My apologies for jumping to Fr. Wenthe's defense - as one friend informed me, and later after reading more details in the newspaper, I realized that I did not have all of the facts.
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From what I understand, Fr. Wenthe heard his victim's confession - more than once - for sins against the 6th Commandment they committed. According to Canon Law absolution given in such a circumstance is invalid (except in danger of death) and the priest incurs a latae sententiae excommunication. (Canon 977, 1378)
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So. Did the Chancery know that? If so, what did the Chancery do about it? Why was Wenthe given a parish after that?
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Yeah. So I was at Mass last evening, still numb. Why do I care? What business is it of mine? I don't know. I'm Catholic.
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Anyway - a transitional deacon fresh from Rome gave the homily. I felt so completely jaded. I couldn't look at him. His homily was on how to reach perfection - the things one needs to do. It was absolutely Fellini-esque.
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Photo: Fellini's 'Roma'
