PRESS HERE TO READ ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT’S STUNNINGLY TRUTHFUL, EXTREMELY BOLD AND VERY COURAGEOUS CORRECTION OF POPE FRANCIS.
I JUST TURNED 70, LIVED THROUGH VATICAN II’S AFTERMATH, A WISHY-WASHY PROGRESSIVE SEMINARY, A GREAT 44 YEARS OF MINISTRY, THE SEX ABUSE CRISIS AND NOW THIS.
THAT THE CHURCH SURVIVES POPES, BISHOPS, PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND LAITY FOR 2000 YEARS IS A MYSTERY OF GOD MERCY AND DIVINE PROTECTION. THAT CONTINUES TOO!
Here’s the good Archbishop’s best money byte:
Over the past decade ambiguity on certain matters of Catholic doctrine and practice has become a pattern for the current pontificate. The pope’s criticism of American Catholics has too often been unjust and uninformed. Much of the German Church is effectively in schism, yet Rome first unwisely tolerated Germany’s “synodal path,” and then reacted too slowly to preclude the negative results. At a time when fatherhood and male Christian spiritual leadership are in crisis, the Holy Father has asked his International Theological Commission to work on “de-masculinizing” the Church. The most urgent challenge that Christians face in today’s world is anthropological: who and what a human being is; whether we have some higher purpose that warrants our special dignity as a species; whether we’re anything more than unusually smart animals who can invent and reinvent ourselves. And yet our focus for 2024 is a synod on synodality.
14 comments:
This very cathartic, but I worry that it will be seen as merely complaining and defensive. Our Holy Father is not ‘in a good place’ emotionally and may feel more threatened by those with whom he appears to have sided. His resentment and vindictiveness will be challenged and it will be difficult for him to resist culling the list. He has won the fight for the factions that control him, for the list dioceses that reject his document may be taken a roster of schismatics and he can use that list to cleanse his church. Sad times.
Archbishop emeritus Charles Chaput issued the following false claim:
"The document is a doubleminded exercise in simultaneously affirming and undercutting Catholic teaching on the nature of blessings and their application to “irregular” relationships."
I turn again to holy Bishop Stephen Parkes, whose pro-Declaration stance I had read about today. The following from Bishop Parkes stands in opposition to Archbishop emeritus Charles Chaput's false claim in question:
Bishop Stephen Parkes:
"The declaration does not make any change or amendment to the theology of the Sacrament of Marriage. Priests are often asked to provide a blessing to people in casual interactions, as indicated in the declaration."
"These blessings do not inquire or require examination of the person’s moral character or standing.'
"A blessing of the individuals who are involved in a same-sex union would be, in a pastoral context for instance, to provide a few examples: helping the person to grow in their relationship with God, to desire holiness, or to ask for strength in living a life of faithfulness as a disciple."
"Blessings are imparted to help a person understand God’s love and mercy, and inspire us to grow closer to Him."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver stands in opposition to Archbishop emeritus Chaput's misrepresentation of the Declaration, Fiducia Supplicans:
Archbishop Samuel Aquila:
"...the document in no way changes the Church’s teaching or practice on marriage or the sinfulness of sexual acts outside of the marital embrace of husband and wife. Rather, at every turn, it affirms what Christ, and the Church has always taught regarding marriage"
"Finally, a blessing, which can always be given to anyone seeking strength and aid from God, is not intended to legitimize a sinful situation, and always has the aim of assisting one in growing to live and embrace God’s plan for life as taught through Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church."
"The blessing can never be seen as legitimizing sin."
"The article by John Bursch in the National Catholic Register does an excellent job of summarizing the main points of the declaration and cuts through the confusion in the media to bring clarity.
"Along with the document Fiducia Supplicans itself, I highly recommend this article as well."
Here is the article that Archbishop Samuel Aquila has recommended:
https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/did-pope-francis-authorize-priests-to-bless-same-sex-unions
Pax.
Mark Thomas
MT thanks for recognizing the schism between bishops and nations that the pope is causing and that he is the source of it. The post where I link various responses by various major players in the Church also confirms your insights into the papal caused schism. It is a catastrophe that I don’t think the next pope can heal short of a miracle. Thanks for the additional confirmation on this horror.
Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina:
"I write you today to address the recent Declaration from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith entitled Fiducia supplicans (FS).
"As you serve God’s people daily in your priestly vocations, you understand this Declaration will be widely discussed, interpreted and misinterpreted."
"Firstly, I ask that you emphasize to your parishioners that our Church has not changed its
doctrine, and God’s plan for love and life will not be contradicted."
"Some of the secular world willingly views FS as a reversal of teaching, that the Catholic Church now upholds homosexual unions. This is not the case."
"Blessings are not a new practice in our faith, and the blessings discussed in FS are inadmissible if they in any way cause public scandal, affirm irregular or same-sex unions or celebrate sin."
"To quote the document directly, “... this Declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage, not allowing any type of liturgical rite or blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion.”
"The Church, Christ's bride divinely founded and inspired, is the dispenser of grace. We fallen sinners are called to the worthy reception of the sacraments and to lead each other to heaven."
"Any actions, behaviors or words that contradict these long-held doctrines are not sanctioned by the Church."
"Secondly, this Declaration is an opportunity to reflect on our pastoral role to those in our congregations with same-sex attraction. More than ever, with the confusion of our modern world, they need encouragement to persevere and guidance to follow Christ in their call to holiness and bravely carrying this cross."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Father McDonald, holy Bishops Stephen Parkes, as well as Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, have made it clear that the Declaration, Fiducia Supplicans, upholds Church teaching.
The latest, for example, from Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS:
"I write you today to address the recent Declaration from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith entitled Fiducia supplicans (FS).
"As you serve God’s people daily in your priestly vocations, you understand this Declaration will be widely discussed, interpreted and misinterpreted."
"Firstly, I ask that you emphasize to your parishioners that our Church has not changed its
doctrine, and God’s plan for love and life will not be contradicted."
"Some of the secular world willingly views FS as a reversal of teaching, that the Catholic Church now upholds homosexual unions. This is not the case."
"Blessings are not a new practice in our faith, and the blessings discussed in FS are inadmissible if they in any way cause public scandal, affirm irregular or same-sex unions or celebrate sin."
"To quote the document directly, “... this Declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage, not allowing any type of liturgical rite or blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion.”
"The Church, Christ's bride divinely founded and inspired, is the dispenser of grace. We fallen sinners are called to the worthy reception of the sacraments and to lead each other to heaven."
"Any actions, behaviors or words that contradict these long-held doctrines are not sanctioned by the Church."
"Secondly, this Declaration is an opportunity to reflect on our pastoral role to those in our congregations with same-sex attraction. More than ever, with the confusion of our modern world, they need encouragement to persevere and guidance to follow Christ in their call to holiness and bravely carrying this cross."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
MT, thanks again for pointing out the obvious, but I am not sure why you continue to beat the dead horse, there are bishops that are careful to make clear that we can’t bless sinful unions but the persons, it must be private, not by appointment and with no liturgical gear and not even in the Church. There are others, like the Germans, who have liturgical blessings of the union as well as of the person. There is division from bishop to bishop and even bishops’ conferences to conferences, not to mention individual priests and deacon. That stark contrast and division is the foundation for an eventual schism. Thanks for acknowledging what this papacy has accomplished in a breathtaking way.
Fr, What MT and the other cut and pasters don't want to admit is that Francis has stepped in it up to his knees.
It the PERCEPTION, just as V2 didn't call for ripping our churches all to hell and feminizing the liturgy, it was done in the SPIRIT of V2. So will this crock of offal spiral out of control till it becomes "anything goes"
the Egyptian's logic would have us believe that the misrepresentation of Summorum Pontificum by various "traditionalists" was the fault of Pope Benedict XVI/SP.
Or, that the misrepresentation of Pope Venerable Pius XII as "Hitler's Pope" was Venerable Pius XII's fault.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
WOW! Great MT. You are advocating the canceling of the permission to bless same sex couples because there is and will be widespread abuse of it to the point of schism (i.e. Germans). It isn’t the documents’ fault for it being canceled, like Summorum Pontificum, but those who abuse it. YES, YES, YES! CANCEL FS AWAY! THANKS MT for your insight into how to get it canceled!
What the Egyptian and the others who cut-and-paste anti-Pope Francis talking points do not wish to admit is that the misrepresentation of the Declaration's clear and orthodox teachings is not Pope Francis' fault.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
The teaching on this new kind of blessing, a flip flop by the pope, states it is novel and in no way does it have a history in the Church of the East or west. Thus you cannot say it is orthodox. The best you can say is that it is a new invention!
On January 24, 2003 A.D., Garcia-Siller was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois, by Pope John Paul II.
On October 14, 2010 A.D., Pope Benedict XVI appointed Garcia-Siller as Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas.
Archbishop Garcia-Siller has praised Fiducia Supplicans as a beautiful, orthodox document that he will implement within the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Father McDonald said..."The teaching on this new kind of blessing...is novel and in no way does it have a history in the Church of the East or west. Thus you cannot say it is orthodox."
I thought that a Pope is unable to promulgate anything contrary to the Faith?
For example, in 2017 A.D., New Liturgical Movement insisted that Pope Benedict XVI had filled Summorum Pontificum with novel "legal fictions." (Peter Kwasniewski described them as "lies.")
Nevertheless, Pope Benedict XVI's novel "legal fictions" were deemed orthodox as, thanks to the promise of Jesus Christ, Pope Benedict XVI was protected from having promulgated anything contrary to the Faith.
Is not Pope Francis under that same Divine protection?
Thank you.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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