A year after “Fiducia supplicans”. Messy and vague standards

The Vatican declaration “Fiducia Supplicans”, which supporters of the blessing of same-sex couples are eager to invoke, caused large confusion and brought large harm to the Church. This is confirmed even by the liberal "National Catholic Reporter", referring to the method of decision-making by the Pope and Vatican collaborators besides on another controversial issues.

In this title, Christopher White argues that "no Vatican paper from the past year has caused much confusion" than the declaration of the blessing of single-sex couples. The text, he pointed out, "in many respects he marked the full year of the pontificate of Francis."

White added that the publication "Fiducia supplicans" amazed the Church profoundly due to the fact that it was not announced before. The text was abruptly sent to the mailboxes of the Vaticanists asking for its "immediate publication". Similarly, the Holy See acted in 2022, erstwhile the constitution of the Praedicate Evangelium on the improvement of the Roman Curia was abruptly announced. At least then it was known that specified a publication would be in general, due to the fact that the improvement had been prepared for 9 years; however, it was not expected that this was the day. The Vatican press conference was only 2 days later...

According to the Liberal National Catholic Reporter, the Vatican's action in the case of the Fiducia supplicans was simply unacceptable as the text was not clear and required any interpretation. His appropriate author, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, met with journalists to discuss the declaration only after 4 months. The authoritative Vatican media long did not know what to write. The text referred to the blessing of homosexual couples, and the pope argued that he was opposed to the blessing of single-sex unions.

White recalls that almost no 1 knew about the "Fiducia supplicans" publication plan – the paper was not even consulted with the elite Council of Cardinals, who advised the Pope on the most crucial issues of the Church's life.

As a result, there were violent spiritual and secular reactions in many countries, from east Europe to Africa. Ecumenical dialog was besides violated. The Coptic Orthodox Church even broke the dialog with Rome. Late in spring, the head of the Dicastery of religion Fernández went to Cairo to meet the patriarch Theodore II to ease tensions.

Shortly after the publication of the Fiducia supplicans to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis and Cardinal. Fernández was arrived by Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo. Ambongo is simply a associate of the aforementioned Council of Cardinals. He is besides president of the most crucial African ecclesiastical organization, Symposium of the Conference of Episcopals of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). The gathering resulted in the announcement of a paper approved by Francis, which introduced the freedom to implement the "Fiducia supplicans": those episcopals who do not want it, do not gotta implement it... This was actual for almost all of Black Africa.

Interestingly, regional conferences of Catholic bishops in North and South Africa distanced themselves from the Ambongo statement. Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero of the Rabat in Morocco said that this region of Africa was not consulted in the process of developing a common African position.

Furthermore, as early as February 2024, the Pope set up peculiar synod commissions; 1 of them will deal with "controversial themes" doctrinal and moral, possibly besides the issue of homosexual unions. As White points out, however, the committee operates without wider consultation and transparency; it is expected to present its proposals in mid-2025.

A writer notes that all of this shows a serious mess and unclear standards in the Vatican today.

Source: nationalcatholicreporter.org

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