There’s been a lot of discussion of what the Pope can or should do about bishops who have shuffled pervert priests and some have suggested that the principles of collegiality tends to mean that the Pope does not act like a CEO firing his managers. However, history shows that Pope can and has acted to impose sanctions against misbehaving bishops. In this case, the Pope asked Cardinal Groer of Vienna to relinquish all his ecclesiastical duties and privileges as an archbishop in 1998. This was in spite of Groer’s denials of allegations that he molested boys in the 1970s. In the last few years, the Pope also removed a French bishop who was consistently preaching heresy.
The fact is that the Pope, when he wants to, can and has taken action against misbehaving bishops.
By the way, Cardinal Groer died last night in Vienna. God rest his soul and have mercy on him.
