Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Erosion of discipline = erosion of doctrine: the yield of misplaced mercy

Why would Pope Francis tell Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari that sooner or later all the divorced who ask will be admitted to communion? Why would he say that? That even though confessors would would have to make their own judgments on a case-by-case basis, that sooner or later "... at the end of faster or slower paths, all the divorced who ask will be admitted"? (Report)

Certainly the motivation must be "mercy"; but doesn't he see that this is a bit like administering an examination that's impossible to fail? that after while nobody will take the examination seriously any more? Whatever the status of this report, it hardly helps to allay the concerns of faithful Catholics. Should we therefore simply close our ears and eyes to them?

And, speaking of "mercy," what about the "mercy" for those spouses who have suffered the deprivation of divorce and abandonment but continued to live chaste and celibate lives in fidelity to their vows? Do we simply ignore them as the moral equivalent of the Prodigal Son's elder brother who needn't concern us?

Remember Marshall McLuhan's dictum: "The medium is the message." In a world that has forgotten the question, it will mean little to state that Christ is the answer. In a world that has no understanding of contrition and repentance, "mercy" will be voided of any substance beyond unconditional social acceptance. In a school where nobody fails, there can no longer be any credible talk of examinations. The medium of "mercy" is quickly becoming the universal solvent of the Catholic deposit of faith and morals.

7 comments:

Paul Borealis said...

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

There appears to be much confusion about sin and conscience.....

I am having a difficult time trying to figure out what is going on.

Anyways, F.Y.I., links you might find interesting.

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Priestly Confraternity Grateful to Synod for Affirming Church Teaching

by Edward Pentin 11/04/2015

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/priestly-confraternity-expresses-gratitude-to-synod-for-affirming-church-te/


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Synod of Discord. Toward a “De Facto Schism” in the Church?

Dominican theologian Thomas Michelet lays bare the ambiguities of the synodal text. Which has not brought unity but has papered over the divisions. The conflict between “hermeneutic of continuity” and “hermeneutic of rupture.” The dilemma for Francis

by Sandro Magister
ROME, November 4, 2015

http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1351170?eng=y


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James Martin SJ offers "Top Five Accomplishments of the Synod on the Family".

America Media
Published on Oct 28, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvdpaWLG_SE


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Mick Jagger Gathers No Mosque said...

Franciscus secretly hates adulterers and by assuring that Holy Communions is dispensed to them, he is helping them eat and drink judgement unto themselves which will increase the intensity of pain they will forever experience in Hell if the die unrepentant.

Paul Borealis said...

There appears to be much confusion about sin and conscience..... and these, along with 'misplaced mercy', is leading to the erosion of discipline, and doctrinal confusion.

I am having a difficult time trying to figure out what is going on. I find elements of the Synod on the Family, the final document, and some commentary and interpretation confusing and problematic, to say the least.

Mick Jagger Gathers No Mosque said...

Only an antiChrist would set Jesus Christ against Himself but that is what Franciscus is doing by divorcing the Mercy of Jesus from His Truth.

The stratospheric heights of his rhetorical haughtiness is dizzying only if you avert your eyes from his low-life praxis and what he is doing in acting directly contrary to all of his predecessors - especially Pops Saint John Paul ii and Familaris Consortio - and the over 2000 years of orthodox praxis is as fetid as it is fanatical for he will not listen to Tradition or the many Cardinals and Bishops who plead with him privately, and even publicly.

There is simply no way to think of him as other than an AntiChrist.

Paul Borealis said...

Hello again. These might be of interest, if you have not read them yet. Thanks.

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A Synod That Will Lead to Decades of Fighting
November 4, 2015 / by Janet E. Smith

http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/11/a-synod-that-will-lead-to-decades-of-fighting

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Wednesday, November 4, 2015
My 7 Point Wish List for a Catholic Synod of Family
An Earnest Challenge for Bishops and Priests
by Dr Taylor Marshall

http://taylormarshall.com/2015/11/my-7-point-wish-list-for-a-catholic-synod-of-family.html

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RORATE EXCLUSIVE: Bishop Athanasius Schneider reaction to Synod
Door to communion for divorced & remarried officially kicked open.
November 2015

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2015/11/rorate-exclusive-bishop-athanasius.html

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Paul Borealis said...

Links related to the so-called 'internal forum'. I hope you do not mind. A trip down memory lane I suppose, F.Y.I.

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The Tablet

Page 5, 27th July 1991

The internal forum
Theodore Davey

http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/27th-july-1991/5/the-internal-forum

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The Tablet

Page 14,15 (see 1311) 26th October 1991

Church, Pope and Gospel

http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/26th-october-1991/14/church-pope-and-gospel


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The Tablet

Page 24, 25th September 1993

A pastoral approach to remarried divorcees. Three German Catholic bishops

http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/25th-september-1993/24/a-pastoral-approach-to-remarried-divorcees-three-g


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CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CONCERNING THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION BY THE DIVORCED AND REMARRIED MEMBERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Given at Rome, from the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 14 September 1994
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_14091994_rec-holy-comm-by-divorced_en.html

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The Tablet

Page 27, 20th February 1999

Remarried divorcees 'must be celibate'. Divorcees who embark on second

http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/20th-february-1999/27/remarried-divorcees-must-be-celibate-divorcees-who


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PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR LEGISLATIVE TEXTS
DECLARATIONII. CONCERNING THE ADMISSION TO HOLY COMMUNION OF FAITHFUL WHO ARE DIVORCED AND REMARRIED
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/intrptxt/documents/rc_pc_intrptxt_doc_20000706_declaration_en.html


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The Tablet

Blogs

Communion: internal solution for divorcees that's already there
22 October 2015 by Christopher Lamb in Rome

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/1/857/communion-internal-solution-for-divorcees-that-s-already-there-


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Paul Borealis said...

National Catholic Reporter

Synod opened the door for those divorced and remarried, Kasper says

by Christa Pongratz-Lippitt | Nov. 4, 2015

http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/synod-opened-door-those-divorced-and-remarried-kasper-says