Posted on 04/09/2015 5:01:24 PM PDT by marshmallow
Vatican City, Apr 9, 2015 / 05:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A top African cardinal says that German cardinal Walter Kasper who's stirred controversy over his views promoting Communion for the divorced and remarried does not necessarily represent Pope Francis' theological stance.
He also rejected efforts to claim the Pope for either side of the debate ahead of the upcoming synod on the family.
South Africa's Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier dismissed a news report's label of Cardinal Walter Kasper as the Popes theologian, saying, I believe Pope Francis is a theologian in his own right. So he does not need anyone to be presented as 'his' theologian.
Cardinal Napier, the Archbishop of Durban, told CNA April 9 that the Pope is the head of the Church in general and of the College of Bishops in particular.
It is wrong therefore for any one group or individual to try to 'own' him or even to claim him as the adherent to one particular school or another of theology.
Cardinal Napier had voiced concern about efforts to claim the Pope as a partisan of Cardinal Kasper in an April 4 Religion News Service article, which discussed the German cardinal's new book. The article was headlined: Cardinal Walter Kasper, 'The Pope's Theologian,' Reveals The Brains Behind Francis' Heart.
Cardinal Napier said on Twitter April 5 that It's a real worry to read an expression like 'the Pope's Theologian' applied to Cardinal Kasper.
Why is it a worry? the African cardinal asked. Unlike Pope Francis, Cardinal Kasper isn't very respectful towards the African Church and its leaders.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
I was heartened to see the good Cardinal Napier raise his voice against Cardinal Kasper, and his disgusting campaign to stress out and scandalize the faithful of the world.
I do believe the good cardinals are marshalling their forces for the Synod, in October.
I hope so, as well.
Watch and pray.
Seriously, Amen to that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.