Can someone translate for a poor sinning Lutheran what this all means? As an outsider it looks like the Pope has run off the rails and into the weeds.
Politics in the church.
Yep, he has "invaded" the smallest sovereignty on the face of the earth -- the Order of Malta (not the island of Malta) -- which he has spiritual jurisdiction over, but not governmental. He has demanded the resignation of the head of the Order of Malta (Festing), reversed a governmental decision made by that head, and is going to install a "papal delegate" temporarily as the new head. Per international law, the whole thing's illegal as hell.
Are we about to find out how many divisions the Pope has, versus how many division Malta can muster?
Add this poor sinning Catholic to the list. It’s complicated - I know someone here can break it down.
Heres what I found from my research, but first, here is what practicing Catholics believe about Holy Communion.
“In Pope St. John Paul II’s letter, it states, “the church reaffirms her practice, which is based upon sacred scripture, of not admitting to eucharistic communion divorced persons who have remarried. They are unable to be admitted thereto from the fact that their state and condition of life objectively contradict that union of love between Christ and the church which is signified and effected by the eucharist.”
“Besides this there is another special pastoral reason,” said Pope St. John Paul II. “If these people were admitted to the eucharist the faithful would be led into error and confusion regarding the church’s teaching about the indissolubility of marriage.”
Cardinal Burke, and other Cardinals, have asked the Pope for a clarification of Amoris Laetitia, specifically because there is confusion over part of Amoris that relates to the above. The Pope has not addressed it.
Issues with Order of Malta arise because of this confusion. Big issues - concerning obedience, doctrine.
What St. Pope John Paul II wrote in his letter is Church doctrine, it is Truth.
Practicing faithful Catholics, including Cardinals, Bishops and priests, are bound to follow St. John Paul II’s letter.