Yes, No, I Don’t Know, You Figure It Out. The Fluid Magisterium of Pope Francis [Catholic Caucus]

Chisea ^ | May 13, 2016 | Sandro Magister

[Mrs. Don-o]

Laudato Si
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3318660/posts

As you will notice, upon close reading, Laudato Si itself clearly labels itself "another voice in the dialogue" , and not as something that must be accepted de fide:

Unlike Pope Pius XII, who said in Humani Generis that he wished to provide closure on a topic previously considered “a question of free discussion among theologians.” Pope Francis aims for the opposite: he is writing to kick open a topic for discussion.

This unsettling idea of "encyclical as dialogue platform" is an innovation, because there has never been a precedent, an encyclical which was manifestly NOT meant to be authoritative. But here you have it, in Pope Francis' own words (paragraph numbers provided):

(14 )"I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue … We need a new conversation…raising awareness of these challenges..."

(15) "I will advance…proposals for dialogue and action..."

(16) “"This is] the call to seek other ways of understanding… the need for forthright and honest debate..."

(19)"Our goal is...to become painfully aware [of] what is happening to our world..."

"Dialogue," "conversation," "proposals," "debate," awareness-raising --- these words establish that the papal intent here is to spark a discussion, not to define some new doctrine.

"On many concrete questions, the Church has no reason to offer a definitive opinion." Laudato Si' (61)

Of course, as we both know, this disavowal of an authoritative note opens up a new kind of difficulty: the opportunistic deviltry which we see all around us, and the confusion of the faithful.

It's now our job, as laity, to make the real Catholic doctrines perfectly clear: to help our fellow faithful and to respectfully remind and correct our bishops when they stray.

[Let's Roll]

You figure it out and if I don’t like it, I will veto it?

[ebb tide]

"On many concrete questions, the Church has no reason to offer a definitive opinion." Laudato Si' (61)

The Catholic Church does have a reason, however, to offer a definitive opinion on whether public, unrepentant adulterers should be given Holy Communion without their firm commitment to sin no more. And this opinion has already been given by numerous past popes. It is Francis, who is now questioning his papal predecessors' opinions.

[ebb tide]

It's now our job, as laity, to make the real Catholic doctrines perfectly clear: to help our fellow faithful and to respectfully remind and correct our bishops when they stray.

Shouldn't that be the pope's job also?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Yes.

[Mrs. Don-o]

If anyone, including bishops and cardinals, and including the pope, favors distributing the blessed Sacrament to people involved in unrepented mortal sin, this is an extremely grave error.