This is what Fr. James Martin, SJ writes on his Facebook page, the second of two posts.You should read the comments. Commenters are inviting LGBTQ++++ Catholics to join the Judgement Free Zone of the Anglican/Episcopal Communion, in other words to go into schism, similar to the Sedevacantists!
Here’s his post (with my most humble, powerfully astute, comments embedded in RED):
To answer questions I've been getting about the Holy Father's comments on blessing same-sex couples today, in a press conference on his way back to Rome: First, we should trust the discernment of the Holy Father in this, as in all things. In addition to his teaching role as the Vicar of Christ, Pope Leo XIV is a kind, wise, thoughtful and prayerful man. And what he says, even in a press conference, needs to be seen in light of this, and appreciating his knowledge of the needs of the universal church. (Absolutely, but I would caution the pope, any pope, to avoid off-the-cuff remarks on such important subjects and never pose answers with the preface, “I think, I believe, In my opinion—just don’t do it—popes should always speak authoritatively and off-the-cuff remarks are dissected to death—but even the opinionated type language points to the fact that the pope is Catholic and it isn’t his opinion about this, that or the other that counts, but the Deposit of Faith and Morals of the Church and all who are invited into the Church but also repent! Repent! Repent! Conversion must take place even in something as intimate and personal as one’s sexual identity and expressions!)
In terms of his comments, it seems, at least to me, that Pope Leo is not abrogating "Fiducia Supplicans," the Vatican document from 2023 that allows priests, under certain conditions, to bless “same-sex couples.” (That’s the language used.) (Nice try and like Pope Leo, Martin says, “It seems, at least to me, that Pope Leo is not abrogating “Fiducia Supplicans.” That is their fear and they should fear it as Pope Francis initiated canceling one pope’s documents in favor of his own reversal documents. Why should Pope Leo be any different in canceling Fiducia Supplicans? )
One of the many conditions was that these blessings would not be formalized, that is, as a kind of planned liturgy. To that end, the German bishops' proposal would be, as I read it, to formalize these blessings more, a move that flows out of the German bishops' sincere desire to listen to the voices of German Catholics raised during their synodal processes. But the Vatican (and the Holy Father) oppose this move, as the Pope said today. Overall, though, "FS," even though it has proven controversial in some parts of the world (while warmly welcomed in others), still stands. (I think Cardinal Marx should be disciplined similar to what appears will happen to the FSPPX priests who will soon be illicitly ordained bishops. What is good for the goose is good for the gander! Cardinal Marx must be disciplined! No?)
The Holy Father's larger point is that to move beyond "FS" would be to risk unity in the church, and he is correct. One of the things that was hammered home for me in the Synod was how things that can seem tepid in the West ("What's the big deal about blessing same-sex couples?," as I heard often) are white-hot in other parts of the church ("Fiducia Supplicans is blessing sin," as I heard just as often). (Fiducia Supplicans as written does permit the blessing of sin, but Pope Francis, after all the push back he received, moderated that position and said no, individuals are being blessed, not the couple or their relationship—but we know what has transpired and Fr. Martin is being a bit duplicitous here, because almost immediately he blessed a homosexual couple and their relationship and put it on his Facebook page, almost gloating over Pope Francis opening the door to change the anthropology and dogmas of both marriage and Holy Orders—hypocrisy anyone? )
One of Pope Leo's overall desires for the church is for unity, which he restated again today. (Remember that his papal motto is "In the One, we are one.") (Our unity is not in amoral or immoral ideologies or opinions, but in the “Splendor of Truth” which of course is Jesus Christ and His call for conversion from our sins to His Holiness, His Perfections!)
His perhaps even larger point was that the church is for all people, for "tutti, tutti, tutti," as he has said several times now, quoting Pope Francis. A church for everyone, including LGBTQ people. Including everyone. (By the way I wouldn’t read too much into his calling the Pope’s phrase “infamous,” before saying “famous.” It must have been an exhausting trip and he also said the church values life “from conception to natural birth,” when he clearly meant “natural death.” We shouldn’t parse slips of the tongue, especially after a grueling journey.) (No Father Martin, it was a Freudian slip and not due to fatigue! Tutti, tutti, tutti, without also, conversion, conversion, conversion is not only infamous, but stupid and heretical!)
At least this is how this seemed to me after listening to his wise, careful and thoughtful response today, after an exhausting trip. (So here we see Fr. Martin talking out of both sides of his mouth, praising Pope Leo and blaming his remarks that reverse Pope Francis’ opinions as being too tired and fatigued to think like Pope Francis. What BS! No?)
Let's continue to pray for our Holy Father as he seeks to balance many things in the church we all love. And let's continue to trust Pope Leo in his ongoing discernment about these matters, and in all matters. (Thank you Fr. Martin for being so magnanimous towards Pope Leo with whom you clearly are alarmed at what His Holiness said and you wish Pope Leo was Pope Francis II, but His Holiness isn’t—He’s Pope Leo the Great II!)
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