A New Years Resolution for the Church: Clarity and Fidelity

The pro-abortion, transgender, same sex ‘marriage,’ and LGBTQ agendas seem to always be at the forefront of daily experiences. These agendas seem to be a priority in our public schools, the workplace, government, the military, and entertainment (including professional sports).

Likewise, these areas of liberal progressive movements are creeping into the Catholic Church. Our Church has traditionally served as a “rock” of stability, morality, and sanity against such immoral clamor. However, the current hierarchy of the Church appears to be crushing that “rock.”

Words Matter

Over the past several years, a series of Vatican speeches, documents and interviews have led to much confusion about Church teaching. Almost all the controversial communications revolve around sexual morality issues.

The general theme around topics such as blessings of same-sex marriage, homosexuality, communion for divorced, etc., revolves around the notion of the priority of mercy. However, a lack of clarity in the discussion of these issues has caused much confusion.

The latest document put out by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) is the most recent example. It has caused a lot of controversy about the rationale and validity of offering blessings to same-sex couples and others in irregular relations. Even after a couple of months it is still receiving attention.  Many, including me, see Fiducia Supplicans (FS) as undercutting Church teaching on marriage and sexuality.

I tend to agree with Retired Archbishop Chaput. He concluded that while FS doesn’t necessarily change Church teaching on marriage, it sure seems to change Church teaching on the sinfulness of same-sex behavior. It fails to recognize the objective status of a relationship but leads instead to a subjective and “merciful” evaluation of homosexual relationships.

The Church cannot bless same-sex unions, according to the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith in 2021.  As the CFD wrote back then, “[God] does not and cannot bless sin.” Yet, FS seems to infer such blessings are allowed.

This document appears to follow the same path that Amoris Laetitia did in allowing the divorced to receive Holy Communion. Prioritizing mercy, however, seems to undermine Church doctrine and traditional teachings.

Ambiguity Run Rampant

This latest document is but a symptom of the current pontificate. It demonstrates an ongoing trajectory of papal pronouncements and conversations that are not always clear. At the same time, clarity is not offered on various communications, even after respected cardinals such as Cardinal Burke request it.

Besides the unclear messages about blessings for same-sex couples, we have seen unjust and uninformed negative claims about the US Church. There have also been claims of rigidity against those holding orthodox/traditional beliefs.  And the on again off again support for the German Synodal Way, has also been confusing.

There are a variety of other examples as well. The details of the Vatican-Chinese agreement, for instance, have never even been divulged.

FW is just the latest document that shows how divided both clergy and lay Catholics can be over a Vatican communication.

I believe a key role of our Pope is to be a voice of clarity. He is to be the voice for doctrinal instruction and correction. Above all, he is to be the voice to unify. I do not see this from this pontificate.

Pope Francis’ in his recent clarification of FS, for instance, said that when a “couple” asks for a blessing, the individuals are being blessed and not the “union.” But his use of the word “couple” muddies the water. It seems to acknowledge that two men or two women can indeed be a “couple.”

Merciful Ambiguity

To be sure, Pope Francis’s emphasis on mercy is commendable and I applaud him for that effort. However, as discussed in a previous essay, being merciful and welcoming just opens the door.

The real work of the Church begins once that door is open.  Instruction on repentance, belief, and transformation must follow. But the message in so many cases seems to stop at just mercifully opening to door.

Consequences

This ambiguity is more than just a theological or doctrinal concern.  A lack of clarity can lead to breaches in faith practices by clergy.

The recent actions of an Italian priest are an example of this. He put up a crèche with two women instead of Mary and Joseph. He maintained that this a merciful and open and welcoming scene. Give me a break!  That is blatant blasphemy.

The lack of clarity in Vatican documents such as FS can also lead to false perceptions of Church teachings. An example of this is former Presidential candidate Chris Christie (who identifies as a Catholic) changing his mind and now supporting same-sex marriage. His misinterpretation of the document is that the Church has changed its mind and accepts same-sex marriage.

Underlying Concern

The concern over clarity leads to a concern over the Church’s fidelity to doctrine and traditional teachings. I think a major purpose of the Church is to instruct us on doctrine and tradition and to provide a clear morality based on that doctrine.

However, the language in so many communications out of the Vatican seems to put doctrine aside. Explanations offered to clarify various pronouncements and documents note they need to be understood with “nuance.” I’m sorry, what we need is not nuance, but straight language about what is right and what is wrong.

I am just a layman, yet I am I called to follow and defend our faith beliefs and practices as defined by the Nicene Creed, Sacred Scripture and Holy Tradition as stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

However, I cannot always defend some of the pronouncements and statements coming out of the Vatican in written or verbal form.   I believe a number of them go against those sources of the “Word.” The current controversy over same-sex marriage blessings is just the most recent. As my old basketball coach used to say, “never defend a stupid shot.”

In spite of all this, I am not yet ready to conclude that the documents and messages coming out of the Vatican are a direct attempt to change Church doctrine.

Change the Culture, Not Doctrine

At the same time it does seem that there are some members of the hierarchy, such as Cardinal Fernandez (author of Fiducia Supplicans ), and certainly those in the German Synodal Way, who are trying to change doctrine.

In trying to ease the Church into a shift of doctrinal change that goes along with the progressive morality culture of today those members of the hierarchy are causing division. Their efforts are wrong headed attempts to adapt to our current culture. The Church should not be about changing herself to bend to the progressive culture but should be about changing that culture.

C.S. Lewis stated that Christianity is a “fighting religion.”  By this Lewis means that we are charged to fight for the “truth.”  We are to be a force for good, and not be “wishy washy” about what we profess and practice.

My prayer is that our Holy Father and orthodox members of the hierarchy and clergy act as soldiers for the faith – that they stand up to this challenge.  They should offer clarity, and defend the deposit of faith. By such efforts, the Church can then be a stronger beacon of hope and truth.

“…you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth” [1 Timothy 3:15].