Posted on 07/16/2016 7:55:11 AM PDT by annalex
July 14, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Forty-five Catholic prelates, academics, and clergy have submitted an appeal to the Dean of the College of Cardinals in Rome requesting that the cardinals and Eastern Catholic Patriarchs petition Pope Francis to repudiate a list of erroneous propositions that can be drawn from Amoris Laetitia.
The appeal will be sent in various languages to the 218 living Catholic Cardinals and Patriarchs over the coming weeks.
The unnamed signatories contend that the exhortation contains “a number of statements that can be understood in a sense that is contrary to Catholic faith and morals.” According to the group’s press release, the signatories submitted along with their appeal a documented list of applicable theological censures specifying “the nature and degree of the errors that could be attributed to Amoris laetitia.”
The group’s appeal asks the cardinals, in their capacities as the Pope's official advisers, to approach Pope Francis with a request that he reject “the errors listed in the document in a definitive and final manner, and to authoritatively state that Amoris laetitia does not require any of them to be believed or considered as possibly true.”
“We are not accusing the pope of heresy,” said Dr. Joseph Shaw, a signatory and a spokesman for the group of scholars and pastors, “but we consider that numerous propositions in Amoris laetitia can be construed as heretical upon a natural reading of the text. Additional statements would fall under other established theological censures, such as scandalous, erroneous in faith, and ambiguous, among others.”
“It is our hope that by seeking from our Holy Father a definitive repudiation of these errors we can help to allay the confusion already brought about by Amoris laetitia among pastors and the lay faithful,” continued Shaw. “For that confusion can be dispelled effectively only by an unambiguous affirmation of authentic Catholic teaching by the Successor of Peter.”
The group takes issue with nineteen passages in Amoris Laetitia that seem to contradict Catholic doctrine and maintains that the exhortation undermines the Church’s teaching that divorced and civilly remarried Catholics who are not living abstinently may not receive the Sacraments.
Some of the portions of the exhortation that seemingly contradict the Church’s teaching are related to the seeming suggestion that some would be incapable of obeying the Commandments, the objective sinfulness of certain acts, the headship of the husband, the superiority of consecrated virginity over the married life, and the legitimacy of capital punishment under certain circumstances.
According to the group’s press release, Catholic prelates, scholars, professors, authors, and clergy from various pontifical universities, seminaries, colleges, theological institutes, religious orders, and dioceses around the world are among the signatories.
“The signatories come from all over the world and include pastors, academics in philosophy, and some bishops, as well as theologians,” Shaw told LifeSiteNews. He said the group has received no responses yet.
In a statement, Shaw explained why the letter has not yet been made public.
“The appeal and cover letter are directed to the cardinals for action in the first place, and we have taken the view that the Sacred College should be allowed to consider the substance of the document and the action to be taken in response to it before its contents are made public,” he said. “The censures are a detailed and technical theological document whose contents are not readily accessible to a non-specialist audience, and are easily misrepresented or misunderstood. Making the document public would impede the cardinals in their task by the media coverage and frequently uninformed debate and polemics it would raise.”
Shaw continued, “At the same time it is important that Catholics who are troubled by some of the statements in Amoris Laetitia be aware that steps are being taken to address the problems it raises; hence the announcement of the document's existence.”
“By the same token we aren't releasing the names of the signatories, though some have agreed to be named,” such as Shaw himself and Father Brian Harrison, Shaw told LifeSiteNews.
The signatories join numerous other Catholic theologians and philosophers in expressing concern that the exhortation endorses practices that are contrary to Church teaching.
Pope Francis’s ambiguity means “what was certain before has become problematic,” Dr. Jude P. Dougherty, the dean emeritus of the School of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America, wrote after the exhortation’s release.
Dr. Anna M. Silvas, a professor at the University of New England and one of the world’s experts on the Church Fathers, delivered a particularly blunt criticism of Amoris Laetitia in which she noted the document failed to mention the term “adultery” and even “the most pious reading of ‘Amoris Laetitia’ cannot say that it has avoided ambiguity.”
The document seems to embrace situation ethics and the Kasper proposal to admit to the Sacraments those living unrepentantly in objectively sinful situations, Silvas said.
“I feel that we have lost all foothold, and fallen like Alice into a parallel universe, where nothing is quite what it seems to be,” she wrote.
Professor Robert Spaemann, a prominent Catholic philosopher and close personal friend of Pope Benedict XVI, said that Amoris Laetitia presents a “breach” with Catholic Tradition and contradicts Pope St. John Paul II’s exhortation Familiaris Consortio.
Plea to the pope: Life and family leaders call on pope to ‘end the confusion’
For your ping lists.
Happy to learn the clergy is as upset as the laity...
Sola Scripturi. One God (the Father), one Faith (Christ Jesus is Lord), one baptism (the Holy Spirit). We who believe the Bible believe the truth and no man but Jesus Christ gives the truth to mankind. Therefore, we honor and worship none but Him, God the Son, as the one and only mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus who sits at the right hand of God the Father. None other but Him, the coming King of the earth who will reign in the land of Israel near Jerusalem, the city of the great King Jesus Christ our Lord, for 1000 years as the Revelation teaches. For us, their is no pope and Vatican, we enter into the throne room of God by the once shed blood of Jesus Christ in prayer and He hears us. Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have life and they speak of Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. All cults and other religions is devil worship and demon run, atheism being but one of many thousands of lies in the world..
the superiority of consecrated virginity over the married life
On the other hand, he said they are hearing news of an attempt to publish a version of it. He says "This may very well oblige us to publish the official version in the next few days. So then I suppose your question will be answered. If it doesn't, then perhaps we should return to this question."
So I'll let y'all know as soon as I know. I'll post up here on FR.
I agree: it's good to know that some of the clergy are very, very disturbed by the defects of Amoris Laetitia.
Post #6 ~ First, I want to thank you for taking the initiative. Second, “... and it’s quite technical and apt to be abused by the secular media, i.e. flagrantly misrepresented and misunderstood.”
We all KNOW it will be flagrantly misrepresented by the secular media, regardless of its contents.
wishing you and yours a blessed day...
Post # 4 ~ I’m not looking to try to be a wiseguy, and I refuse to get into the back and forth of our respective beliefs - that never solves anything.
I respectfully ask for your answer to this : If the Bible is the one and only source of your belief, can you show me where in the Bible do you find sola scriptura?
Speak for yourself.
I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I. But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry.[...]
He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. [33] But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided. [34] And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
(1 Corintians 7:8-9,32-34)
That should not be a consideration. If the secular media reports that Catholic scholars consider the Apostolic Exhortation lacking precision and open to criticism, then that is good. That the media will put their own spin is granted, but the more they spin the more people learn to read between the lines and ignore the leftwing yapping.
I'll let y'all know as soon as I know
Please do.
I’m pleasantly surprised that Rev. John Hunwicke signed the document.
I think it's fair to say each of them represents dozens or hundreds of similar stature: teachers, colleagues, former students, the many whose intellectual and spiritual formation they have guided over the years.
This, finally, is good.
Not to mention, Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro of Human Life International.
Although I doubt ANTHING printed in the NCR ~ maybe we now know who didn’t sign? For example, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the USCCB?
I will look into this and report my findings later...
I am curious about the academics who signed. Is there a list of them available? Any Americans on it?
Dr. Jose Tomas Alvarado
Associate Professor
Institute of Philosophy, Pontifical Catholic University of ChileRev. Fr. Scott Anthony Armstrong PhD
Brisbane Oratory in formationRev. Claude Barthe
Rev. Ray Blake
Parish priest of the diocese of Arundel and BrightonFr. Louis-Marie de Blignieres FSVF
Doctor of PhilosophyDr. Philip Blosser
Professor of Philosophy
Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Archdiocese of DetroitMsgr. Ignacio Barreiro Carambula, STD, JD
Chaplain and Faculty Member of the Roman ForumRev. Fr. Thomas Crean OP, STD
Holy Cross parish, LeicesterFr. Albert-Marie Crignion FSVF
Doctor designatus of TheologyRobert de Mattei
Professor of History of Christianity, European University of RomeCyrille Dounot JCL
Professor of Law, the University of Auvergne
Ecclesiastical advocate, archdiocese of LyonFr. Neil Feguson OP, MA, BD
Lecturer in sacred Scripture, Blackfriars Hall, University of OxfordDr. Alan Fimister STL, PhD
Assistant Professor of Theology, St. John Vianney Seminary, archdiocese of DenverLuke Gormally
Director Emeritus, The Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics
Sometime Research Professor, Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ordinary Member, The Pontifical Academy for LifeCarlos A. Casanova Guerra
Doctor of Philosophy, Full Professor of Universidad Santo Tomas de ChileRev. Brian W. Harrison OS, MA, STD
Associate Professor of Theology (retired), Pontifical University of Puerto Rico; Scholar-in-Residence, Oblates of Wisdom Study Center, St. Louis, Missouri; Chaplain, St. Mary of Victories Chapel, St. Louis, MissouriRev. Simon Henry BA (Hons), MA
Parish priest of the archdiocese of LiverpoolRev. John Hunwicke
Former Senior Research Fellow, Pusey House, Oxford; Priest of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of WalsinghamPeter A. Kwasniewski PhD, Philosophy
Professor, Wyoming Catholic CollegeDr. John R.T. Lamont STL, D.Phil
Fr. Serafino M. Lanzetta, PhD
Lecturer in Dogmatic Theology, Theological Faculty of Lugano, Switzerland
Priest in charge of St. Mary's, Gosport, in the diocese of PortsmouthDr. Anthony McCarthy
Visiting Lecturer in Moral Philosophy at the International Theological Institute, AustriaRev. Stephen Morgan D.Phil (Oxon)
Lecturer & Tutor in Theology, Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious SciencesDon Alfredo Morselli STL
Parish priest of the archdiocese of BolognaRev. Richard A. Munkelt PhD
Chaplain and Faculty Member, Roman ForumFr. Aidan Nichols OP, PhD
Formerly John Paul II Lecturer in Roman Catholic Theology, University of Oxford
Prior of the Convent of St. Michael, CambridgeFr. Robert Nortz MMA, STL
Director of Studies, Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, Massachusetts (Maronite)Rev. John Osman MA, STL
Parish priest in the archdiocese of Birmingham, former Catholic chaplain to the University of CambridgeChristopher D. Owens STL (Cand.)
Adjunct Instructor, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, St. John's University (NYC)
Director, St. Albert the Great Center for Scholastic StudiesRev. David Palmer MA
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Chair of Marriage and Family Life Commission, Diocese of NottinghamDr. Paolo Pasqualucci
Professor of Philosophy (retired), University of PerugiaDr. Claudio Pierantoni
Professor of Medieval Philosophy in the Philosophy Faculty of the University of Chile
Former Professor of Church History and Patrology at the Faculty of Theology of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Member of the International Association of Patristic StudiesFr. Anthony Pillari JCL (Cand.)
Priest of the archdiocese of San Antonio, chaplain to Carmelite nunsProf. Enrico Maria Radaelli
International Science and Commonsense Association (ISCA)
Department of Metaphysics of Beauty and Philosophy of Arts, Research DirectorDr. John C. Rao D.Phil (Oxford)
Associate Professor of History, St. John's University (NYC)
Chairman, Roman ForumFr. Reginald-Marie Rivoire FSVF
Doctor designatus of canon lawRt. Rev. Giovanni Scalese CRSP, SThL, DPhil
Ordinary of AfghanistanDr. Joseph Shaw
Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy at St. Benet's Hall, Oxford UniversityDr. Anna M. Silvas FAHA
Adjunct research fellow, University of New England, NSW, AustraliaMichael G. Sirilla, PhD
Professor of Systematic and Dogmatic Theology, Franciscan University of SteubenvilleProfessor Dr. Thomas Stark
Phil.-Theol. Hochschule Benedikt XVI, HeiligenkreuzRev. Glen Tattersall
Parish priest, Parish of Bl. John Henry Newman, archdiocese of Melbourne
Rector, St. Aloysius' ChurchGiovanni Turco
Professor of the Philosophy of Public Law, University of UdineFr. Edmund Waldstein OCist.
Vice-Rector of the Leopoldinum seminary and lecturer in moral theology at the Phil.-Theol. Hochschule Benedikt XVI, HeiligenkreuzNicholas Warembourg
Professeur agrege des facultes de droit
Ecole de Droit de la Sorbonne - Universite Paris 1
It matters less who did not sign; most likely the authors reached out only to those they expected to sign. It is not an opinion poll.
Following are the signatories of the letter to the cardinals, as listed in the document:
Dr. Jose Tomas Alvarado
Associate Professor
Institute of Philosophy
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Rev. Fr. Scott Anthony Armstrong PhD
Brisbane Oratory in formation
Rev. Claude Barthe
Rev. Ray Blake
Parish priest of the diocese of Arundel and Brighton
Fr. Louis-Marie de Blignieres FSVF
Doctor of Philosophy
Dr. Philip Blosser
Professor of Philosophy
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Archdiocese of Detroit
Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro Carambula, STD, JD
Chaplain and Faculty Member of the Roman Forum
Rev. Fr. Thomas Crean OP, STD
Holy Cross parish, Leicester
Fr. Albert-Marie Crignion FSVF
Doctor designatus of Theology
Robert de Mattei
Professor of History of Christianity
European University of Rome
Cyrille Dounot JCL
Professor of Law, the University of Auvergne
Ecclesiastical advocate, Archdiocese of Lyon
Fr. Neil Feguson OP, MA, BD
Lecturer in Sacred Scripture
Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford
Dr. Alan Fimister STL, PhD
Assistant Professor of Theology
St. John Vianney Seminary, Archdiocese of Denver
Luke Gormally
Director Emeritus, The Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics
Sometime Research Professor
Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Member, The Pontifical Academy for Life
Carlos A. Casanova Guerra
Doctor of Philosophy
Full Professor of Universidad Santo Tomas de Chile
Rev. Brian W. Harrison OS, MA, STD
Associate Professor of Theology (retired)
Pontifical University of Puerto Rico
Scholar-in-Residence
Oblates of Wisdom Study Center
Chaplain, St. Mary of Victories Chapel
St. Louis, Missouri
Rev. Simon Henry BA (Hons), MA
Parish priest of the archdiocese of Liverpool
Rev. John Hunwicke
Former Senior Research Fellow
Pusey House, Oxford
Priest of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Peter A. Kwasniewski PhD, Philosophy
Professor, Wyoming Catholic College
Dr. John R.T. Lamont STL, D.Phil
Fr. Serafino M. Lanzetta, PhD
Lecturer in Dogmatic Theology
Theological Faculty of Lugano, Switzerland
Priest in charge of St. Mary's, Gosport
in the diocese of Portsmouth
Dr. Anthony McCarthy
Visiting Lecturer in Moral Philosophy
International Theological Institute, Austria
Rev. Stephen Morgan D.Phil (Oxon)
Lecturer & Tutor in Theology
Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious Sciences
Don Alfredo Morselli STL
Parish priest of the archdiocese of Bologna
Rev. Richard A. Munkelt PhD
Chaplain and Faculty Member, Roman Forum
Fr. Aidan Nichols OP, PhD
Formerly John Paul II Lecturer in Roman Catholic Theology
University of Oxford
Prior of the Convent of St. Michael, Cambridge
Fr. Robert Nortz MMA, STL
Director of Studies
Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, Massachusetts (Maronite)
Rev. John Osman MA, STL
Parish priest in the archdiocese of Birmingham
former Catholic chaplain to the University of Cambridge
Christopher D. Owens STL (Cand.)
Adjunct Instructor, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies
St. John's University (NYC)
Director, St. Albert the Great Center for Scholastic Studies
Rev. David Palmer MA
Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Chair of Marriage and Family Life Commission
Diocese of Nottingham
Dr. Paolo Pasqualucci
Professor of Philosophy (retired)
University of Perugia
Dr. Claudio Pierantoni
Professor of Medieval Philosophy
University of Chile
Former Professor of Church History and Patrology
Faculty of Theology of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Member of the International Association of Patristic Studies
Fr. Anthony Pillari JCL (Cand.)
Priest of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX
chaplain to Carmelite nuns
Prof. Enrico Maria Radaelli
International Science and Commonsense Association (ISCA)
Research Director
Department of Metaphysics of Beauty and Philosophy of Arts
Dr. John C. Rao D.Phil (Oxford)
Associate Professor of History St. John's University (NYC)
Chairman, Roman Forum
Fr. Reginald-Marie Rivoire FSVF
Doctor designatus of canon law
Rt. Rev. Giovanni Scalese CRSP, SThL, DPhil
Ordinary of Afghanistan
Dr. Joseph Shaw
Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy
St. Benet's Hall, Oxford University
Dr. Anna M. Silvas FAHA
Adjunct research fellow
University of New England, NSW, Australia
Michael G. Sirilla, PhD
Professor of Systematic and Dogmatic Theology
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Professor Dr. Thomas Stark
Phil.-Theol. Hochschule Benedikt XVI, Heiligenkreuz
Rev. Glen Tattersall
Parish priest, Parish of Bl. John Henry Newman
Archdiocese of Melbourne
Rector, St. Aloysius' Church
Giovanni Turco
Professor of the Philosophy of Public Law
University of Udine
Fr. Edmund Waldstein OCist. Vice-Rector of the Leopoldinum seminary
lecturer in moral theology at the Phil.-Theol.
Hochschule Benedikt XVI, Heiligenkreuz
Nicholas Warembourg
Professeur agrege des facultes de droit
Ecole de Droit de la Sorbonne
Universite Paris 1
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