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David_Goliath
Guest
Why were some Catholics upset with Pope Francis washing the feet of women and prisoners?
I don’t get it. Just curious.
I don’t get it. Just curious.
Why were some Catholics upset with Pope Francis washing the feet of women and prisoners?
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JackVk
Guest
There is a Canon (Church) Law clause that only men can have their feet washed on Holy Thursday, since Jesus did the same with His disciples, who were all men. However, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said that, as pope, he is not bound by that.
I, for one, welcome the gesture. I won’t accuse those critics of being misogynists, but it wouldn’t surprise me either.
I, for one, welcome the gesture. I won’t accuse those critics of being misogynists, but it wouldn’t surprise me either.
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PietroPaolo
Guest
Far from misogyny, the issue is one of respect for canon law. Perhaps the best known canon lawyer in the USA, Dr. Ed Peters, explains: canonlawblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/retrospectives-on-the-mandatum-rite-controversies/
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Yes you’re correct, the Pope is not bound by that particular law. Unfortunately, many lay people, and even a few clergy, misinterpret and think that they are not bound either. As we know all too well, just because something should not be done does not mean that you won’t find plenty of people, usually well-intentioned, who are **going to do it anyway.
**It wasn’t the prisoner part that upset people (male Christians would have been fine), it was that at least one (I believe) was Muslim.
I wonder if you think that as a woman myself who prefers that clergy "say the black and do the red’ and thus prefers that those other than our Holy Father stick to what is supposed to be done until and unless that particular law gets changed --instead of trying to ‘force it’ or break it-- I’m a misogynist’?
Call me a goody-two shoes if you must, but I tend to think that rules are supposed to be followed, and when it comes to discipline (meaning Church teaching that is not dogma or doctrine, which we know should be obeyed), which is still something that should not ‘lightly be cast aside’, that we should be working on our virtue of obedience and not going around looking for some ‘medieval throwback’ or ‘mossy old law’ that we can cheerfully flout in the name of ‘diversity’ or other buzzword. . .
Actually, even in disciplines, there is moral component as well. Disobeying something that binds with the force of law (such as liturgical rubrics), makes one guilty of sin, specifically, the sin of disobedience. The degree to which one is culpable (e.g. venially vs. mortally) depends, among others, on the severity of that law.
For example, that a priest keep quiet about confession is not a divine ordinance; it is strictly a matter of canon law. But for him to break this law is mortally sinful, and is an excommunicable offense. Or Holy Days of obligation. That’s purely disciplinary. But if I still deliberately and without reason miss Mass on Christmas Day, I become guilty of mortal sin.
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Peebo
Guest
This is an extract of a Homily Pope Francis gave on Oct 31, 2014…it may shed some light as to his thinking and why he chose not to follow what the law says…**Jesus’ actions show that love and justice, not an excessive attachment to the laws, are the path to holiness, Pope Francis said.
“This way of life of being attached to the laws, distanced (the Pharisees) from love and from justice. They followed the laws and they neglected justice,” he said. “They followed the laws and they neglected love.”
“And for these people Jesus had only one word (to describe them): hypocrites,” the Pope continued.
“Closed-minded men, men who are so attached to the laws, to the letter of the law that they were always closing the doorway to hope, love and salvation… Men who only knew how to close (doors).**
“This way of life of being attached to the laws, distanced (the Pharisees) from love and from justice. They followed the laws and they neglected justice,” he said. “They followed the laws and they neglected love.”
“And for these people Jesus had only one word (to describe them): hypocrites,” the Pope continued.
“Closed-minded men, men who are so attached to the laws, to the letter of the law that they were always closing the doorway to hope, love and salvation… Men who only knew how to close (doors).**
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Petaro
Guest
Beautifully quoted… Well Done!
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SuS33
Guest
Cuz they don’t know Jesus and think they understand the law more the the vicar of Christ!
Sadly a lot of Catholics still do not understand the power the Church leaders have and especially the Pope, and that this power was given to them directly from Christ. They do not understand what “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” means. Just continue to pray for them, and God will open their hearts to the truth.
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SuS33
Guest
:clapping:
So this means we should no longer have any laws or disciplines? Or that they are mere suggestions and guidelines but don’t really command any obedience anymore?
I’m a stickler for the laws laid down by the Holy Catholic Church, both letter and spirit. What does that make me?
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Tomdstone
Guest
I thought that the Pope would be bound by canon law?
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thistle
Guest
The Pope is the chief legislator of the Church. He can make changes to Canon Law but he cannot make changes to doctrine and he cannot create doctrine. He can make changes to disciplinary law, e.g. he can change the fasting time requirements before receiving Communion, or he can do away with priestly celibacy and allow them to marry, or he can make changes to the Form of the Mass etc.
I guess the debate here is whether he should have done something that contradicts an existing discipline before he formally changes it.
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Chatter163
Guest
No, he is the lawgiver, so essentially he both lays down and interprets canon law. Normally these tasks are delegated to others in the Holy See, but the Pontiff may always set, change and interpret the law. Benedict XVI modified canon law a couple of times, including when he established the Anglican Use in 2009 and when he clarified who is bound by Catholic form of marriage in 2008.
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kozlosap
Guest
When Papa Francis washed the feet of the prisoners on that first Holy Thursday he was Pope, it literally took my breath away. The Holy Spirit had obviously been at work during the Conclave and inspired the new Holy Father to actually show the world what being a follower of Christ is all about. I pray everyday that his health is good and that he has the time to teach us about mercy and following the Gospels.
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kozlosap
Guest
We are Catholic ( as adults) because we believe in the True Presence. Your well-formed conscience agrees 100% with all of the Dogma so why would that leave you out of the Church? My conscience is not in line with certain social dogma issues, but I’m still Catholic, just like you. We are in a humongous tent with many different view points, but we are all still Catholic.
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