Music has always been a helping medium, and in extreme situations, even maneuvering people.
Since the Renaissance, it has contributed significantly to this, and during which it was on the side of the powerful and accessible only to the rich.
By the 1970s, when punk typically appeared, it clearly takes the side of the marginalized and the weak.
And, in general, everything that the mass media refuses to talk about, punk will not be silent.
So, the Spaniards Ska-P, after six years of absence as a band, return with their second most successful album, “Lágrimas y Gozos” of 2008.
Their first single, but also the most recognized song, is “Crimen Sollicitationis“, released on September 5th.
The song also gives the title to the album, of which “tears and joy” are mentioned in the lyrics.
As tears of children and pleasure of Catholic priests.
The song is lyrical about a taboo, even today and of course it is a musical accusation towards the Catholic Church and its hypocrisy.
Pulpul, guitarist and singer of the band writes the lyrics.
He refers to the Circular, which gives title to the song.
The Circular
This is one of the major scandals revealed by the CBS television network in August 2003.
On 28 August of the same year, 4 Italian MPs (Marνa Pannella (NI), Marco Cappato (NI) and Gianfranco Dell’Alba (NI), Italian MPs, ask about:
The changing of politics with the Vatican, so as not to remain “shadow and impunity areas for the clergy”.
The “Crimen Sollicitationis” Circular of the Holy See’s Holy Cardinal Holy Synod addressed all Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops of other places, “including those of the Eastern Typical.”
Concerning the appropriate way of dealing with cases of sexual incitement and was dated March 16, 1962.
The 1962 document was approved by Pope John XXIII and was signed by Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, Secretary of the Holy Office.
It had specific instructions on how to apply the “Code of Canon” rules.
Essentially, it is the Circular which aimed to cover up the sexual offenses committed by the clergy.
The document gives specific instructions on how to handle sexual crimes committed by members of the clergy at the expense of the faithful.
Crimes related to: homosexuality, pedophilia or animosity!
The Circular, as stated, should “be kept diligently in the Vatican’s secret records“.
This document reveals that by order of the Holy See the dioceses had to keep records of the complaints without informing anyone or commenting.
And above all to hide from public opinion and justice the cases of sexual exploitation committed by members of the clergy.
The penalty
The penalty imposed on proven (?) crimes was none other than excommunication!
Seventy of the 74 paragraphs concerned sexual affairs during the Church’s mystery and reported the complainant as “repentant“.
That in fact, the complainant, in a way, had regretted the complaints he had made!
It is worth noting that the Circular was used by many lawyers in cases against Catholic priests as evidence of obstruction of justice.
The imposition of “criminal prosecution” remained in force until 18 May 2001, when it was replaced by new rules issued by the papal “motu proprio sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela” of 30 April of the same year.
Normally it should have ceased to apply since 1983, with the entry into force of the revised “Code of Canon Law 1917“.
However, it continued to be used with some necessary adjustments, and a review was carried out at the same time.
Essentially, through confession, the priest, was simply subjected to ecclesiastical law and not to the common criminal code.
In simple terms, crimes such as pedophilia were not punished as they should.
Code of Canon
It is a system of laws and principles of law formulated and enforced by the hierarchical principles of the Catholic Church.
It was the first modern and oldest western legal system.
As is well known, there are 36 jurisprudence collections dating back to 1150.
It includes some elements of the Jewish (Old Testament), Roman, Visigothic, Saxon and Celtic legal tradition.
The lyrics
The lyrics clearly mention the name of Pope Benedict XVI, known as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger.
Whose name is referred on the footnote of a letter he sent to the bishops of the world.
The letter details the procedures to be followed in the case of sexual abuse.
The text remained secret until May 18, 2002, as reported by nationalcatholicreporter.org.
In the song, he is mentioned, with no flattering address as … Judas.
“Judas, my name is Ratzinger
Judas, soy Benedicto XXVI”
It is not accidental that 384 priests removed from the Vatican during the 2011-2012 year, by a decision of Pope Francis.
All cases concerned the crime of pedophilia!
However, there are still victims who are afraid to speak out…
The video clip
The video clip follows the lyrics of the song.
It presents an archbishop as a deformed monster, who manipulates and punishes unprotected children.
The scene, where he holds a child by the hand, implies all the essence of the lyrics.
