His thesis on the synod of the family is perfect in every way - except the vital topic of communion for divorced and remmarieds.
Still they argue, argue, argue. Yes he did; no he didn't. He can; he
can't. What exactly did Pope Francis intend to convey by chapter eight
of his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia? Conservatives say Pope
Francis cannot have meant that "divorced and remarried Catholics could
be admitted to Holy Communion in certain circumstances", as many have
interpreted the document, because that would be plain contrary to
long-standing Catholic practice sanctioned by the magisterium.
But that would have meant that he too is a conservative, and we know
he is a liberal. We are free to interpret his words in the light of
that. But why the uncertainty? Why couldn't he have spelt it out with a
simple statement such as the one above? Was he under pressure, for
instance facing threats of resignation from senior cardinals in the
Vatican, so he had to create a smoke screen so everyone could claim a
victory? How does that help the rest of us, or at least those of us who
aren't conservative curial cardinals? He has created confusion precisely
where there needs to be clarity.
Read the rest here.
HT: Dr. Tighe
The very point is to speak with ambiguity and uncertainty.
ReplyDeleteModern Popes don't speak with clarity and precision. It gives the conservatives and intellectually dishonest traditionalists (I used to be one) the wiggle room to interpret in the light of tradition and say "nothing's changed" "he meant to say this...". It also allows the progressives and liberals to run with it and push the limits and goal posts further and further as time goes by. Everyone claims victory, but the liberals slowly win little by little in these circumstances.
All the while the Poop Francis can sit back, push his agenda and not be heretical (from a Catholic perspective) because of the plausible deniability the ambiguity gives him.
Glory to God I'm out of that mess and found Orthodoxy...