The Vatican is in a stupor

[Joel S. Berson]

Belgian police hold members of the Belgian Bishops' Conference for
nine hours while searching for documents related to sex abuse cases,
and drill into the tombs of two Cardinals, former Archbishops.  In a
statement, " the Vatican said its secretary of state 'expressed great
stupor at the way in which the seizures were conducted yesterday by
Belgian authorities and indignation at the fact that two tombs were
violated.' "  [NYTimes, June 26.]

Did the Vatican mean "[in] A state of insensibility or lethargy"?  Or
perhaps dementia, namely anergic stupor or delusional stupor? Or
"Admiring wonder"?  Or "Stupidity, dullness of
comprehension"?  [Editorial comment: perhaps "stupidity" for having
tolerated what known abusers have perpetrated.]

Well, perhaps "apathy or torpor of mind (now only, torpor or
prostration of mind due to sorrow, painful surprise, or the
like)"  But even this "prostration of mind due to ... painful
surprise" is characterized as apathy, torpor (the latter being
"Absence or suspension of motive power, activity, or feeling;
{dag}inertia (obs.)" or "Intellectual or spiritual lethargy; apathy,
listlessness; dullness; indifference".  [Editorial comment:  a
revealing allusion to indifference?]

Ultimately, it seems that being in a stupor and having indignation is
an oxymoron.  Unless being held for nine hours put the bishops into a
stupor and noisy drilling into the tombs awakened them to indignation.

Joel

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