True about using terms, but I think its fair to say there is a pre-V2 mentality which hopes for a return to the “good old days” - despite the fact there were disagreements and controversy before V2.
What is upsetting some of these folks IMO is that they thought the two recent Pontificates were going to reverse V2. Even though neither Pope ever so declared.
These two pontificates should be looked upon as a pause in the unfolding of V2. A needed pause but one that is now over as the renewal envisioned by V2 continues to unfold anew.
Benedict XVI and John Paul II were both
very pro-Vatican II, which is precisely why they defended it all those years
against “Traditionalist” Catholics who disputed Vatican II. Benedict XVI very significantly so, given his first-hand involvement in it in his younger days. In fact, he explicitly taught that the Church cannot roll back the clock and pretend Vatican II didn’t happen, which is precisely why he taught the “hermeneutic of continuity”, which says that Vatican II can only be interpreted in continuity with the Church’s history and that it must be recognised as having happened and contributed something to the Church’s teaching, as opposed to the hermeneutic of rupture which states that Vatican II represents a radical departure from the Church’s past teaching and practice in contradiction to the Church’s past teachings.
Discernment of dogmas about the nature of marriage and communion and how they are evolving in the Church under Francis are a part of this unfolding of V2.
Dogmas do not evolve. I’m not sure if you’re aware of the technical meaning of that word, but the “evolution” of Dogma has been explicitly condemned by the Church’s teaching Magisterium. Evolution in the theological sense is used to mean Dogmas can fundamentally change from one thing into another, or contradict previous versions of themselves or the principles that they represent.
I think there will be discussion and further discernment on the nature of the priesthood, the use of contraception and more. Not all under the current Pope, but he is placing Cardinal voters in place who are open to where the Spirit is leading the Church which will likely affect the selection of future Popes.
And if this discernment decides that the traditional teaching of the Church is reaffirmed, you’ll accept it? Will you accept it as where the Holy Spirit is leading the Church? Or will you insist on further discernment until a position is reached that you agree with? Not drawing a parallel with today’s situation, but hypothetically would you have said that the Holy Spirit guided most of the Western Bishops into the heresy of Arianism? Or that the Holy Spirit guided Martin Luther into attacking and breaking away from the Church?
The Lepanto Institute is something Cardinal Burke should be wary of. It is Islamophobic and maybe that is where he picked up his idea expressed in a recent interview that we (Christians, Europe) should be afraid of Islam. That totally contradicts the welcoming embrace the Pope is showing for Islam.
Welcoming in the sense of respectful, but not in the sense of being indifferent to the fundamental differences between Christianity and Islam, or ignoring that Islam does not represent God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. If we assert that Islam is on the same level as the Gospel we would be denying Christ, who died for us and our sins and taught that he was the Triune God. Islam denies all of these things, and in fact the Jesus appearing in the koran spends most of his time denying his divinity. Both cannot be correct. However, in spite of those fundamental differences, we are called to respect their choice; albeit without compromising the truth of the Gospel message.
Too many otherwise decent and good Catholics are falling for some of these groups like the LI. Chaput has condemned this group and another which has a similar profile.
Some in the Catholic media who are otherwise rational seem to be going over the deep end over AL and Islam. One beautiful magazine I’ve subscribed to for years is writing some troubling things on these topics which is out of the norm for them.
Let’s pray for Cardinal Burke and others to truly discern AL and other current hot button issues.
The words “discern” and “discernment” are being thrown around with little apparent consideration of what it actually means. You say that Cardinal Burke and other need to “truly discern” AL? What if they already have discerned in reaching the conclusions they have? Or do you instead mean that they have only “truly” discerned once they agree with your position?