Popes have jurisdiction for the external forum anywhere on earth (cc. 134, 331, 1108), so Francis can officiate at a wedding anywhere, anytime. But officiating at a wedding means something specific.
Show of hands! Who wants to rain all over the sentimental paradelining up behind (what is being presented as) the pope’s facilitation of married love? Anyone? Anyone?
I thought not. Oh well.
Readers of this blog know that I am no fan of canonical form for marriage (cc. 1108, 1117)—a cure that has far outlived the malady (clandestine marriage) it was designed to treat—but canonical form is still law for Catholics and that law goes to the validity of Catholic marriage. Based on the reports offered here and here, I cannot tell whether the ‘wedding’ that the pope put together for an unsuspecting couple satisfies Church requirements on marriage, and several other laws impacting the liceity of marriage seem simply to have been disregarded in the event. As happened several times under earlier administrations, a representative from the Vatican Press Office assures us that “everything was valid”. Such assertions by canonically unqualified and unauthorized PR staff carry, of course, no weight. Real questions worthy of real answers are still raised by this event.
Before getting into details, however, let me say that I am sorry for Paula Podest and Carlos Ciuffardi, two perfectly pleasant flight attendants who paid a courtesy call on their celebrity guest and, next thing they know, their names, faces, and rather odd marriage history are being broadcast to the world. They did not ask for a wedding and were astonished when Pope Francis suggested it. This was not their idea.
Now, about the matter itself.
Popes have jurisdiction for the external forum anywhere on earth (cc. 134, 331, 1108), so Francis can officiate at a wedding anywhere, anytime.
But officiating at a wedding means something specific: it means asking for and receiving the consent of the contracting parties to marrying each each other (c. 1108) here and now. Per the Rite of Matrimony consent is sought from each party individually and must be oriented to marrying the other party at this time; the request is not posed as a joint question to the couple about being married, akin to, ‘do you two want to be married?’, but rather is framed ‘do you marry him/her?’ at this point in time. If consent (the heart of marriage per c. 1057) is not adequately asked for and received, it is not exchanged, and such a couple would not be married (and, No, ‘Ecclesia supplet’ cannot make up for a failure in what is actually sacramental—as opposed to canonical—form). The above reports mention, as far as I can see, only the pope’s broaching the topic of marriage by asking the couple whether they wanted to be married, placing their hands together, saying a few inspirational words about marriage, and pronouncing them husband and wife. But such a sequence describes, not at all, a present exchange of consent by the parties. Let us hope, then, that in the actual event considerably more was said than has been reported.
Second, canonical form demands two independent actual witnesses to the exchange of consent, meaning that five persons must be immediately present for the wedding—not folks who heard about it a few minutes later, or who saw something happening and wondered, hey, what’s going on back there?—but five persons acting together and at the same time: a bride, a groom, an officiant, and two other actual witnesses. While reports are unclear as to how many people actually witnessed this event, and while this photo shows four people in the event (plus a camera man?) and four signatures on a document, another photo shows five names on the marriage document, so one may presume (c. 1541) accordingly.
Third, several canons impacting the liceity of weddings (norms on ‘liceity’ often being regarded as wink-wink rules in Church life, especially when higher-ups model the wink-winking) were apparently ignored here, including: the requirement for serious pastoral preparation prior to a wedding (c. 1063), administration of Confirmation before Matrimony (c. 1065), urging of Penance and holy Communion before a wedding (c. 1065), verification that no obstacles to validity or liceity are in place (c. 1066), securing evidence of the contractants’ freedom to marry (c. 1068) upon pain of acting illicitly without it (c. 1114), an expectation that Catholic weddings be celebrated in a parish church (cc. 1115, 1118), and making use of the Church’s treasury of liturgical books for celebration of the sacramental rite (c. 1119).
As this story reverberates ‘round the world, now, deacons, priests, and bishops who try to uphold Church norms fostering values such as deliberate marriage preparation, an ecclesial context for a Catholic wedding, and the use of established and reliable texts for expressing consent will, undoubtedly, have the Podest-Ciuffardi wedding tossed in their face as evidence that, if Pope Francis does not insist on such legalistic silliness and only cares about whether two people love one another, why shouldn’t they do likewise? The ministry of conscientious clergy in this regard just got harder.
As mentioned above, I would be happy to see the requirement of canonical form for marriage eliminated, this, for several reasons, one of which is that—long story omitted—we could actually make higherdemands of Catholics who want to marry before our clergy than we can currently demand. But the pope’s example of a spontaneous, zero-preparation, wedding is not at all what I and like-minded others have in mind. This couple undoubtedly gave more thought and attention to what they did by civilly marrying before a magistrate back in 2010 than they could have possibly given to what the pope suggested to them, on a few seconds’ notice, while at work, high above the Andes mountains.
If I have to say it, I will: I hope Podest and Ciuffardi are married and that they live happily ever after, but I worry whenever momentous life decisions are taken on a minute’s notice and under circumstances bound to contribute to one’s being carried away by events.
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Edward N. Peters, JD, JCD has doctoral degrees in canon and common law. Since 2005 he has held the Edmund Cardinal Szoka Chair at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. His personal blog on canon law issues in the news may be accessed at the "In the Light of the Law" site.
Rome Newsroom, Mar 31, 2021 / 05:00 pm (CNA).- Pope Francis has said that the martyrdom of an Italian Catholic judge in 1990 showed the mafia’s “intrinsic denial of the Gospel.” In the preface to a new book, published March 31 by Vatican News, the pope… […]
A defining theme of Pope Francis’ papacy has been his urging of humanity to better care for the natural environment, which he has done most prominently in his landmark 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ and numerous subsequent writings and speeches.
The pope’s emphasis on this topic — especially his foray into climate science via his recent encyclical Laudate Deum — has variously drawn both praise and consternation from Catholics in the United States, about half of whom do not share Pope Francis’ views on climate change, according to surveys.
In Laudate Deum, which was released in October as a continuation to Laudato Si’, Francis wrote that the effects of climate change “are here and increasingly evident,” warning of “immensely grave consequences for everyone” if drastic efforts are not made to reduce emissions. In the face of this, the Holy Father criticized those who “have chosen to deride [the] facts” about climate science, stating bluntly that it is “no longer possible to doubt the human — ‘anthropic’ — origin of climate change.”
The pope in the encyclical laid out his belief that there must be a “necessary transition towards clean energy sources, such as wind and solar energy, and the abandonment of fossil fuels.” This follows a call from Pope Francis in 2021 to the global community calling for the world to “achieve net zero carbon emissions as soon as possible.”
He further lamented what he called “certain dismissive and scarcely reasonable opinions [on climate change] that I encounter, even within the Catholic Church.”
In light of the new encyclical — which extensively cites the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — Pope Francis was invited to speak at this week’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28. Though the 86-year-old pope was forced to cancel his trip due to health issues, the Vatican has indicated that he aims to participate in COP28 this weekend in some fashion. It announced today that Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin will represent the pope at the conference.
While various Catholic groups have welcomed the pope’s latest encyclical, some Catholics have reacted with persistent doubts, questioning whether the pope’s policy prescriptions would actually produce the desired effects.
How do Americans feel about climate change?
According to a major survey conducted by Yale University, 72% of Americans believed in 2021 — the latest available data year — that “global warming is happening,” and 57% believe that global warming is caused by human activity.
More recent polling from the Pew Research Center, conducted in June, similarly suggests that two-thirds of U.S. adults overall say the country should prioritize developing renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, over the expansion of the production of oil, coal, and natural gas. That same survey found that just 3 in 10 adults (31%) say the U.S. should completely phase out oil, coal, and natural gas. The Yale study found that 77% of U.S. adults support at least the funding of research into renewable energy sources.
Broken down by party affiliation, Pew found that a large majority of Democratic and Democratic-leaning independents — 90% — favor alternative energy sources, while just under half, 42%, of Republicans and Republican-leaning adults think the same. Within the Republican cohort, however, 67% of Republicans under age 30 prioritize the development of alternative energy sources, compared with the 75% of Republicans ages 65 and older who prioritize the expansion of oil, coal, and natural gas.
In terms of the expansion of alternative energy sources, two-thirds of Americans think the federal government should encourage domestic production of wind and solar power, Pew reported. Just 7% say the government should discourage this, while 26% think it should neither encourage nor discourage it.
How do America’s Catholics feel about climate change?
Surveys suggest that Catholics in the United States are slightly more likely than the U.S. population as a whole to be skeptical of climate change, despite the pope’s emphatic words in 2015 and since.
A separate Pew study suggests that 44% of U.S. Catholics say the Earth is warming mostly due to human activity, a view in line with Pope Francis’ stance. About 3 in 10 (29%) said the Earth is warming mostly due to natural patterns, while 13% said they believe there is no solid evidence the planet is getting warmer.
According to the same study, 71% of Hispanic Catholics see climate change as an extremely or very serious problem, compared with 49% of white, non-Hispanic Catholics. (There were not enough Black or Asian Catholics in the 2022 survey to analyze separately, Pew said.)
One 2015 study from Yale did suggest that soon after Laudato Si’ was released, U.S. Catholics were overall more likely to believe in climate change than before. That same study found no change, however, in the number of Americans overall who believe human activity is causing global warming.
Pope Francis’ climate priorities
Beyond his groundbreaking writings, Pope Francis has taken many actions during his pontificate to make his own — admittedly small — country, Vatican City, more sustainable, including the recent announcement of a large order of electric vehicles, construction of its own network of charging stations, a reforestation program, and the continued importation of energy coming exclusively from renewable sources.
Francis has often lamented what he sees as a tepid response from developed countries in implementing measures to curb climate change. In Laudate Deum, he urged that new multinational agreements on climate change — speaking in this case specifically about the COP28 conference — be “drastic, intense, and count on the commitment of all,” stating that “a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model would have a significant long-term impact.”
The pope lamented what he sees as the fact that when new projects related to green energy are proposed, the potential for economic growth, employment, and human promotion are thought of first rather than moral considerations such as the effects on the world’s poorest.
“It is often heard also that efforts to mitigate climate change by reducing the use of fossil fuels and developing cleaner energy sources will lead to a reduction in the number of jobs,” the pope noted.
“What is happening is that millions of people are losing their jobs due to different effects of climate change: rising sea levels, droughts, and other phenomena affecting the planet have left many people adrift. Conversely, the transition to renewable forms of energy, properly managed, as well as efforts to adapt to the damage caused by climate change, are capable of generating countless jobs in different sectors.”
‘Leave God’s creation better than we found it’
Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Foundation think tank, told CNA that he has noticed a theme of frustration and confusion among many Catholics regarding the Holy Father’s emphasis on climate change.
A self-described outdoorsman and former president of Wyoming Catholic College, Roberts spoke highly to CNA of certain aspects of Laudato Si’, particularly the pope’s insights into what he called “human ecology,” which refers to the acceptance of each person’s human body as a vital part of “accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home.”
“I like to think [Pope Francis] personally wrote that, because I could see him saying that,” Roberts said of the passage, which appears in paragraph 155 of the encyclical. Roberts said he even makes a point to meditate on that “beautiful and moving” passage during a retreat that he does annually.
That portion of Laudato Si’ notwithstanding, Roberts said he strongly believes that it detracts from other important issues, such as direct ministry to the poor, when Pope Francis elevates care for God’s natural creation as “seemingly more important than other issues to us as Catholics.” He also said he disagrees with Pope Francis’ policy prescriptions, such as a complete phasing out of fossil fuels, contained in Laudate Deum.
“We of course want to pray for him. We’re open to the teaching that he is providing. But we also have to remember as Catholics that sometimes popes are wrong. And on this issue, it is a prudential matter. It is not a matter of morality, particularly when he’s getting into the scientific policy recommendations,” Roberts said.
Roberts said the Heritage Foundation’s research and advocacy has focused not on high-level, multinational agreements and conferences to tackle the issues posed by climate change but rather on smaller-scale, more community-based efforts. He said this policy position is, in part, due to the historical deference such multinational conglomerates of nations have given to China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases overall.
He said agreements within the U.S. itself, with businesses and all levels of government working together, have produced the best results so far when it comes to improving the environment. He also pointed to examples of constructive action that don’t involve billions of dollars, such as families making the choice to spend more time outdoors or engaging in local activities that contribute to environmental conservation and community life, such as anti-litter campaigns and community gardening. The overarching goal, he said, should be to “leave God’s creation better than we found it.”
Roberts — who said he personally believes humans likely have “very little effect” on the climate — said he was discouraged to read other portions of Laudato Si’, as well as Laudate Deum, that to him read as though they had come “straight out of the U.N.” Despite his criticisms, Roberts urged his fellow Catholics to continue to pray for the Holy Father and to listen to the pope’s moral insights.
“I just think that the proposed solutions are actually more anti-human and worse than the purported effects of climate change,” he added.
‘A far more complex issue’
Greg Sindelar, a Catholic who serves as CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), a conservative think tank that studies the energy industry, similarly expressed concerns to CNA about the potential impact of certain climate change mitigation policies on human flourishing.
Like Roberts, Sindelar spoke highly of certain aspects of the pope’s message while expressing reservations about some of the U.N.-esque solutions proposed in Laudate Deum.
“I think the pope is right about our duty as Catholics to be stewards and to care for the environment. But I think what we have to understand — what we have to balance this with — is that it cannot come at the expense of depriving people of affordable and reliable energy,” Sindelar said in an interview with CNA.
“There’s ways to be environmentally friendly without sacrificing the access that we all need to reliable and affordable energy.”
Sindelar said TPPF primarily promotes cheap, reliable access to energy as a means of promoting human flourishing. The free-market-focused group is skeptical of top-down governmental intervention, both in the form of regulation and incentives or disincentives in certain areas of the energy sector.
When asked what he thinks his fellow Catholics largely think about the issue, Sindelar said many of the Catholics he hears from express the view that government policies and interventions rarely produce effective solutions and could potentially hinder access to energy for those in need.
“I think it’s a far more complex issue than just saying we need to cut emissions, and we need to transfer away from fossil fuels, and all these other things. What we need to do is figure out and ensure ways that we are providing affordable and reliable electricity to all citizens of the world,” he reiterated.
“When the pope speaks, when the Vatican speaks, it carries a lot of weight with Catholics around the world, [and] not just with Catholics … and I totally agree with him that we need to be thinking about the most marginalized and the poorest amongst us,” Sindelar continued.
“[But] by going down these policy prescription paths that he’s recommending, we’re actually going to reduce their ability to have access to that,” he asserted.
Sindelar, while disagreeing with Pope Francis’ call for an “abandonment of fossil fuels,” said he appreciates the fact that Pope Francis has spoken out about the issue of care for creation and has initiated so much public discussion.
“I think there is room for differing views and opinions on the right ways to do that,” he said.
Effective mitigation efforts
Susan Varlamoff, a retired biologist and parishioner at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in the Atlanta area, is among those Catholics who are committed to Pope Francis’ call to care for creation and to mitigate the effects of climate change. To that end, Varlamoff in 2016 created a peer-reviewed action plan for the Archdiocese of Atlanta to help Catholics put the principles contained in Laudato Si’ into action, mainly through smaller, more personal actions that people can take to reduce their energy usage.
The Atlanta Archdiocese’s efforts have since garnered recognition and praise, Varlamoff said, with at least 35 archdioceses now involved in an inter-diocesan network formed to exchange sustainability ideas based on the latest version of the plan from Atlanta.
“It’s fascinating to see what everybody is doing, and it’s basically based on their talents and imaginations,” Varlamoff said, noting that a large number of young people have gotten involved with their efforts.
As a scientist, Varlamoff told CNA it is clear to her that Pope Francis knows what he’s talking about when he lays out the dangers posed by inaction in the face of climate change.
“He understands the science, and he’s deeply concerned … he’s got remarkable influence as a moral leader,” she said.
“Part of what our religion asks us to do is to care for one another. We have to care for creation if we’re going to care for one another, because the earth is our natural resource system, our life support, and we cannot care for one another if we don’t have that life support.”
Responding to criticisms about the financial costs associated with certain green initiatives, Varlamoff noted that small-scale sustainable actions can actually save money. She offered the example of parishes in the Atlanta area that have drastically reduced their electric bills by installing solar panels.
“[But,] it’s not just about saving money. It’s also about reducing fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting the natural resources for future generations,” she said.
Moreover, Varlamoff said, the moral imperative to improve the natural environment for future generations is worth the investment. “When [Catholics] give money, for example, for a social justice issue like Walking with Moms in Need or special needs, the payback is improving lives. We’re improving the environment here,” she emphasized.
Spend time with any group of devout young Catholics, and you will inevitably hear some talk of vocational discernment. Religious life, priesthood, or marriage? The decision comes easily to some, but others spend years discovering […]
24 Comments
Wow. This essay essentially says “the pope is a boob.” I never thought I’d live to see the day we are now living in! President and pope both seem determined to demean the office they inhabit. And get themselves good photo oops. Sad!
Wow, Dr. Peters really hits the nail on the head with this essay.
Pope Francis spends his 1st 4 years telling us that half of all Catholic marriages are invalid, and then tees off in year 5 with dishing out another one.
I guess his message = “Nothing Really Matters…and I am going to make sure of it.”
Thank you, Dr. Peters. I had the same thought when I first saw the story-about how this makes priests’ jobs so much harder now.… And the poor priests that run tribunals that are trying to uphold the sanctity of marriage. But I felt like a scrooge because everyone was gushing over it! Thank you for this reasoned take.
Thank you, Dr. Peters. I had the same thought when I first saw the story-about how this makes priests’ jobs so much harder now.… And the poor priests that run tribunals that are trying to uphold the sanctity of marriage. But I felt like a scrooge because everyone was gushing over it! Thank you for this reasoned take.
Yes, precisely.
The cameras were on, the spotlight was on and this bishop cannot resist either of them.
Fast, loose and sloppy are the code words for the pathetic pontificate.
God Bless Holy Benedict.
I’m happy for the couple, but I question the wisdom of Francis doing this. From what I understand, free consent is essential to the sacrament of marriage. I would question how free this couple was when faced with the Pope asking to marry them in front of an international press corp. Talk about pressure! I also pray they don’t have any impediments to marriage (like a previous marriage).
I know, I know, questioning this makes seem like a wet towel. I’m glad the couple got married and I pray they are happy and have every grace of the Sacrament. Its not really about them, but about Francis’ behaviour. It seems he likes to use people (this couple, the poor, homeless people, prisoners etc.) for photo ops and self-aggrandizement. I don’t like it. He could have have talked and prayed with them privately, encouraged them to get married and when they’ve done the proper prep with their local priest even offer to do the marriage for them as his personal guests at the Vatican or something. But it seems that wouldn’t grab the headlines. I’m growing increasingly tired of this papacy and its propensity to show off.
So, I’m sure he checked it all out first right?
They took the required classes to prepare for marriage.
The bands were announced
They confirmed that there were no impediments
They made a good confession (since, presumably they’ve been living in sin)
“The ministry of conscientious clergy in this regard just got harder” is the most insightful statement in this article. One truly has to wonder if Pope Francis has any regard for parishes trying to prepare engaged couples. Or one might wonder if the intention here is to disrupt such preparation. By one spontaneous act worthy of a starry-eye teenager, the Pope has once again directed his “friendly-fire” at those laboring in his “field-hospitals”.
I don’t like this thing that the pope did, because once again he shows that he disregards canon law. The law is there for good reasons, especially the importance of properly preparing a couple for marriage.
It reminds me of that scene in The Bells of St Mary’s when Fr O’Malley first comes to the school, and promptly declares a holiday. The nuns are upset, and rightly though, while the kids rejoice. Seriously, I’m starting to wonder if the Pope is psychologically unbalanced.
In ignoring what the canons require, the pope jettisoned true pastoring for the fake, sentimentalized appearance of being pastoral.
If the couple were properly vetted, in accordance with the canons, by someone who wished to spring this on the pope for a photo opp, then the fact that this narrative of the populist pope who is spontaneous, pastoral, etc. was used anyways would say a lot about this pontificate as well.
In 2017, there were no fatal crashes of commercial airliners. And yet, the outstanding Smithsonian Channel program, called “Air Disasters” in the USA and narrated for the USA by Bill Ratner, must go on. I suggest that the producers broaden the meaning of “Air Disasters”. It would be a treat to hear Bill Ratner’s always serious, never-over-the-top voice quote Dr. Peters.
I am a retired priest. I am glad I am a retired priest. I was a rigid, neo-palagian, who tortured my parishioners with my lack of mercy by my adherence to the teachings of the Church following Canon Law. I alienated a fair number of young cohabiting couples by my….well, it’s just too horrible to relate. I was just a non-pastoral “Doctor of the Law”, and clearly failed to follow the example of our present Pope. When I retired, I am sure many were glad to see me go. I was glad to see me go.
Fr “Priest Forever” rest assured we’ll never know the value of our ministry and its ultimate effect on others until we’re dead and buried and are present before Christ. A former now deceased Military Archdiocesan Bishop mild mannered and good hearted exhorted me “Peter don’t worry about alienating by holding fast to the truth”. I’m not excusing overreaction however if Elijah can slit the throats of several hundred false prophets belonging to Jezebel then I think we as priests forever are given a little leeway. If we’re remorseful over what may have been, the ultimate outcome who knows how many returned to the faith because of your strong admonitions unlike the weak kneed ambiguous stuff priests give out today. Is it better to be Laissez Faire or rigid in obedience to Christ’s admonition to repent rather than Pope Francis’ doctrine of “Who am I to judge?”.
The sad thing is that while at most times in Church history we would know for sure that A Priest Forever was being sarcastic, these days there actually are priests dippy enough to think that way…
Wow. This essay essentially says “the pope is a boob.” I never thought I’d live to see the day we are now living in! President and pope both seem determined to demean the office they inhabit. And get themselves good photo oops. Sad!
No one any longer takes this bishop seriously, do they?
The buddy, buddy clown act is so very over.
Pray for him when you get a chance.
Thank the Lord for Edward Peters….as a canon lawyer he says consummately what I was crudely starting to think about.
As I would be considered a Pharisee with my “legalistic” comments and would also be told to “go with the spirit of the thing.”
Wow, Dr. Peters really hits the nail on the head with this essay.
Pope Francis spends his 1st 4 years telling us that half of all Catholic marriages are invalid, and then tees off in year 5 with dishing out another one.
I guess his message = “Nothing Really Matters…and I am going to make sure of it.”
YUP
Thank you, Dr. Peters. I had the same thought when I first saw the story-about how this makes priests’ jobs so much harder now.… And the poor priests that run tribunals that are trying to uphold the sanctity of marriage. But I felt like a scrooge because everyone was gushing over it! Thank you for this reasoned take.
Thank you, Dr. Peters. I had the same thought when I first saw the story-about how this makes priests’ jobs so much harder now.… And the poor priests that run tribunals that are trying to uphold the sanctity of marriage. But I felt like a scrooge because everyone was gushing over it! Thank you for this reasoned take.
It was another Pope Francis publicity stunt for the cameras.
Yes, precisely.
The cameras were on, the spotlight was on and this bishop cannot resist either of them.
Fast, loose and sloppy are the code words for the pathetic pontificate.
God Bless Holy Benedict.
I’m happy for the couple, but I question the wisdom of Francis doing this. From what I understand, free consent is essential to the sacrament of marriage. I would question how free this couple was when faced with the Pope asking to marry them in front of an international press corp. Talk about pressure! I also pray they don’t have any impediments to marriage (like a previous marriage).
I know, I know, questioning this makes seem like a wet towel. I’m glad the couple got married and I pray they are happy and have every grace of the Sacrament. Its not really about them, but about Francis’ behaviour. It seems he likes to use people (this couple, the poor, homeless people, prisoners etc.) for photo ops and self-aggrandizement. I don’t like it. He could have have talked and prayed with them privately, encouraged them to get married and when they’ve done the proper prep with their local priest even offer to do the marriage for them as his personal guests at the Vatican or something. But it seems that wouldn’t grab the headlines. I’m growing increasingly tired of this papacy and its propensity to show off.
So, I’m sure he checked it all out first right?
They took the required classes to prepare for marriage.
The bands were announced
They confirmed that there were no impediments
They made a good confession (since, presumably they’ve been living in sin)
yeah, right.
Every time this pope gets on a plane, the sedevacantist gain hundreds more supporters.
Like clockwork, the man reveals his true self.
Francis is completely ill suited and unworthy of his position.
“The ministry of conscientious clergy in this regard just got harder” is the most insightful statement in this article. One truly has to wonder if Pope Francis has any regard for parishes trying to prepare engaged couples. Or one might wonder if the intention here is to disrupt such preparation. By one spontaneous act worthy of a starry-eye teenager, the Pope has once again directed his “friendly-fire” at those laboring in his “field-hospitals”.
The ministry of conscientious clergy got a lot harder when he said “Who am I to judge?”
then it got harder when he gave his “breeding like rabbits” address
then it got harder with publication of AL
then it got harder with the in flight travesty
what will he do next?
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of “See of Peter Disasters”.
I am not sure that when Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote that “God is a dramatist”, that this is what he had in mind.
I don’t like this thing that the pope did, because once again he shows that he disregards canon law. The law is there for good reasons, especially the importance of properly preparing a couple for marriage.
It reminds me of that scene in The Bells of St Mary’s when Fr O’Malley first comes to the school, and promptly declares a holiday. The nuns are upset, and rightly though, while the kids rejoice. Seriously, I’m starting to wonder if the Pope is psychologically unbalanced.
In ignoring what the canons require, the pope jettisoned true pastoring for the fake, sentimentalized appearance of being pastoral.
If the couple were properly vetted, in accordance with the canons, by someone who wished to spring this on the pope for a photo opp, then the fact that this narrative of the populist pope who is spontaneous, pastoral, etc. was used anyways would say a lot about this pontificate as well.
Dr. Peters has an update at his blog and he reports that this indeed may not have been the spontaneous event that it has been publicized as.
In 2017, there were no fatal crashes of commercial airliners. And yet, the outstanding Smithsonian Channel program, called “Air Disasters” in the USA and narrated for the USA by Bill Ratner, must go on. I suggest that the producers broaden the meaning of “Air Disasters”. It would be a treat to hear Bill Ratner’s always serious, never-over-the-top voice quote Dr. Peters.
I am a retired priest. I am glad I am a retired priest. I was a rigid, neo-palagian, who tortured my parishioners with my lack of mercy by my adherence to the teachings of the Church following Canon Law. I alienated a fair number of young cohabiting couples by my….well, it’s just too horrible to relate. I was just a non-pastoral “Doctor of the Law”, and clearly failed to follow the example of our present Pope. When I retired, I am sure many were glad to see me go. I was glad to see me go.
Fr “Priest Forever” rest assured we’ll never know the value of our ministry and its ultimate effect on others until we’re dead and buried and are present before Christ. A former now deceased Military Archdiocesan Bishop mild mannered and good hearted exhorted me “Peter don’t worry about alienating by holding fast to the truth”. I’m not excusing overreaction however if Elijah can slit the throats of several hundred false prophets belonging to Jezebel then I think we as priests forever are given a little leeway. If we’re remorseful over what may have been, the ultimate outcome who knows how many returned to the faith because of your strong admonitions unlike the weak kneed ambiguous stuff priests give out today. Is it better to be Laissez Faire or rigid in obedience to Christ’s admonition to repent rather than Pope Francis’ doctrine of “Who am I to judge?”.
The sad thing is that while at most times in Church history we would know for sure that A Priest Forever was being sarcastic, these days there actually are priests dippy enough to think that way…