne fuori.
Pensi che la convocazione del Capitolo possa (poteva) essere un modo?

[Romegas]

Qui si cita il cardinale di Monaco, un prelato la cui ortodossia rasenta l'eresia e che non si preoccupa della chiusura di tante chiese nella sua diocesi per il suo modo di operare. In Vaticano nessuno si è preoccupato di procedere contro di lui, chissà perché......

[nicolad72]

Caro Nicola, ti ringrazio per il tuo contributo.
Una fonte in più che seguirò in questa vicenda che, ora, giorno dopo giorno ci appare forse più chiara.

Mi piacerebbe, come anche Maurizio ti ha detto, sentire il tuo parere non solo sulla vicenda, ma anche sul come venirne fuori.
Pensi che la convocazione del Capitolo possa (poteva) essere un modo?

Alessio ho letto il tuo di parere, che mi ha fatto gelare il sangue nelle vene... sei un membro dell'ordine, non ne conosci la costituzione (l'ignorare le modalità di elezione delle grandi cariche e del sovrano consiglio mi par essere una lacuna assai grave) e non hai mai fatto un pellegrinaggio, ossia vissuto sulla tua pelle il servizio ai Signori Malati... però hai espresso la tua opinione dall'alto della tua cattedra di carta velina.

Io per ora guardo e leggo. La situazione è complessa... io comunque aborro qualsiasi forma di tirannia, soprattutto quando pratica molto poco ciò che predica con insistenza, ed i suoi leccacalzini

[Alessio Bruno Bedini]

Alessio ho letto il tuo di parere, che mi ha fatto gelare il sangue nelle vene... sei un membro dell'ordine, non ne conosci la costituzione (l'ignorare le modalità di elezione delle grandi cariche e del sovrano consiglio mi par essere una lacuna assai grave) e non hai mai fatto un pellegrinaggio, ossia vissuto sulla tua pelle il servizio ai Signori Malati... però hai espresso la tua opinione dall'alto della tua cattedra di carta velina.

Io per ora guardo e leggo. La situazione è complessa... io comunque aborro qualsiasi forma di tirannia, soprattutto quando pratica molto poco ciò che predica con insistenza, ed i suoi leccacalzini

Caro Nicola, ti ringrazio per la tua risposta.
La costituzione all'art.20 par 6 recita che "I membri del Sovrano Consiglio rimangono in carica fino al successivo Capitolo Generale". A questo mi riferivo.

Per quanto riguarda il servizio ai Signori malati purtroppo invece devo dirti che è un qualcosa che mi tocca quotidianamente e molto da vicino.
Ti assicuro che in questi casi la questione è diversa da quando fai una volta ogni tanto il filantropo con gente estranea alla tua famiglia.

[nicolad72]

Alessio sei stato tu a dichiarare che non hai mai fatto un pellegrinaggio con l'ordine. Ti rammento che fare un pellegrinaggio a Lourdes per un membro dell'Ordine non è un'opzione! E da quanto mi hai detto tu stesso Lourdes e Loreto le hai viste solo in cartolina.
Per il resto le tue becere mistificazione sull'altrui filantropismo puoi riprendertele con gli interessi... perché offendono chi alla milizia giovannita ci crede e la pratica davvero. Essere membro del SMOM non vuol dire fare conferenze e partecipare a S. Messe, uniche attività le cui immagini abbondano sul tuo profilo fb! Ma in fondo da uno che confonde l'accolito con il caudatario cos'altro ci si può aspettare...

[Alessio Bruno Bedini]

Alessio sei stato tu a dichiarare che non hai mai fatto un pellegrinaggio con l'ordine. Ti rammento che fare un pellegrinaggio a Lourdes per un membro dell'Ordine non è un'opzione! E da quanto mi hai detto tu stesso Lourdes e Loreto le hai viste solo in cartolina.
Per il resto le tue becere mistificazione sull'altrui filantropismo puoi riprendertele con gli interessi... perché offendono chi alla milizia giovannita ci crede e la pratica davvero. Essere membro del SMOM non vuol dire fare conferenze e partecipare a S. Messe, uniche attività le cui immagini abbondano sul tuo profilo fb! Ma in fondo da uno che confonde l'accolito con il caudatario cos'altro ci si può aspettare...

Caro Nicola, non sai nulla di me.
Il profilo facebook non basta per conoscere una persona.
Nonostante le cattiverie che hai scritto però mi sento in pace con te come cerco di esserlo con tutti.
Ciò che ti auguro è che anche tu possa trovare la giusta serenità nella tua vita.

[nicolad72]

Alessio i primi giudizi li hai esternati tu... con la tua inappropriata battuta sulla filantropia!
Io sono serenissimo... è che detesto i leccacalzini, gli approfittatori, i millantatori e soprattutto gli ultimi arrivati che si spacciano per padroni di casa... magari ci vedremo - io ne sarei lietissimo - a Lorudes o Loreto a fare un po' di filantropia a perfetti sconosciuti!

[Cristiano Ciani]

Nicola, Alessio, siete due persone che stimo profondamente. Non litigate così, su. PAX ET BONUM

[Cristiano Ciani]

Qualcuno può chiarirmi in cosa consiste il conflitto di interesse sollevato? Grazie a tutti