A Postscript to the Marmion Affair...

A career is concluded...

Since my last post on this matter, it has been announced that Fr John Dardis SJ is no longer the communications manager for the global Society of Jesus. He has been replaced by Fr Chukwuyenum ‘Chuks’ Afiawari SJ as Director of the Communications Office at the General Curia in Rome.

Dardis, who prepared a statement admitting what the Jesuits knew about the predatory and violent paedophile, Joseph Marmion SJ, when he was Irish Provincial in 2004 but failed to publish it, was spoken of as a potential “black pope” or head of the Society of Jesus.

It seems that his signal failure two decades ago has caught up with him and that, despite his repeated apologies for it, the odour of scandal that wafts around him may preclude him from such a serious promotion. He still holds senior positions within the Order, to which he was elected by his peers some time ago.

So, can we assume that lessons have been learned? No. The policy is still one of secrecy, admitting only what must be admitted and avoiding, at any cost, a meaningful and open outreach to the victims of Jesuit paedophiles of whom we know that there are 42 such men, living and dead.

Breath-holding is not advised.