by Toni Vercillo
There already is an active schism (though not yet formal) in the Church today, coming from both sides of her Center aisle, and the new document, Fiducia Supplicans, is the current impetus for both radical traditionalists and leftist progressives. Both attempt to ‘explain and interpret’ the document to fit their respective agendas. The Right says the document goes too far and the Left says it doesn’t go far enough. They are both wrong, and they both incite defiance, disobedience, and dissention against Christ, His Church, and His Vicar.
Most agree, correctly, that Fiducia Supplicans is a Magisterial teaching, with Left and Right applying ‘qualifiers’ including ‘poorly written’, ‘only one author’, and, of course, ‘confusing’, which is the staple argument of the malcontents on both sides.
The one thing the two groups have in common is that they all believe they could have done a better job writing the document. So let’s take a look at the validity of the arguments against Fiducia Supplicans and the fabricated reasons to justify dismissing it:
Single author?
It’s important to note that Fiducia Supplicans was issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) which is the oldest of the sixteen departments of the Roman Curia that employs over 2,000 workers. The DDF is still referred to as the ‘Holy Office’ which originated in 1542 by Pope Paul III and was founded to defend the Catholic Church from heresy. The Dicastery’s main responsibility today is to promulgate and defend Catholic doctrine, and its sole objective is to “spread sound Catholic Doctrine and defend those points of Christian tradition which seem in danger because of new and unacceptable ideas” such as we see coming from the German Bishops. See the Profile page for the DDF here.
The members of the DDF are led by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández who is Prefect of the Dicastery. To assist him, there is: Rev. Mons. Armando Matteo, Secretary of the Doctrinal Section; Rev. Mons. John Joseph Kennedy, Secretary of the Disciplinary Section; Mons. Charles Jude Scicluna, Adjunct Secretary; Mons. Philippe Curbelié, Under-Secretary; P. Robert Joseph Geisinger, S.I., the Promotor of Justice; and the many employees who assist all of them.
To attempt to claim that the entire work, and all that preceded it, was accomplished by one individual is not realistic.
‘Poorly Written’?
Careful analysis reveals the two major messages Pope Francis wanted to convey in this ‘general instruction’ intended for Priests and Bishops: 1) To the German Bishops, “This closes the door to any further discussion on attempts to change Church teaching on women’s ordination and same-sex ‘marriage’. And, 2) To all sinners, “You are welcome. You are wanted. You are loved”.
“Pope Francis said to the new cardinals in February 2015: “For Jesus, what matters above all is reaching out to save those far off, healing the wounds of the sick, restoring everyone to God’s family! And this is scandalous to some people! Jesus is not afraid of this kind of scandal! He does not think of the closed-minded who are scandalized even by a work of healing, scandalized before any kind of openness, by any action outside of their mental and spiritual boxes, by any caress or sign of tenderness which does not fit into their usual thinking and their ritual purity.”
Just a Declaration?
“The Declaration issued today by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) articulated a distinction between liturgical (sacramental) blessings, and pastoral blessings, which may be given to persons who desire God’s loving grace in their lives. The Church’s teaching on marriage has not changed, and this declaration affirms that, while also making an effort to accompany people through the imparting of pastoral blessings because each of us needs God’s healing love and mercy in our lives.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Magisterial Teaching
Fiducia Supplicans is a Declaration of the Magisterial Church and therefore faithful Catholics, in a spirit of docility, will submit their intellects and wills and assent to it. People are missing the intent of the document. While it’s intended as a general instruction for Priests and Bishops, it was aimed at the German Bishops and the LGBTQ communinty, neither of whom are happy with it ‘because’ they understand it clear.y. – the Catholic Church will not, cannot bless sin.
Confusing?
Cardinal DiNardo describes the document as “clear and succinct”:
“I associate myself with the statement released by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops which addresses the recently issued document Fiducia Supplicans. It is a clear and succinct statement which I encourage all to read.” Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of the Archdiocese Galveston-Houston
The clarity of the document is demonstrated by the fact that the neither the German Bishops nor the LGBTQ community is at all happy with it. They understand it perfectly, especially paragraph 5.
In Closing:
The Jewish scholar Claude Montefiore identified the peculiarity of Christianity in this: “While other religions describe humanity seeking God, Christianity announces a God seeking humanity… Jesus taught that God does not wait for the repentance of the sinner; He goes to seek him to call him to Himself.”
Catholic Power House 