Mea Culpa With Crossed Fingers

Well played, Cardinal Egan.

A bit of confession is truly good for the soul, isn't it? The man in the red hat has declared that he didn't mean it when he apologized for the sex abuse crisis in his Bridgeport, Connecticut, diocese ten years ago.

For feck's sake, it was just because he had to say it or there'd be such an outcry that he'd never have been elevated to cardinal. We can all understand that level of cynicism among those with ambition.

As the Bishop of Bridgeport, he was brilliant. His parishes needed priests of any sort to minister to the flock, and by God he provided them. How dare anyone criticize his decision to protect the pedophiles and not turn them out for public prosecution. Who'd say the Mass, eh?

What's a few damaged juveniles psyches anyway, as compared to the greater good of protecting the Church's image?

Honestly, what was he supposed to be doing with Laurence Brett, the serial abuser, besides follow orders? Cardinal Egan had his pedophile priests under control, and if Father Brett abused other boys when he was cycled out of Egan's diocese, well, it isn't the bishop's problem when he's gotten rid of a pervert.

When you get right down to it, it's the fault of the press for reporting this stuff. Everyone was happy when the abuse was hidden.

Can't we just get back to pray, pay and obey?

So the apology is officially retracted and Cardinal Egan can bask in the glory of his tenure as the Bishop of Bridgeport. He did so much good. Can't we just sweep all that bad back under the rug like good little sheep?