Currents News Staff
Resignations are continuing amidst the 5-year Vatican Communication revamp. This time, the entire editorial committee for the Vatican’s Women’s Magazine have made their voice heard louder than ever with 11 simultaneous resignations.
In an open letter to Pope Francis and an official announcement in their April edition, “Women Church World’s” founder, Lucetta Scaraffia, and her hand-picked team have all resigned.
“There are many causes. Under the new direction of Vatican Communications, a process of delegitimization began toward our magazine. We thought we could resist, but the process was wearing us out, so we thought it best to leave,” said Scaraffia.
The seven-year-old monthly magazine was published by the Vatican’s L’Osservatore Romano. On Dec. 18, the director changed from Scaraffia’s friend, Giovanni Maria Vian to Andrea Monda.
Scaraffia says it was a painful decision to resign, yet, the women’s autonomous work was under threat.
“When the new Communication Director, Monda, arrived, they said they wanted to make him director of the magazine and to participate in our meetings. We said no, so we quit,” Scaraffia added.
Monda did not respond for comment. Rather, he referred to his printed response which states, he granted “total autonomy and freedom” to the women and “refrained from interfering in any way,” only suggesting possible themes or authors.
He asserts the magazine will continue to be published.
“Others, who are more obedient, will continue it,” said Scaraffia.
Lucetta believes her article “Senza Tatto,” about women religious who are abused by priests was a turning point. It led to Pope Francis being the first pope to admit abuse of religious women is happening within the Catholic Church.
“I cannot say that ‘in my house’ this does not happen. It’s true,” Francis said back in February.
While the magazine began under Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis also supported their journalistic work.
These are not the only resignations in the revamping of Vatican Communications. Last March, Dario Vigano the prefect of the Secretariat for Communication over the “lettergate” scandal and the two papal spokespersons on December 31st.