Forty-five theologians and clergymen have written to Cardinals asking them to request a clarification from Pope Francis that Amoris Laetitia (AL) does not contradict the traditional teachings of the Church regarding the Sacraments of Marriage, Reconciliation and the Eucharist as well as other magisterial pronouncements regarding faith and morals.
The letter “does not deny or question the personal faith of Pope Francis”, but praises “valuable elements which make an important contribution to the defense and preaching of the faith”. The signatories say that, in order for these passages to be truly effective however, there should be a clarification of other passages which could mislead some readers.
The document has been sent to all 218 Cardinals and Patriarchs of the Church as an appeal rather than a public campaign. The only signatory to have come forward publicly is Dr Joseph Shaw, who teaches philosophy at the University of Oxford and is chairman of the Latin Mass Society who has stated: “All we are asking is that Pope Francis make clear that putative heretical implications of the document are just that: heretical.”
The letter focuses on 19 statements “whose vagueness or ambiguity permit interpretations that are contrary to faith or morals, or that suggest a claim that is contrary to faith and morals without actually stating it. It also contains statements whose natural meaning would seem to be contrary to faith or morals.”
It goes on to point out theological censures which could be applied to these statements: not statements in the document itself, but propositions which might be inferred by a reader.
The signatories insist that AL is causing “confusion among Pastors and the lay faithful”, a lamentable situation which can only be resolved by “an unambiguous affirmation of authentic Catholic teaching by the Successor of Peter”.
In commenting on this story, I merely wish to highlight the fact that the spokesman for this group just happens to be the “chairman of the Latin Mass Society”.
The good Dr. Shaw and his companions do a lot of "inferring" in their letter. A person could "infer" this heretical teaching or "infer" various statements in AL to be in contradiction to the Magisterium.
Let me do some inferring of my own for a moment.
Might one not reasonably “infer” that Dr. Shaw, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society, and his unnamed associates have a particular bias in approaching AL that would lead them to see shades of doubt or fears of heresy where none exist in the literal statements of the document itself?
Perhaps, what I find particularly distressing about all this is the publicity surrounding these challenges to the Holy Father.
If the writers of this letter sincerely wish to protect Church teaching and the magisterial authority of the Supreme Pontiff, they should understand that voicing their concerns in such a public manner undermines the very purpose which they claim inspires their document: to inspire faith in authentic Catholic teaching by the Successor of Peter”.
Methinks the letter of these self-appointed defenders of the faith is not so much a plea for clarification of AL as it an attack against it and its author.
Asking a sincere question is certainly welcome and justifiable. Cloaking an attack in the form of a question is duplicitous and shameful.
Of course, I would never accuse Dr. Shaw and his companions of such shameful behavior. But, following the example they have set, I merely suggest that one could draw a possible inference that such was their intention.
So, please, let us all be careful about jumping to conclusions based upon possible inferences!
Would that these theologians and clergymen examine their consciences well to determine what their motives truly are as well as the possible serious harm they may cause to the Church itself.
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