A short review on the latest Catholic issue
Pope Francis’ recent response to the second of the five questions posed by two Cardinals offers an opportunity to explore this issue further, especially in its pastoral implications. It is a matter of avoiding that “something that is not marriage is being recognized as marriage.” Therefore, rites and prayers that could create confusion between what constitutes marriage—which is the “exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children”—and what contradicts it are inadmissible. This conviction is grounded in the perennial Catholic doctrine of marriage; it is only in this context that sexual relations find their natural, proper, and fully human meaning. The Church’s doctrine on this point remains firm.
“Dichiarazione ‘Fiducia supplicans’ sul senso pastorale delle benedizioni del Dicastero per la Dottrina della Fede,” Vatican.va, 2023.
This is a good time for the trial of our faith. Now there is full of false news on the Internet, and most Catholics (from what I see) are confused. People keep saying the Pope is ambiguous, assuming the Pope approves same-sex unions. However, I feel that the paragraph quoted above is the strong point that the Church doesn’t change Her teaching.
I have compiled several YouTube videos that I have watched,
I believe that there is more information that can be found on the Internet. Among the videos I watched, my favourite one is from Mr Chistopher West. He said, “read the papal documents in keeping with the Tradition of the Church”. This is so important. Though the papal document is not the Sacred Scripture, as Catholics, we have Sacred Tradition, that’s how we should read the documents. Without the tradition, we will end up interpreting documents or even scripture differently. And that’s why there are so many Christian denominations today because everyone interprets the bible according to their own favours.
Some people say that even Paul rebuked Peter. Similarly, they can rebuke Pope Francis for what he has done. However, in my opinion, the situation is totally different. Peter didn’t want to eat with Gentiles because he was afraid of the Jews. If we put Pope Francis into this situation, this will be that Pope Francis rejects all the sinners who has immoral relationships, and some “Pauls” have to rebuke him.
Some people even quote “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil”. In my opinion, this should depend on the context or situation as well. For example, if someone asks you, “Do you love God?” Your answer can be Yes or No. However, if someone asks you, “Are you going to heaven when you die?” How are you going to answer Yes or No? There is a lot of uncertainty, because we don’t know whether we are going to commit any mortal sin in future, unless you adopt “eternal security”.
If you are confused, pray and have faith in Christ. Always remember what the Lord had said, “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” And that is why, those who deny Pope Francis as pope will read the Fiducia Supplicans in a totally different way.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
(By the way, my bible quotes are using RSVCE translation.)