Pope Francis’ letter to the Argentine Bishops Conference, approving their implementation of the Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, as well as the Buenos Aires Pastoral Guidelines for its implementation were published recently in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, which is the official gazette of the Holy See containing all the principal decrees, encyclical letters, decisions of Roman congregations, and notices of ecclesiastical appointments. The laws contained in it are to be considered promulgated when published, and effective three months from date of issue, unless a shorter or longer time is specified in the law.
An accompanying note from the Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, states “the Supreme Pontiff decreed that the two proceeding documents be promulgated through publication on the Vatican website and in Acta Apostolicae Sedis, as authentic Magisterium.”
In this concluding part of my three-part series, I will briefly address the source of much of the confusion which has surrounded Pope Francis’ call for the pastoral accompaniment of those involved in second invalid attempts at marriage who, while living fully the conjugal relationship of husband and wife, wish to return to a full practice of their Catholic Faith.
As I have shown forthrightly and clearly, there is nothing in the Apostolic Exhortation itself, nor the Buenos Aires Guidelines, which constitute any abandonment of the traditional teachings of the Church regarding the indissolubility of Sacramental Marriage. Neither does they profess a discipline contrary to that prescribed in the Canons of Church which decree that persons knowingly in a state of grave sin not present themselves for reception of the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Moreover, I have argued that the Office of Peter and his successors enjoy supreme sovereignty over the teaching and disciplinary authority bestowed upon them by Christ Himself.
That authority is not diminished by time nor immemorial custom. Neither can it be limited to certain traditional forms of expression other than those with which the Church has been familiar during the course of its history.
Scholars of ecclesiology and experts in the Law are, or should be, knowledgeable of these facts.
Therefore, it is a wonderment to me that there are small but very vocal and irreverent groups (whom I have chosen to describe as neo-conservative reactionaries) who are obstinate in their refusal to accept what the Vicar of Christ has suggested is a compassionate response to those who find themselves in irregular marital situations but who choose not to abandon their Catholic Faith, but instead wish to be nourished fully with the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.
These self-proclaimed defenders of the Faith continue to suggest that Pope Francis has promulgated a heterodoxy which some claim borders on heresy. Their rhetoric is full of vitriol and brings dishonor to the Office of Peter and disgrace to themselves.
In their zeal to affirm themselves and their narrow-mindedness, they sow seeds of division and scandalize the Christian faithful who depend upon their knowledge and expertise as they attempt to live a life in harmony with the Divine Will and the Deposit of Faith which they cherish as the center of their Catholic Faith.
While not in anyway disparaging or abandoning the traditional understanding of the Covenant of Sacramental Marriage as an indissoluble bond, the Holy Father has sought to show mercy and exercise charity toward those in irregular marital situations.
The Holy Father has endorsed the Pastoral Guidelines of the Bishops of Buenos Aires who have sought to provide guidance to sacred Pastors in the journey of accompaniment and discernment.
For his charity and forbearance, Pope Francis is berated, insulted and challenged in his Office as the Vicar of Christ by stiff-necked and pharisaical individuals and groups who seek to impose their will rather than the Divine Will (manifestly expressed by the Holy Father) in his Apostolic Exhortation and by his endorsement of the Buenos Aires Guidelines.
And for what reason?
To uphold the dignity of the Sacrament while undermining the authority of the Office of Peter which is the foundation, the rock upon which the Church itself is founded?
Or is it rather to impose a nostalgic, a romantic yet unrealistic and untrue image of the Church as a monolithic, perpetual and unchanging guarantor of Divine truth?
Every person of Faith is called upon by the Holy Father’s teachings and practice to take a stand.
You stand either with Peter or apart from Peter?
To stand with Peter is to stand with Christ. To stand apart from Peter is to stand apart from Christ.
There is no middle ground.
It is not for me, a sinner in need of constant forgiveness, to judge the state of other men’s souls. Yet, I admonish myself and others as well that opposition to Pope Francis' call to compassion may very well indeed be opposition to the Holy Spirit, the Church’s Paraclete, the Lord and Giver of Life.
As the Fathers of Vatican Council II encourage us, let us show deference, respect and allegiance to the Office of Peter and, by so doing, create an atmosphere of peaceful harmony within which the Church can fulfill its mission of being an instrument of the salvation of souls.
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