New priest praised Amoris Laetita in Homily today

[bobperk]

The days when the Church was split into factions arguing about Amoris Laetitia now seem so quaint compared to the scandals and cover-ups revealed over the last few months.

That being said, the implementation of AL should come from the bishop and should at least be applied consistently throughout the diocese. At this point it is clear that AL is treated differently across the world, so unfortunately there is no agreed upon application of it. The particular diocese’s application of AL should be made clear to the faithful by a letter sent out from the bishop and either read at a parish meeting or placed in the bulletin. I find it inappropriate to bring up in a homily because it could come across as just being that priest’s personal opinion.

 

[angel12]

Am I wrong for thinking this?

That depends:
Have you read it?
Do you understand the extremely narrow circumstances the Pope is addressing?
Do you have more education in theology than Pope Francis?

 

[mrsdizzyd]

mrsdizzyd:

Like I said, there is what AL actually says and then there is what people want it to say ( as fits their motives).

Precisely, but that goes for you just as much as for those who consider AL a document of dubious quality. I’ve read it carefully, and those points in it that have been the subject of criticism (not only from laity but also from high-ranking clergy) aren’t as easily dismissed as you try to make it sound. In fact the whole problem is that it’s too open to interpretation. The many discussions about AL have made that abundantly clear.

Concerns/suspicions/innuendo about the potential for abuse or the pope’s motives do not change the fact that the document is written narrowly and Pope Francis has clearly expressed that he intends the principles he has laid out to be implemented narrowly.

 

[pnewton]

So would it be wrong if I left this parish and went to a parish that was more conservative

There is nothing wrong at all with that, though it will still be the same Catholic Church wherever you go.

Look at how many know better than the Pope that post here.

My own priest has never addressed this in a homily. Privately, he seems to take a more progressive approach to the document. Yet even then he said of all that have approached him since AL was published, no one really fit what he sees it saying. Most were just wanting a shortcut. So, even those without a traditionalist mindset may still find limited application, if ever, where canon law really doesn’t fit some circumstance.

 

[Axsenex]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

I have nothing to say

 

[joeybaggz]

I’m just kind of bleh about this new priest. My old priest was so orthodox and very devout

Which pretty much defines you and your approach to the faith. It is your belief and you are entitled to it. Personally, I think AL needs to be fleshed out more. I’ve talked to a number of priests and to a man they think AL is a start in the right direction. I think what Francis is saying is a tacit encouragement to the bishops to consider implementing the internal forum of determining the status of divorced and remarried people. I don’t think he is advocating a wholesale abandonment of the present atmosphere, but trying to let a little light in in those cases where the petition of a decree of nullity can’t be formally issued, but the tribunal and those involved believe the grounds are solid, just not satisfactory for the formal external process.

 

[pnewton]

Not you, and I wasn’t just thinking of this topic, though this encyclical has brought a lot of criticism of his holiness from laity.

 

[pnewton]

Exactly, which is why I said:

Look at how many know better than the Pope that post here.

 

[MaryT777]

I’m saddened that so many are upset at Pope Francis for hope in finding better ways to minister to the divorced and remarried.

 

[yankeesouth]

Well plenty of clergy have a problem with it. That is where we are at. You can go from one parish to another and get different ‘pastoral’ counseling to suit your needs. Some clergy will even dispense with giving counsel and tell you to follow your ‘conscience’. Good times.

 

[Roguish]

this encyclical has brought a lot of criticism of his holiness from laity.

You’re trying to make it sound as if it’s just uninformed laity that have voiced criticism. The whole big deal is that in fact very high-ranking clergy were the first to voice criticism. As you well know the by-now infamous 4 cardinals went so far as to raise a formal request for clarification; none has been given. The CDF wrote a 20-page document with objections to AL before it was published; allegedly none were accepted. Reputable Catholic scholars have objected to it. Etc.

 

[Roguish]

Concerns/suspicions/innuendo about the potential for abuse or the pope’s motives do not change the fact that the document is written narrowly and Pope Francis has clearly expressed that he intends the principles he has laid out to be implemented narrowly.

But are you aware of how it actually has been implemented? As an example, here’s how AL has been “implemented” in Belgium, which is (or at least was until recently) a traditionally Catholic country:

It can happen that someone decides not to receive the Eucharist. We have the greatest respect for such a decision. It is also possible that someone decides in conscience to receive the Eucharist. This decision also deserves respect. Between laxity and rigorism, Pope Francis chooses the path of personal discernment and a decision taken carefully and conscientiously. (from Wikipedia, emphases added)

As you can see, AL has been interpreted (in Belgium anyway) to mean that the everyone can decide for him/herself whether to take communion or not. Either decision is “respected” and the discernment process is “personal”. In fact the first sentence makes it clear that not taking communion (because one is remarried) is now no longer a restriction imposed by the Church but an entirely optional self-imposed restriction, similar to fasting.

Surely you do not consider this a “narrow implementation”? And has Rome stopped Belgium from implementing it this way? No. It’s been a year and the Belgian bishops have not been reprimanded or corrected in any way for interpreting AL thus.

 

[cathapolo]

A great sermon on this topic can be listened to online at:


It gives you the whole historical perspective on Amoris Laetitia in light of Our Lady of Fatima and current world history.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

That Wikipedia excerpt bears no resemblance to Chapter 8 of AL. None. That is not the result of “misinterpretation”.

 

[pnewton]

You’re trying to make it sound as if it’s just uninformed laity that have voiced criticism.

I do not know where you go the word “just.” Now to be sure, there is a lot of that on CAF. There have been numerous people here that claim to to know (without theological expertise) what part is doctrine and what part is discipline.

 

[pnewton]

While I am all for good sermons, I like to know from where they are coming. Therefore, for others like me, I will give that this sermon is from.

Regina Prophetarum

Traditional Sermons for Traditional Catholics

I thought this might be useful since this forum is for all Catholics, as opposed to the forum for Traditional Catholicism.

 

[pnewton]

I’m saddened that so many are upset at Pope Francis for hope in finding better ways to minister to the divorced and remarried.

The reason for being upset is not because he is trying to find better ways of ministering, but because they fear this exhortation will be misused to dishonor the Eucharist. It is a real concern, though not one I share. I think we need to understand that all are wanting to help those souls who are divorced and remarried, just in different ways.

Changes like this will be problematic. The practice of denying communion to divorced and remarried St. John Paul re-affirmed in Familiaris Consortio 35 years ago following another synod on the family. When bishops of a synod affirm something like this, they are seldom unanimous. The minority will always have good reason for their opposition, and should be respected as sincere.

 

[Roguish]

That Wikipedia excerpt bears no resemblance to Chapter 8 of AL. None. That is not the result of “misinterpretation”.

But this is the current interpretation that the Belgian bisshops have arrived at. If, as you say, this is not a misinterpretation, then what is it?

 

[Roguish]

I do not know where you go the word “just.” Now to be sure, there is a lot of that on CAF. There have been numerous people here that claim to to know (without theological expertise) what part is doctrine and what part is discipline.

I used the word “just” because so far in this thread you mentioned that the Pope has been under criticism from laity, but you did not mention that he has also been under criticism from high-ranking clergy. It gave the impression that in your opinion the criticism could be disregarded because all of it was “uninformed”. If that’s not what you meant, and you acknowledge that some criticism has come from very well-informed people (clergy and scholars), then fine.

 

[pnewton]

If that’s not what you meant, and you acknowledge that some criticism has come from very well-informed people (clergy and scholars), then fine.

I do understand that, and that it is not just a few people. The percentage of bishops that disagree with him is substantial, though having a large minority disagreement is not uncommon in Church history. Very important doctrines have been decided with a smaller majority.

I think what is important is to recognize that we are in “the process” and not be scandalized by disagreement necessary to get through it, even if we do not see anything defined in our lifetime.