Posted here courtesy of Rorate, Bishop Schneider has asked this be distributed far and wide.
Praise Jesus our Lord for this holy Catholic bishop!
May St. Michael protect him.
"Amoris laetitia": a need for clarification in order to avoid a general confusion
The paradox of the contradictory interpretations of "Amoris laetitia"
The recently published Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris laetitia” (AL), which contains a plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches with regard to life within marriage and the Christian family in our times, has unfortunately, within a very short time, led to very contradictory interpretations even among the episcopate.
There are bishops and priests who publicly and openly declare that AL represents a very clear opening-up to communion for the divorced and remarried, without requiring them to practice continence. In their opinion, it is this aspect of sacramental practice, which, according to them, is now to undergo a significant change that gives AL its truly revolutionary character. Interpreting AL with reference to irregular couples, a president of a Bishops’ Conference has stated, in a text published on the website of the same Bishops’ Conference: “This is a disposition of mercy, an openness of heart and of spirit that needs no law, awaits no guideline, nor bides on prompting. It can and should happen immediately”.
The rest of this important article can be read at the link below:
The rest of this important article can be read at the link below:
8 comments:
Its ambiguous like the Vatican 2 documents ,each one can take what he wills from it.
I have just read headlines on various Traditionalist blogs and noticed something about Bishop Schneider's analysis of Amoris Laetitia that I observed a couple of days ago.
Some Traditionalists have taken note that unlike the initial instant reaction to Bishop Schneider's comments on Amoris Laetitia, Bishop Schneider neither denounced Pope Francis nor Amoris Laetitia.
In fact, just a few seconds ago, I left a Traditional Catholic blog on which the blogger criticized Bishop Schneider's comments about the document as being too mild and accepting of the Exhortation.
Traditionalists who have read carefully Bishop Schneider's essay in question have discovered that Bishop Schneider offers great praise to the Exhortation. Bishop Schneider made it clear that Amoris Laetitia is packed with beautiful and orthodox teachings.
Bishop Schneider's main argument is that he asks Rome to clarify the Exhortation's relationship to Familiaris Consortio. From there, Bishop Schneider insisted, Amoris Laetitia would be of tremendous spiritual benefit to the Church and families.
In fact, Bishop Schneider began by heaping great praise upon Amoris Laetitia. He said that Amoris Laetitia contains "a plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches with regard to life within marriage and the Christian family in our times..."
The Exhortation contains a "plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches," according to Bishop Schneider. That is far-removed from the claim that the Exhortation is filled with unorthodox teachings.
Bishop Schneider also declared that "there are bishops who claim that AL ought to be read in the light of the perennial magisterium of the Church and that AL does not permit access to communion for divorced and remarried couples, not even in exceptional cases. This statement is fundamentally correct and desirable."
Again, that "statement is fundamentally correct," according to Bishop Schneider.
Amoris Laetitia "does not permit access to communion for divorced and remarried couples, not even in exceptional cases," according to Bishop Schneider.
The weak point of Amoris Laetitia, is course that which Bishop Schneider has noted: The lack of fullness in regard to references to Familiaris Consortio #84.
However, the good news offered by Bishop Schneider is that "a verbal quote from Familiaris Consortio n. 84 and of some of the most significant affirmations in Veritatis splendor would render AL [Amoris Laetitia] unassailable by heterodox interpretations."
For as Bishop Schneider declared, Amoris Laetitia contains a "plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches with regard to life within marriage and the Christian family".
Pax.
Mark Thomas
As brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, we know that His Holiness Pope Francis must, as Bishop Schneider has called for respectfully, speak to the issue of Communion for divorce and "remarried" Catholics.
Pope Francis made it clear during his most recent press conference that he's frustrated about the above focus. As he noted during and prior to his latest press conference, the issue of Communion for divorce and "remarried" Catholics is not remotely the most important issue in regard to the crisis of the family. On February 17, 2016 A.D., he declared publicly that (unrepentant) divorced and "remarried" Catholics are forbidden to receive Holy Communion.
Unfortunately, certain bishops, priests, religious, and theologians seemed not to have received that teaching from Pope Francis. They claim that the Exhortation has opened the door to Communion for divorce and "remarried" Catholics.
Pope Francis must address that issue. That has become clear. Let us follow Bishop Schneider's respectful lead by calling upon the Pope to address the issue. Pray that he will be moved to do so. Write to Rome to request that respectfully of the Pope.
In the meantime, let us read again the Exhortation in light of the following from Bishop Schneider: "The recently published Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris laetitia” (AL), which contains a plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches with regard to life within marriage and the Christian family in our times..."
The Exhortation will not disappear. The Exhortation will not be read by 99 percent of Catholics. However, our bishops are preparing guidelines to implement the Exhortation. The Exhortation will be implemented. That is a given.
Therefore, let us mine the Exhortation's "plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches with regard to life within marriage and the Christian family in our times...". Bishop Schneider has declared that Exhortation is filled with beautiful, beneficial, and orthodox teachings.
We must make those teachings our own. From there, we must bring those teachings to our brothers and sisters in the Faith whose families may be in the midst of crisis. Families need desperately the Exhortation's "plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches".
Finally, let us recall the following hopeful, uplifting comment from Bishop Schneider: "...there are bishops who claim that AL ought to be read in the light of the perennial magisterium of the Church and that AL does not permit access to communion for divorced and remarried couples, not even in exceptional cases."
"This statement is fundamentally correct and desirable." That is huge! Let us support those bishops who are holding fast to the above.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Mark, if the Pope is "frustrated" then he only has himself to blame.
He created this mess.
Only he can fix it.
He was warned.
Vox, I thank you for being among the first of the Church's most important Catholics and bloggers who brought attention to Bishop Schneider's comments on Amoris Laetitia.
I have read Traditional Catholic blogs where they said that they were first made aware of Bishop Schneider's essay only after they had read about it on your blog.
You were at the front of the pack on this important story.
Bishop Schneider's essay has edified me and given me greater hope that Amoris Laetitial has the potential to edify the Church and Her families. Yes, Pope Francis must speak to the controversy at hand.
But Bishop Schneider declared that the Exhortation contains "a plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches with regard to life within marriage and the Christian family in our times..."
Maybe we can calm down a little. Let us take a second look through Bishop Schneider's lens that shows us that Amoris Laetitia contains "a plethora of spiritual and pastoral riches with regard to life within marriage and the Christian family in our times..."
Let us join the holy Bishop Schneider's respectful and much-needed call to exhort Pope Francis to answer those Churchmen who have claimed that the Exhortation has "revolutionized" various ancient Church teachings that pertain to marriage, sin, and Holy Communion.
Most of all, let us be at peace with each other.
I also hope that each of us will continue to spread the word about Vox and his blog. Vox plays a key role in the movement to restore Holy Tradition to the (Latin) Church.
Vox, you are a holy man. You also are fair in allowing respectful discussion and even disagreement in the commentary box. I really cherish the privilege to comment here.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Vox Cantoris said..."Mark, if the Pope is "frustrated" then he only has himself to blame. He created this mess. Only he can fix it. He was warned."
Vox, in fairness to Pope Francis, he stated several times that the Synod was far more concerned about other things then the divorced-"remarried"-Communion issue. He also stated on August 5, 2015 A.D., that divorced and "remarried" Catholics had acted "contrary to the Christian Sacrament". He also said on February 17, 2016 A.D., that (unrepentant) divorced and "remarried" Catholics were forbidden to receive Holy Communion.
Vox, that said, I understand the context of your comment. I respect what you said. I also agree that only Pope Francis can fix this thing. He has to address publicly the horrific controversy that has engulfed Amoris Laetitia.
Let us pray that God will move the Pope to do so.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
The Remnant today has joined those Traditionalists who have attacked Bishop Schneider's overall positive analysis of Amoris Laetitia.
Amoris Laetitia: Foolish Bishops and Bishops Playing Us For Fools
Written by Chris Jackson | Remnant Columnist
"On April 26, 2016, the editors of National Catholic Register penned a delusional editorial called, “Amoris Laetitia Offers Marriage Motivation: U.S. bishops discuss the Christian vision of marriage that pervades papal document.”
"Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia also addressed the exhortation’s challenging and sometimes “ambiguous” language dealing with pastoral outreach to Catholics in “irregular marital situations” in an April 14 column in his archdiocesan newspaper. To avoid confusion, he said the document should be read in conjunction with Pope St. John Paul II’s body of teaching on the family. He also emphasized the importance of welcoming Catholics who feel alienated from the Church.
"Archbishop Chaput apparently lives in alternate reality, along with our friends Cardinal Burke and Bishop Schneider."
"In this new conservative escapist reality, Francis didn’t just allow for sacrilegious Communion, upend Catholic teaching on mortal sin, introduce situational ethics into an official Church document, and destroy the underpinnings of three sacraments (marriage, penance, Eucharist). No. To them, Francis’ explicit contradiction of Church doctrine and the moral law is simply imagined to be “ambiguous” or a “misread.”
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There it is. The Remnant has recognized that Bishop Schneider denounced neither Pope Francis nor Amoris Laetitia in his essay on the Exhortation.
The following Churchmen, who have refused to follow The Remnant's interpretation of Amoris Laetitia, are, according to The Remnant, "playing us for fools":
http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/fetzen-fliegen/item/2484-amoris-laetitia-foolish-bishops-and-bishops-playing-us-for-fools
Bishop Schneider, Cardinals Burke and DiNardo, Archbishop Cordileone, Archbishop Chaput, Archibisop Kurtz, and Archbishop Gomez (Los Angeles).
Based upon The Remnant's logic, Michael Voris, TLM-friendly Bishop Egan of Portsmouth, England, Archbishop J. Michael Miller (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)...and everybody else who has interpreted Amoris Laetitia in orthodox fashion have played us for fools.
Is it possible, just possible, that the above men are correct in their understanding of Amoris Laetitia? Is it possible, just possible, that The Remnant is wrong?
What does Bishop Athanasius Schneider have to gain by playing us "for fools"? The same applies to Cardinal Burke. The same applies to Bishop Egan. The same applies to Michael Voris.
Why would additional men of God such as the holy priests of England's Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, who support Amoris Laetitia, play us for fools? What would they have to gain by that?
The Remnant's claim that holy Churchmen are "playing us for fools" doesn't sound logical to me.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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