Read the original article (George Wright - BBC News).
The Vatican, 2024:
Sometimes, the door to the legate's study was so stiff that one had to force the lock in order to get it open. Today was the day I broke the lock.
You see, I had already been in something of a rush - as I usually am by that time of morning, around nine or so o'clock - having carried letters to the council members currently staying with us, and completed the day's required readings, I now had to fetch comment from the legate himself. I was also, by this point, furious. News had reached me late yesterday evening concerning a clerk's looseness in requesting comment from the legate, who had assumed that a written letter was sufficient, and must have felt that leaving matters of international significance lying around on desk-tops is a perfectly natural idea. It is a legal requirement of the state that any such conversations are held in person. To make matters worse, one of my own close affiliates had endorsed the young man heavily, and so I was implicated in a network of support for behaviour I would find unacceptable even at the academy.
Before I can continue it is important I develop further the significance of this lock. It had always been difficult to open - so challenging, in fact, that rumour has it the door was once modified in elaborate attempt to contain the legate at the time, several centuries ago. The lock had, for reasons unknown, remained unreplaced since the alleged incident. But then again, it was only alleged.
It nevertheless became somewhat of a ritual for people like myself, the people who walked these corridors - straight-backed cardinals Cardinals with narrow shoelaces, Deacons, walking cloaked in their holy vestments, and Ministers, who always walked with a stoop but spoke with absolute authority. Between each of us this close to the legate, the opening of the lock had become a coveted skill - he did not discourage disturbance, but as it was made clear on a number of occasions, he did not welcome it either. I am perhaps understating things. It was to such an extent that a quiet opening of the study door could almost always ensure a favourable conversation, renewal or encouragement, whereas a slightly more careless fumbling of the lock resulted in rejection, firm treatment and fatherly love. It became something of a personal sin to too suddenly disturb this lock; not for the sake of the legate, but the story it once represented, and for the mystique with which it surrounded our leader. This is the context in which I am writing about the instance I broke it.
I knew quite well already what the legate would say. After the beginning of the consultation here and the massacre in Berkina Faso, he’d become a - in my opinion, sometimes blunt - articulator of our particular faith, although I am confessing this in utmost privacy. Word of this cannot be spread (if somehow found, lying around somewhere - and yes, I am aware of the hypocrisy). We are all aware of the allegations currently surrounding the legate - that he may, indeed, undermine certain values… allow certain progressions… that remain, to this day, an… inefficient manner… of doing things. He would be understandably tense.
Nevertheless, I had the personal that faith that - at some point in the conversation - I would be able to somehow encourage his ancient wisdom to re-enter into the conversation, and we would once again be able to discuss as men of God. He would see the only response possible to such a dramatic change to be a firm articulation of belief, of our faith, and of the force that guides and loves every one of us. Perhaps he is afraid - but no matter what happened, I was sure I could convince him to make clear our stance.
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Timothy 1:7.
I would need to enter quietly, and be firm - I am a keen negotiator. Particularly in times like these, where certain… attitudes… do not believe in the use of force, there are likewise moments in our time and our history when we are called by the sound of tradition, and we must make very clear our stance, as ancient and honourable as time itself - no matter how personally frustrated either of us may be.
And it was at this moment I broke the lock.
From the main article (George Wright):
"There can be no 'right' to take a human life," the Vatican institution said in a statement, echoing concerns already raised by French Catholic bishops.
It appealed to "all governments and all religious traditions to do their best so that, in this phase of history, the protection of life becomes an absolute priority".
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Hopefully SCOTUS is watching
POLITICS + CHURCHES/RELIGION = PERVERSE EVIL!