Posted on 11/16/2016 11:31:48 AM PST by NYer
ROME, November 15, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – After joining a group of four cardinals in releasing a call for Pope Francis to clarify grave errors in his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, Cardinal Raymond Burke has now indicated the cardinals are contemplating a “formal correction” should the pope fail to address their concerns.
The cardinals had written to the pope with their concerns on September 19, but after failing to receive a response for nearly two months, they released the letter publicly on Monday morning.
Now, in an interview with the National Catholic Register’s Ed Pentin, Burke discusses the next steps should the pope fail to address the cardinals’ concerns. Here is Pentin’s question and the cardinal’s response:
What happens if the Holy Father does not respond to your act of justice and charity and fails to give the clarification of the Church’s teaching that you hope to achieve?
Then we would have to address that situation. There is, in the Tradition of the Church, the practice of correction of the Roman Pontiff. It is something that is clearly quite rare. But if there is no response to these questions, then I would say that it would be a question of taking a formal act of correction of a serious error.
Burke goes on to insist that in a case of conflict between the pope and Church Tradition, the Tradition is binding. “Ecclesial authority exists only in service of the Tradition,” Burke explains. “I think of that passage of St. Paul in the [Letter to the] Galatians (1:8), that if ‘even an angel should preach unto you any Gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.’”
IMPORTANT: To respectfully express your support for the cardinals' letter, sign the petition to Pope Francis. Click here.
Historically, in the rare cases where popes have taught heresy, Burke explains, “It is the duty…, and historically it has happened, of cardinals and bishops to make clear that the Pope is teaching error and to ask him to correct it.”
The September 19 letter, signed by Cardinals Walter Brandmüller, Raymond Burke, Carlo Caffarra, and Joachim Meisner, asked the pope 5 short questions which call for ‘yes or no’ answers that would immediately clarify the meaning of the confusion-plagued document on precisely those points where theologians, priests and even bishops have offered contradicting interpretations.
In the interview, Burke emphasizes that the cardinals have sought to act for “the good of the Church,” which, he says, “is suffering from a tremendous confusion” on the points they have raised especially. He notes, for example, that priests in different dioceses are being given contradictory directions on how to handle the question of access to Communion for those in adulterous unions.
“We, as cardinals, judged it our responsibility to request a clarification with regard to these questions, in order to put an end to this spread of confusion that is actually leading people into error,” he says.
“For us to remain silent about these fundamental doubts, which have arisen as a result of the text of Amoris Laetitia, would, on our part, be a grave lack of charity toward the Pope and a grave lack in fulfilling the duties of our own office in the Church,” he adds.
Read Ed Pentin’s full interview with Cardinal Burke here.
I find it rather interesting, and telling, that the Pope would ignore an official letter from 4 of his Cardinals.
I find it interesting that they felt they could make such a statement, period.
The Cardinals? It has been done before.
“IMPORTANT: To respectfully express your support for the cardinals’ letter, sign ...”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IMPORTANT: To respectfully express your support for the divinely-instituted office of the Vicar of Christ, do not sign a letter addressed to a non-Catholic parading as pope.
To do so would give legitimacy to the illegitimate.
Catholics elected their Obama in Bergoglio, now they must find their Trump if their religion is to survive.
You don’t need to call them Cardinals..You can call them Bishops according to the resident FR Catholic Historian. They long to be Parish Priests so Bishop is fine because they are all Bishops
Do they have an impeachment process?
IMPORTANT: To respectfully express your support for the Free Republic-instituted category of “Catholic Caucus,” do not countenance posts sent by people not in communion with the See of Peter.
RE: grave errors in his apostolic exhortation
How close is this to speaking ex-cathedra ( for which he is supposed to be infallible )?
Encyclicals are the highest level of Papal declaration. An "Apostolic exhorttion" is a couple steps below that. The director of Relig. Ed. of our diocese had this to say just to say, in an e-mail to me:
The document Amoris Laetitia is an “Apostolic Exhortation” following from a Synod of Bishops (on the family). It ranks below official Magisterium, but is a serious document promulgated throughout the Church.
The chancellor of our Diocese said,
“If the Pope wanted to change what has always been taught he would say so clearly.” The fact that he has not, and that he has not commented on requests, means that there is no change.
The general upshot seem to be that if a document isn't clear, it isn't binding, because nobody can be "bound" to something which is of uncertain meaning.
Therefore none of Pope Francis' ambiguities can have been intended to be authoritative, precisely because they are ambiguous.
IMPORTANT: To respectfully express your support for the Free Republic-instituted category of “Catholic Caucus,” do not countenance posts sent by people not in communion with the See of Peter.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Those who recognize a non-Catholic as pope are not in communion with the See of Peter. Bergoglio is a blasphemer and leading a rebellion against the See of Peter. As a non-believer he is not qualified, according to Divine law, then, to be the See of Peter. He ipso facto automatically has lost all title and jurisdiction by manifest heresy. (Doctor of the Church Saint Robert Bellarmine writes the same.)
In recognizing all Catholic Vicars of Christ, including those of recent memory, Popes Pius IX, Saint Pius X, Pius XI and Pius XII, am I not qualified as a member of the Catholic Caucus?
If one wishes to exclude me why not create a Caucus called “Modern Catholic Caucus” or “New Order Caucus” or “Novus Order Caucus” or “Non-Rigid Catholic Caucus” (I bet Bergoglio would have a preference for that one), or “Post Vatican II Caucus”
Otherwise, why not start creating other Caucuses that represent something other than what the title suggests. For Cat lovers we could have a “Dog Caucus”, for example; just so the members of Free Republic understand the less rigid rules in play.
(As a Catholic, why should I respect those who claim a fraud as the pope, thus supporting one who is in league with Satan? I only will show respect in the level of, giving benefit of doubt, for those who are perhaps of sick or weak mind, and actually have not malice - let God be the judge.)
Amen in excelsis.
God bless Cardinal Burke and his partners there, as they strive to faithfully shine a light on the actual teachings of the Church, and to bring clarity in the wake of this confusing (and possibly heretical) document.
(Where could Burke be reassigned to next - Borneo? Nigeria?)
EWTN's show tomorrow evening (Thursday) at 8 PM Eastern Time called "The World Over" with Raymond Arroyo should be very interesting (if it is not a rerun), as they are likely to have a serious discussion about these latest momentous developments. (You can watch that show online by going HERE tomorrow evening at 8 PM ET, then selecting "Television" from the menu at the top of that page, then selecting "Watch Live" from that ensuing drop down menu.)
He is Pope!. But Pope’s authority is limited by Traditon,and by the necessity not to contradict previous Magisterial teaching.
This Pope acts against those rules and restrictions on his wandering thoughts and speech.
Sounds like Door #3 is most likely. If pressed, he may make some vague semi-concilliatory comments - but this will most likely result in a kick the can down the road set of actions.
But they are quick to judge you as a non-Catholic and therefore condemn you despite the fact that you believe in the Catholic Faith while the author of Amoris Laetitia clearly does not.
I’m not sure there’s a *process* as it happens so rarely and isn’t really completely fleshed out. Honorius was anathematized for heresy but that was long after he was dead.
My understanding is that if the Pope is presumed guilty of heresy, a body of Cardinals meet and determine whether he is actually guilty. If they find that he is, the chair of Peter is declared empty and a new conclave has to be called.
The major difference between this and impeachment is that no one can actually remove a Pope. He removes himself by the very act of adhering to heresy—and then a body of Cardinals just confirms that that has happened.
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.