[Catholic Caucus] Is Jesuit superior general committing heresy?

California Catholic Daily ^ | August 23, 2019 | Edward Peters, JD, JCD, Ref. Sig. Ap.

[ebb tide]

[Catholic Caucus] Is Jesuit superior general committing heresy?
Canon lawyer Ed Peters asks about denial of devil as personal reality

Father Sosa (right) upon election as superior general. (photo by Alpha Sigma Nu)

The existence of the devil as a personal reality, and not merely as a symbol of evil, is an article of faith (Ott, Fundamentals 126-131; CCC 395, 2851). Denial of an article of faith is an element of the canonical crime of heresy (1983 CIC 751), an act punishable by measures up to and including excommunication, dismissal from the clerical state, and/or loss of ecclesiastical office (1983 CIC 1364, 194).

Rev. Arturo Sosa, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, denies the personal reality of the devil, describes him instead as a symbol of evil, and has expressed such views before (CNA article here, Catholic Herald article here). Protestations of Sosa’s orthodoxy by Jesuit spokesmen notwithstanding, Sosa speaks for himself, and clearly. I think his remarks warrant response, not just from bloggers and scholars, but from those placed in authority over such matters.

There are, I grant, some practical problems: the term “heresy” has been thrown around too loosely for some decades (perhaps for some centuries), the sanctions of excommunication and removal from office are themselves very weighty, and the latae sententiae (automatic) procedures by which such consequences are supposedly visited upon offenders are controversial in theory and practice, such that few in ecclesiastical leadership (including most orthodox members thereof!) wish to “pull the trigger” in such cases and, as a result, utterances such as Sosa’s provoke little, usually no, response from Church leaders with inevitable harm to the faithful….

[ebb tide]

...few in ecclesiastical leadership (including most orthodox members thereof!) wish to “pull the trigger” in such cases and, as a result, utterances such as Sosa’s provoke little, usually no, response from Church leaders with inevitable harm to the faithful…

[ebb tide]

Ping

[dominic flandry]

Is the Pope Catholic? No, and neither is the Black Pope.

[Mrs. Don-o]

And the rest are evaders, enablers and dissemblers.

[HapaxLegamenon]

I thought Ed Peters, based on his writings, thought the SSPX and the Traditional Latin Mass was the main problem with the Church these days.

[ebb tide]

I thought Ed Peters, based on his writings, thought the SSPX and the Traditional Latin Mass was the main problem with the Church these days.

If that is true, he's wrong.

[Marchmain]

Many theologians and priests including jesuits do not believe Jesus was the Incarnation. Surely then the devil is not literally a fallen angel? These ideas have been put forward for many decades. I’m surprised people are shocked, or is it only the trads?

[rmichaelj]

There are, I grant, some practical problems: the term “heresy” has been thrown around too loosely for some decades,

Ok, lost a lot of credibility with me right there. Have read Mr. Peters before- less than impressed. Seems to place canon law above Catholic doctrine and is quick to find an excuse for just about anything. Not someone I'd want in a foxhole with me.

[ebb tide]

I agree.

[Macoozie]

Cut the guys perks.
No Latte. No Limo. No Nada for Sosa.

Send him to a ghetto parish in a third world country.

Hell get his mind right quick.

[ebb tide]

Many theologians and priests including jesuits do not believe Jesus was the Incarnation.

At the Transfiguration, Peter, James and John fell upon their face.

Yet Pope Francis refuses to bend a knee before God.

[Marchmain]

Creepy picture. A chair in place of the usual prie deux shows he has no intention of kneeling!

[Hieronymus]

What a strange question—is the Pope Catholic?

Does the emperor have clothes?

[Hieronymus]

It’s pretty bad when AC/DC can out-do the Black Pope for an Ignatian Meditation

Maybe this can be played as the theme song for the Lenten Retreat for the Curia next year.

Living easy, living free
Season ticket on a one-way ride
Asking nothing, leave me be
Taking everything in my stride
Don’t need reason, don’t need rhyme
Ain’t nothing I would rather do
Going down, party time
My friends are gonna be there too
I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
No stop signs, speed limit
Nobody’s gonna slow me down
Like a wheel, gonna spin it
Nobody’s gonna mess me around
Hey Satan, paid my dues
Playing in a rocking band
Hey mama, look at me
I’m on my way to the promised land, whoo!
I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
Don’t stop me
I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway
Yeah, highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
Highway to hell
And I’m going down
All the way
Whoa!
I’m on the highway to hell