Cardinal Muller: no need to clarify Amoris Laetitia [CC]

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I wouldn’t necessarily think so. The objective way of the (contemplative) Dominicans et seq. have deep roots in classical Greek philosophy (in particular, Aristotle). My original comment is based on those same roots.

The argument is ancient. “Allegedly accessible to reason”: Can man, through limited human language and reason, objectively know Truth? See for example CCC 251. Nevertheless, both Plato and Aristotle certainly thought so.
I wasn’t really suggesting a philosophic analysis but simply a comparison of alternative spiritualities that led to your comment that Jesuit methodology does not rely on communally objectively explicitating everything when there are difficulties.

Not quite sure why you state Doms are a contemplative order. Their self professed view is they are a balanced contemplative/active foundation.
 
That’s his interpretation. That’s not the final word.

Here’s an example of a Prefect’s decision and/or personal preference being undone from the top:

ncregister.com/daily-news/cardinal-sarah-promotes-advent-launch-of-ad-orientem-liturgical-renewal

catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/07/12/vatican-rejects-cardinal-sarahs-ad-orientem-appeal
Approaching the media statements of a Latin organisation with Celtic or Anglo Saxon presumptions re “truth” and single meanings is likely a recipe for utter confusion on this ongoing political debate.

I am still intrigued that some contributors still proffer Pope Francis’s astute “I’ve forgotten that footnote” as an argument against its clear meaning!
 
What I’m opposed to are those interpretations which seek to ignore the Church’s constant teaching and the scriptural basis on which it was presented, and instead propose a new principle which contradicts what has gone before.
This simply means you cannot accept that Pope Francis did actually mean your worst interpretation nightmare surely?
The Arg Draft has now put that beyond doubt 🤷.

That suggests (the Cardinals) and yourself have to make a personal choice.
Either the Pope is mistaken or your above identification of contradiction is mistaken.

Come judgement day I would rather say I followed the Pope because I lacked intellectual certitude rather than the reverse.
But then maybe your pastoral, theological and moral learning and experience is enough to have a certitude on these matters equal to Pope Francis and so can claim invincible ignorance if you turn out mistaken.
Me, I don’t have the b**ls myself to go that far on these sorts of grey areas.
 
Yes, really. An excess focus on homogenity makes it difficult to focus on individual situations, and can prevent or discourage seeking the best solution for each individual. Pope Francis understands this, and clearly supports pastoring souls one at a time.
Church teaching regarding reception of Eucharist for D/R, non-annulled, sexually active persons was universally/homogeneosly understood to be prohibited prior to various interpretations of a footnote in chapter 8 of AL.

Pope JPII stated the prohibition was based on Sacred Scripture (Christ’s very words as universally understood by those in union with the Church) and how the Church has always understood the sacrament of the Eucharist (Body and Blood of Christ incorporated into our own bodies), and the sacrament of Marriage (God joining 2 persons into 1 flesh- “let no man tear asunder”). He was clear that their state and condition of life objectively contradicts the union of love between Christ and the Church which is signified and effected by the Eucharist. He didn’t teach this as an arbitrary discipline or practice, but as actions that conform to Church doctrine and are derived from Scripture.

“Catholic” means for all people, in all places and all times. It is one of the four marks by which one can recognize the one, true Church founded by Christ.

Who is suggesting the Church shouldn’t pastor souls individually? :confused: Who is seeking to prevent or discourage one from the best possible solution?:confused: Are you suggesting the Church used to treat people this way?

The debate is about trying to remain “catholic” -reconciling past teachings regarding doctrine with new, very different interpretations.
 
Your contention is that this is not a matter of doctrine. I really would like to see that proven.
Prove a thing by absence of evidence? Not possible. However, if the accusation is the Holy Father is changing doctrine, then the burden of proof is not on me.

If you do not agree, you are the first person I have heard that thinks tribunals and annulments are doctrine. I would say that would be up to you to show where they are defined as doctrine. If they were, then how could they be overturned (on appeal)?
 
Such an approach would contradict common sense as well as natural law (see CCC, #1959, for example).

Dan
It contradicts common sense, at least in this day and age, though not natural law. There is no natural law for a procedure to determine validity of marriage. The paragraph from the catechism you gave did not address procedures of validity at all.
 
This simply means you cannot accept that Pope Francis did actually mean your worst interpretation nightmare surely?
The Arg Draft has now put that beyond doubt 🤷.

That suggests (the Cardinals) and yourself have to make a personal choice.
Either the Pope is mistaken or your above identification of contradiction is mistaken.

Come judgement day I would rather say I followed the Pope because I lacked intellectual certitude rather than the reverse.
But then maybe your pastoral, theological and moral learning and experience is enough to have a certitude on these matters equal to Pope Francis and so can claim invincible ignorance if you turn out mistaken.
Me, I don’t have the b**ls myself to go that far on these sorts of grey areas.
I have no problem standing before God on judgment day professing that I believed Pope Francis to be mistaken… either that or I would have to profess believing that Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI to be mistaken. They cannot both be correct.
 
Church teaching regarding reception of Eucharist for D/R, non-annulled, sexually active persons was universally/homogeneosly understood to be prohibited prior to various interpretations of a footnote in chapter 8 of AL.

Pope JPII stated the prohibition was based on Sacred Scripture (Christ’s very words as universally understood by those in union with the Church) and how the Church has always understood the sacrament of the Eucharist (Body and Blood of Christ incorporated into our own bodies), and the sacrament of Marriage (God joining 2 persons into 1 flesh- “let no man tear asunder”). He was clear that their state and condition of life objectively contradicts the union of love between Christ and the Church which is signified and effected by the Eucharist. He didn’t teach this as an arbitrary discipline or practice, but as actions that conform to Church doctrine and are derived from Scripture.

“Catholic” means for all people, in all places and all times. It is one of the four marks by which one can recognize the one, true Church founded by Christ.

Who is suggesting the Church shouldn’t pastor souls individually? :confused: Who is seeking to prevent or discourage one from the best possible solution?:confused: Are you suggesting the Church used to treat people this way?

The debate is about trying to remain “catholic” -reconciling past teachings regarding doctrine with new, very different interpretations.
I understand that every Catholic has a right, and even a duty, to reconcile the teachings of the Church with his or her conscience. I certainly struggle with many Church teachings (to say the least). So it is important to work to understand the Church’s teachings.

But the movement I see with (or against) Pope Francis is not to struggle to understand, but to deny that he has the authority to teach as he does. I am not saying this is your goal. But I think that often when Catholics refer to teachings of previous Popes and demand a reconciliation with the teachings of the current Pope, the implicit argument is that this Pope lacks the authority of the previous Popes. I have no problem with struggling to understand. I also have no problem with deciding to dissent. But I do have a problem with any suggestion that this Pope cannot teach this teaching, or any other, with authority. That is what troubles me about the ‘discussion’ over AL.
 
I understand that every Catholic has a right, and even a duty, to reconcile the teachings of the Church with his or her conscience. I certainly struggle with many Church teachings (to say the least). So it is important to work to understand the Church’s teachings.

But the movement I see with (or against) Pope Francis is not to struggle to understand, but to deny that he has the authority to teach as he does. I am not saying this is your goal. But I think that often when Catholics refer to teachings of previous Popes and demand a reconciliation with the teachings of the current Pope, the implicit argument is that this Pope lacks the authority of the previous Popes. I have no problem with struggling to understand. I also have no problem with deciding to dissent. But I do have a problem with any suggestion that this Pope cannot teach this teaching, or any other, with authority. That is what troubles me about the ‘discussion’ over AL.
Which poster/s do you think are suggesting the pope doesn’t have the authority? Perhaps you are not understanding the reasons for requesting clarification. Read the Dubia -the Cardinals are clear that they are under papal authority and that they await his ruling. They also have a commission to teach, sanctify, and rule those under their care according to the teachings of the Church. They are asking how to reconcile 2 different understandings of Church teaching. They (and posters) are begging the pope speak authoritatively to clear up the confusion for the sake of the salvation of souls affected by various misinterpretations of what is true and necessary for salvation. We shouldn’t wish to remain ignorant.
 
Who ever said I disagree with Amoris Laetitia? On the contrary, aside from wording in chapter 8 which is being exploited, it’s a fine work. A number of Bishops and Cardinals have already produced some beautiful application guidance which is entirely in continuity with the Church’s moral teaching. See here for example:

ncregister.com/daily-news/ordinariate-bishop-issues-pastoral-letter-on-amoris-laetitia

What I’m opposed to are those interpretations which seek to ignore the Church’s constant teaching and the scriptural basis on which it was presented, and instead propose a new principle which contradicts what has gone before. If a no becomes yes or bad becomes good, it’s not a development of doctrine:
👍 thanks for posting this article
 
Cardinal Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, (CDF) has said that he does not interpret Amoris Laetitia as authorizing reception of Communion by Catholics who are divorced and remarried. In other words, there is no change to either doctrine or practice. This was noted in the article which started this thread.
Yes. Also and interesting thing is that one is in such a situation and believes that the prior marriage was invalid (and it really was but could not be proven), could receive sanctifying grace through an act of contrition along with proper disposition, although denied absolution in sacramental confession, because it is morally impossible to receive absolution from a priest. However no reception of Communion.
 
Which poster/s do you think are suggesting the pope doesn’t have the authority? Perhaps you are not understanding the reasons for requesting clarification. Read the Dubia -the Cardinals are clear that they are under papal authority and that they await his ruling. They also have a commission to teach, sanctify, and rule those under their care according to the teachings of the Church. They are asking how to reconcile 2 different understandings of Church teaching. They (and posters) are begging the pope speak authoritatively to clear up the confusion for the sake of the salvation of souls affected by various misinterpretations of what is true and necessary for salvation. We shouldn’t wish to remain ignorant.
The first refuge of a bad argument is to call the other side ignorant.

I am not necessarily referring to posters here when I say that some are challenging the Pope’s authority.

The Pope has spoken authoritatively, and continues to do so. As I said, I believe we have a duty to grow in understanding, and to dissent if that is where our understanding leads us. But, again, I do not believe the root problem that has driven so much discussion of AL is a lack of understanding.
 
Quite well summarised I thought.
Can you confirm your understanding of the 3rd tough type?
My understanding is that I lack understanding. I guess I lean toward the law of gradualness. A great deal that Ginny said I actually agree with, but I perhaps prefer a greater, merciful time-table. Let us take the worse case scenario.

A person in a totally valid marriage, marginal Catholic married to marginal Catholic, becomes a classic prodigal son, running off with his mistress. Ten years later, a serious emotional events brings that person back to the Church, now married to this mistress with a couple of kids that need to be raised. His annulment is either denied, or he does not apply as it is obvious it should be denied. Through the counseling time, the priest understands the man earnestly desires communion with Christ (even more than receiving communion). He really wants the Sacrament of Reconcilliation for his adultery. Yet he just can’t wrap his head around the Church’s teaching that he is still committing adultery, as he still is intimately in love with his wife and family.

Yes, I think such a person should strive to live as brother and sister. However, I am still on the fence as to whether the law of gradualness might permit the desire to make this commitment because of a desire to put Christ above all, including family might allow the Sacrament of Reconcilliation and admittance to communion. I do believe some things are close enough to be humanly impossible to consider them so, Trent not withstanding, as that council had the caveat, “even for one that is justified and constituted in grace.” It mirrors the words of St. Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I might be splitting hairs, which is why I hesitate to have an opinion. In any case, I do believe in this case continence needs to be where the goal, as that which God requires, as it is a clear case of continuing adultery. I equally being that the grace of God is necessary for such a life, and may be necessary even to reach the point of resolving to live such a life.

So clearly, if I believe that, I think most in similar situations, who simply do not put a priority on spiritual growth, should still not receive. As I said, I can see the Malta resolution being taken more broadly that is right.
 
Let me throw out a parallel. I do not think we have any saints here, but I do believe we have some saints in the making. I do not think many, if any, have renounced all desire for sin, but I do think some desire that they could desire to renounce all sin.
 
That one had me nearly in tears :p.

Oh dear…sin is bigger than this Ender. In fact we are victims of others actual sins and can be put into sinful states by others. Such sinful states may have little to do with personal responsibility

If you cannot accept or understand this ancient reality that the Church has always accepted (eg the stain of original sin, the old legal canonical consequences of being a bastard etc etc) then you cannot get too far in understanding these issues I suggest.
We are “victims” of original sin only to the extent that we don’t receive free gifts that weren’t ours by “right” to begin with. Adam’s descendants come into the world deprived of sanctifying grace and we inherit his punishments as we would have inherited his gifts had he remained faithful to God.

We don’t have actual sin (any thought, word, action, or omission forbidden by the law of God) - only the deprivation of free gifts to which we have no inherent right.

I’m confused as to what you mean by we are “put into sinful states”?

Our fathers ate sour grapes and the children’s teeth are stained (your “bastard” example) doesn’t mean that children have additional sin -only that the sinful actions of parents makes the children’s life in harmony with God more difficult to achieve.

This should teach us how absolutely abhorant is sin to God and how earnestly we should strive to avoid sin…the sin of unworthily parkaking of the Body and Blood of Christ comes to mind…
 
Let me throw out a parallel. I do not think we have any saints here, but I do believe we have some saints in the making. I do not think many, if any, have renounced all desire for sin, but I do think some desire that they could desire to renounce all sin.
I think that a desire that one could desire to renounce sin is actually a very good start.
 
Leaked letters or quotations are indeed private. Certain public teaching, such as Familiaris Consortio, is quite clear while Amoris Laetitia is not… hence the debate.
With advance apologies to edwayne for my quoting it here, above is the comment to which I originally replied: “Certain public teaching, such as Familiaris Consortio, is quite clear while Amoris Laetitia is not…” I replied to this by saying that AL "is clear is what it advances, i.e., a clarity not in the actual words of the document but in their potential. The concepts of Actual and Potential are a fundamental dichotomy in Aristotelian-Thomastic thought, but it was not my intent to even note this let alone to ever explain it. But what was meant was that AL has the potential to resolve the anguish of certain “irregulars” relative to permission to receive communion. And this resolution would of course entail a subjective component and it would concern culpability. This process would necessarily be an individual one, and thus it cannot be described in detail, for the many, by AL. There is necessary ambiguity.

Now, the comment saying that “the difficulty…is in the clerical expectation that all things must be objectively stated” means that the potentiality of AL cannot be found in its objective words alone–i.e., AL cannot be known in its particulars with respect to every possible affected individual. The insistence that a doctrine should be objectively clear (and not “ambiguous”) as to its final cause is, I think, clericalism. This cannot be objectively known any more than a reference to the development of doctrine could be explained with respect to its meaning in its potential particulars.

Pope Francis is of course a Jesuit. What I meant by this mention was simply a reference to discernment. It was not meant to contrast the Jesuits with the Dominicans, though the Dominicans do have a long association, at least, with contemplation. This is why I put the word in parenthesis in a later comment when you did mention the Dominicans. So…I am not quite sure how to respond to your comment about a comparison of “alternative spiritualities” that supposedly led to my comment that “Jesuit methodology does not rely on communally objectively explicating everything when there are difficulties” other than to say I really do not know why this was mentioned.

My hope is that this clarfies any ambiguity.:hey_bud:
 
But the movement I see with (or against) Pope Francis is not to struggle to understand, but to deny that he has the authority to teach as he does.
It is precisely because we acknowledge the authority of the pope that we are struggling - specifically, trying to reconcile what the Church has taught clearly in the past but now appears to be overturned. This is why the appeals for clarity are going to him as the chief bishop, the successor of Peter… exactly because we recognize his authority.
 
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