Cardinal Burke: we will make ‘formal act of correction’ if Pope doesn’t issue Amoris clarification
Posted by Pete on November 16, 2016, 8:55 pm
Cardinal Raymond Burke has said it may be necessary to make a “formal act of correction” if Pope Francis doesn’t answer a letter from four cardinals asking him to clarify aspects of Amoris Laetitia.
In an interview with Edward Pentin of National Catholic Register, Cardinal Burke said that if the Pope were to teach error or heresy, “It is the duty in such cases, and historically it has happened, of cardinals and bishops to make clear that the Pope is teaching error and to ask him to correct it.”
Cardinal Burke is one of four cardinals who have written to the Pope asking for a clarification of Amoris Laetitia. They say that the document could be read as contradicting Church teaching on the moral law and on the question of Communion for the remarried. The Pope has declined to reply to the letter.
Asked what would happen if the Pope remained silent, Cardinal Burke replied: “Then we would have to address that situation. There is, in the tradition of the Church, the practice of correction of the Roman Pontiff. It is something that is clearly quite rare. But if there is no response to these questions, then I would say that it would be a question of taking a formal act of correction of a serious error.”
Such an act of formal correction would be extremely unusual. One example is the challenge to Pope John XXII in the 1330s. He had publicly taught – though only as his personal opinion – that souls in heaven would not actually see God until the Final Judgment, a teaching contrary to Church doctrine.
It is getting serious – a situation that we have never experienced before, and indeed, that no generation has experienced in centuries. However, it is painfully obvious that something needs to be done; many of us have experienced personally what the Catholic Herald reports in its concluding paragraph:
He said the four cardinals had intervened “because so many people are saying: ‘We’re confused, and we don’t understand why the cardinals or someone in authority doesn’t speak up and help us.’”
Pope John XXII’s error, by virtue of the fact that it was most unlikely to result in the damnation of any of his followers, is tiny compared with the possible ramifications of the confusion in the Church brought about by the wording of Amoris Laetitia:
In his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, the Pope made no direct reference to the question, but some bishops have interpreted his words as meaning that some remarried people can receive Communion, even if they are still in a sexual relationship. This is the interpretation of the Buenos Aires bishops, which the Pope has appeared to privately favour.
--Previous Message-- : : Cardinal Raymond Burke has said it may be : necessary to make a “formal act of : correction” if Pope Francis doesn’t answer a : letter from four cardinals asking him to : clarify aspects of Amoris Laetitia. : : In an interview with Edward Pentin of : National Catholic Register, Cardinal Burke : said that if the Pope were to teach error or : heresy, “It is the duty in such cases, and : historically it has happened, of cardinals : and bishops to make clear that the Pope is : teaching error and to ask him to correct : it.” : : Cardinal Burke is one of four cardinals who : have written to the Pope asking for a : clarification of Amoris Laetitia. They say : that the document could be read as : contradicting Church teaching on the moral : law and on the question of Communion for the : remarried. The Pope has declined to reply to : the letter. : : Asked what would happen if the Pope remained : silent, Cardinal Burke replied: “Then we : would have to address that situation. There : is, in the tradition of the Church, the : practice of correction of the Roman Pontiff. : It is something that is clearly quite rare. : But if there is no response to these : questions, then I would say that it would be : a question of taking a formal act of : correction of a serious error.” : : Such an act of formal correction would be : extremely unusual. One example is the : challenge to Pope John XXII in the 1330s. He : had publicly taught – though only as his : personal opinion – that souls in heaven : would not actually see God until the Final : Judgment, a teaching contrary to Church : doctrine. : : Full article: : http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/11/16/cardinal-burke-we-will-make-formal-act-of-correction-if-the-pope-doesnt-make-amoris-clarification/ : : :
Re: Serious stuff
Posted by Pete on November 17, 2016, 4:41 pm, in reply to "Serious stuff"
Yes it is serious. I thought the secular media would have made a bigger fuss. They either don't appreciate the significance yet or are still too obsessed with Trump - I'm betting on the latter!
--Previous Message-- : It is getting serious – a situation that we : have never experienced before, and indeed, : that no generation has experienced in : centuries. However, it is painfully obvious : that something needs to be done; many of us : have experienced personally what the : Catholic Herald reports in its concluding : paragraph: He said the four cardinals had : intervened “because so many people are : saying: ‘We’re confused, and we don’t : understand why the cardinals or someone in : authority doesn’t speak up and help us.’” : Pope John XXII’s error, by virtue of the : fact that it was most unlikely to result in : the damnation of any of his followers, is : tiny compared with the possible : ramifications of the confusion in the Church : brought about by the wording of Amoris : Laetitia : In his apostolic exhortation : Amoris Laetitia , the Pope made no direct : reference to the question, but some bishops : have interpreted his words as meaning that : some remarried people can receive Communion, : even if they are still in a sexual : relationship. This is the interpretation of : the Buenos Aires bishops, which the Pope has : appeared to privately favour. : : : --Previous Message-- : : Cardinal Raymond Burke has said it may be : necessary to make a “formal act of : correction” if Pope Francis doesn’t answer a : letter from four cardinals asking him to : clarify aspects of Amoris Laetitia. : : In an interview with Edward Pentin of : National Catholic Register, Cardinal Burke : said that if the Pope were to teach error or : heresy, “It is the duty in such cases, and : historically it has happened, of cardinals : and bishops to make clear that the Pope is : teaching error and to ask him to correct : it.” : : Cardinal Burke is one of four cardinals who : have written to the Pope asking for a : clarification of Amoris Laetitia. They say : that the document could be read as : contradicting Church teaching on the moral : law and on the question of Communion for the : remarried. The Pope has declined to reply to : the letter. : : Asked what would happen if the Pope remained : silent, Cardinal Burke replied: “Then we : would have to address that situation. There : is, in the tradition of the Church, the : practice of correction of the Roman Pontiff. : It is something that is clearly quite rare. : But if there is no response to these : questions, then I would say that it would be : a question of taking a formal act of : correction of a serious error.” : : Such an act of formal correction would be : extremely unusual. One example is the : challenge to Pope John XXII in the 1330s. He : had publicly taught – though only as his : personal opinion – that souls in heaven : would not actually see God until the Final : Judgment, a teaching contrary to Church : doctrine. : : Full article: : : http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/11/16/cardinal-burke-we-will-make-formal-act-of-correction-if-the-pope-doesnt-make-amoris-clarification/ : : : : :
Re: Serious stuff
Posted by John on November 17, 2016, 8:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Serious stuff"
The secular media are interested only in the destruction of the Church, not its restoration. Any move to halt the downward spiral is most unwelcome as it runs counter to the desirable narrative, and therefore must not be propagated as it might give heart to the surviving faithful few.
As one of the surviving few, I am grateful to you for bringing it to our attention. As it turned out, I got it from another source this evening, anyway, but I am greatly appreciative of your heads-up earlier in the day.
--Previous Message-- : : Yes it is serious. I thought the secular : media would have made a bigger fuss. They : either don't appreciate the significance yet : or are still too obsessed with Trump - I'm : betting on the latter! : : : --Previous Message-- : It is getting serious – a situation that we : have never experienced before, and indeed, : that no generation has experienced in : centuries. However, it is painfully obvious : that something needs to be done; many of us : have experienced personally what the : Catholic Herald reports in its concluding : paragraph: He said the four cardinals had : intervened “because so many people are : saying: ‘We’re confused, and we don’t : understand why the cardinals or someone in : authority doesn’t speak up and help us.’” : Pope John XXII’s error, by virtue of the : fact that it was most unlikely to result in : the damnation of any of his followers, is : tiny compared with the possible : ramifications of the confusion in the Church : brought about by the wording of Amoris : Laetitia : In his apostolic exhortation : Amoris Laetitia , the Pope made no direct : reference to the question, but some bishops : have interpreted his words as meaning that : some remarried people can receive Communion, : even if they are still in a sexual : relationship. This is the interpretation of : the Buenos Aires bishops, which the Pope has : appeared to privately favour. : :
Thanks John [NT]
Posted by Pete on November 18, 2016, 5:10 am, in reply to "Re: Serious stuff"
--Previous Message-- : The secular media are interested only in the : destruction of the Church, not its : restoration. Any move to halt the downward : spiral is most unwelcome as it runs counter : to the desirable narrative, and therefore : must not be propagated as it might give : heart to the surviving faithful few. : : As one of the surviving few, I am grateful : to you for bringing it to our attention. As : it turned out, I got it from another source : this evening, anyway, but I am greatly : appreciative of your heads-up earlier in the : day. : : : --Previous Message-- : : Yes it is serious. I thought the secular : media would have made a bigger fuss. They : either don't appreciate the significance yet : or are still too obsessed with Trump - I'm : betting on the latter! : : : --Previous Message-- : It is getting serious – a situation that we : have never experienced before, and indeed, : that no generation has experienced in : centuries. However, it is painfully obvious : that something needs to be done; many of us : have experienced personally what the : Catholic Herald reports in its concluding : paragraph: He said the four cardinals had : intervened “because so many people are : saying: ‘We’re confused, and we don’t : understand why the cardinals or someone in : authority doesn’t speak up and help us.’” : Pope John XXII’s error, by virtue of the : fact that it was most unlikely to result in : the damnation of any of his followers, is : tiny compared with the possible : ramifications of the confusion in the Church : brought about by the wording of Amoris : Laetitia : In his apostolic exhortation : Amoris Laetitia , the Pope made no direct : reference to the question, but some bishops : have interpreted his words as meaning that : some remarried people can receive Communion, : even if they are still in a sexual : relationship. This is the interpretation of : the Buenos Aires bishops, which the Pope has : appeared to privately favour. : : : :
Re: Serious stuff
Posted by Tony M on November 19, 2016, 10:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Serious stuff"
Jeff Mirus is a thoughtful commentator who makes some good points here, for those who haven't read:
Posted by John on November 20, 2016, 1:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Serious stuff"
That is an excellent article, Tony, and we do need to be reminded regularly that the Church is not just a human institution, but that, as the last sentence says:
… the Holy Spirit will never permit any pope to propose an error in faith or morals in a Magisterial teaching that the whole Church is bound to obey.
The problem is that there are many audiences when the Pope speaks, and very few of them are truly educated in the Faith. Specifically in regard to Catholics, the vast majority are very poorly educated, and many of those who did receive the good Catholic education that was available in the 40s, 50s and into the 60s have thrown it off in favour of cafeteria Catholicism. Consequently, they can blithely ignore papal words that are personally inconvenient for them, while embracing with alacrity any loose expressions that appear to give them permission to indulge in further cafeteria delicacies.
For those who are well educated in the faith, the frustration alluded to by Jeff Mirus is only too real, and for months have been asking, “Isn’t there some way to persuade the Pope to stop giving ammunition to the uninformed, largely anti-Catholic media, and to the cafeteria Catholics to rejoice in what they perceive as the Church crumbling away." Along with Jeff, we
… very emphatically applaud Cardinal Burke and all those prelates who seek conscientiously to correct Pope Francis’ tendency to confuse things, and who are willing to expose any tendencies on the part of the Pope to personally promote ideas and strategies he seems unable to teach officially (quite possibly owing to the protection of the Holy Spirit). God knows that those Catholics who actually accept all that the Church teaches are suffering a great trial under this Pope.