Bishops and women priest campaigners sign letter supporting Pope Francis

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http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/new...paigners-sign-letter-supporting-pope-francis/

I am surprised no one has posted this news release. A letter has been published in response to the filial correction by a group of 150 supporters of Pope Francis. Some background on a few of the signatories below:

Other distinguished figures on the list are László Sólyom, the former president of Hungary; Wolfgang Thierse, former president of the Bundestag; Fr Tomáš Halík, a past winner of the Templeton Prize; and Charles Taylor, the Canadian philosopher.

Taylor, author of A Secular Age, has previously criticised the “rigid moralism” of “the Vatican’s present position” on matters including birth control.

One signatory, Martha Heizer, was excommunicated by Pope Francis in 2014 for co-hosting private “Masses” in her home at which no priests were present.

Another, the philosopher Gerard Hughes SJ, has written in a piece on abortion: “The embryo is a potential person, but that is very different – and morally different – from being a person … I don’t think we can draw any sharp lines.”

The other UK-based signatory, Prof Thomas O’Loughlin, signed a statement from the Wijngaards Institute declaring that “Responsible contraception should be allowed” and that after divorce, “Expecting these persons to live celibate lives betrays a severe and suspicious view of human sexuality.” He is an academic patron of the Institute, whose website records that “Our clash with traditional views came to a head in 1994 when the Vatican declared that the exclusion of women from the ordained ministries was definitive and should no longer be discussed.”

Perhaps it is safe to say the extremes on both sides have now spoken? So what does the ‘true Catholic’ do?
 
Perhaps it is safe to say the extremes on both sides have now spoken? So what does the ‘true Catholic’ do?
Oh good grief.

Anyone can write a letter. This is not news. This is a group of idiots with a digital signature and an axe to grind.
 
Ironically, I agree with your assessment of the merits of this letter 100%. However, I would urge a little more caution. 8 bishops signed it.

The signatories, including eight bishops, address the Pope, saying: “Your pastoral initiatives and their theological justification are currently under vehement attacks by a group in the church. With this open letter, we want to express our gratitude for your courageous and theologically sound papal leadership.”

They congratulate the Pope on “reshaping the pastoral culture of the Roman Catholic Church”, adding: “We share your dream.”

The bishops include two from Austria, Paul Iby, Bishop Emeritus of Eisenstadt, and Helmut Krätzl, an auxiliary bishop in Vienna archdiocese.


The fact that eight active bishops signed this, along with these other aforementioned folks, is sobering. Full disclosure, I speak as one of the rigid non participants in the ‘dream.’
 
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Ironically, I agree with your assessment of the merits of this letter 100%. However, I would urge a little more caution. 8 bishops signed it.

The signatories, including eight bishops, address the Pope, saying: “Your pastoral initiatives and their theological justification are currently under vehement attacks by a group in the church. With this open letter, we want to express our gratitude for your courageous and theologically sound papal leadership.”

They congratulate the Pope on “reshaping the pastoral culture of the Roman Catholic Church”, adding: “We share your dream.”

The bishops include two from Austria, Paul Iby, Bishop Emeritus of Eisenstadt, and Helmut Krätzl, an auxiliary bishop in Vienna archdiocese.


The fact that eight active bishops signed this, along with these other aforementioned folks, is sobering. Full disclosure, I speak as one of the rigid non participants in the ‘dream.’
Again…the best thing we can do is pay no mind. It is up to their Archbishop/Cardinal to punish them.
 
Don’t hold your breath on that. I think this might fall pretty comfortably into the ‘dialogue’ bucket as far as they are concerned. No climate of fear there, no heads rolling.

I personally love this; it makes me feel quite vindicated here in my little rigid corner. For being a nonstarter that filial correction letter garnered a heck of a lot of attention - I am waiting to see what happens here. Though I think you are right. It too seems to be a bit of a nonstarter. I just don’t understand why. I mean compared to the other letter. I really did want to see what people thought.
 
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