Mgr. Rossi of the National Shrine Embarrasses Self In Public

Oh, yes, Monsignor, we'll all just fuggeddaboutit.

Explaining why he ordered the cancellation of a book-signing by Phil Lawler at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Msgr. Walter Rossi, the rector the basilica, told the Washington Times that Phil's book, The Faithful Departed, covered a subject on which the Roman Pontiff wants no further discussion. During his April visit to the US, the rector said, the Pope said as much.

"Benedict over and over again said it's time to move on," the monsignor said of the sex-abuse scandal.

Really?

If the Pope said this "over and over again," it's funny that the message does not appear in the transcripts of his public remarks. It's funny that nobody else heard him say it

The US Bishops, of course, would LOVE to have the whole thing disappear, and they ordered Mgr. Rossi to come up with some line of foofoodust--which he did, obediently--to legitimize their command.

Here in Milwaukee, we have at least $26 million reasons to remember. In LosAngeles and Boston, the numbers are even higher.

And you think, Monsignor, that you have credibility? That you represent some sort of moral authority?

Fuggeddaboutit, Monsignor.