Cardinal Walter Kasper Takes on Cardinal Pell and Other Critics

The National Catholic Register ^ | 6/11/15 | Raymond Arroyo

[marshmallow]

In Part II of a World Over interview, Cardinal Kasper contends that the critics of his controversial proposal are to blame for Church division, not him.

Cardinal Walter Kasper’s controversial keynote address on marriage and the family to cardinals in Rome on Feb. 20, 2014, sparked a firestorm of criticism. It continues to burn today.

Within days of his address, Cardinal Kasper’s proposal to quickly admit divorced-and-remarried Catholics to the sacraments was in print and dominating headlines. Several cardinals immediately voiced opposition to the so-called Kasper proposal. Then in the lead-up to the extraordinary synod of last fall, a chorus of cardinals and theologians in books and in the media expressed concerns with Cardinal Kasper’s approach. They asserted — at times strongly — that the Kasper proposal was irreconcilable with authentic Catholic doctrine and would compromise the indissolubility of sacramental marriage.

Cardinal Kasper went on the offensive. The president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity told Vatican Radio that the main purpose of his proposal was to “deepen the theological understanding of challenges facing the family” and “to help, support and encourage [families].” In his words, the proposal seeks to find “a way between ‘rigorism’ [strictness] — which cannot be the way of normal Christians — and a pure ‘laxism’ [leniency].”

Despite the vast opposition to his proposal, Cardinal Kasper continues to vigorously defend it — and he is confident it can succeed.

Cardinal Kasper explored his proposal with me during a recent visit to Washington. In the first part my interview that aired on EWTN’s The World Over on June 4, the cardinal touted the support he believes he has from the synod fathers. At the same time, he backed away from his previous statements claiming a papal endorsement for his ideas.

[Jeff Chandler]

If they are successful in changing the rules on divorce/remarriage/Communion, will their be any kind of limit? What about third marriages, or fourth? Wouldn’t limiting this to second marriages amount to an arbitrary rule? Wouldn’t it be lacking in mercy?

While we’re on the subject, if the synod decides to “value” the “gifts” inherent in homosexual unions, what about polygamous unions, multi-generational unions, bestial unions? Do they not also have sodomous value?

[bboop]

I thot the good cardinal sounded very defensive on Part 2 of Raymond Arroyo’s interview. Good for Arroyo for shining the light of truth on this man. There are plenty of churches he can join if he wants to do gay marriages.