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How do you solve a problem like Fernández?The Advent season begins this Sunday, and that means The Sound of Music will soon be on television in the United States. The ABC network airs the film classic starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer each year before Christmas, a broadcasting tradition that began in 2002. (It would air before Easter when I was a child, which shows my age.)As I considered the latest contretemps involving the prefect of the Dicastery of for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, a song from the film came to mind.“How do...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Fernández Clarifies: “Co-redemptrix” Off Limits in Official Vatican Documents, Permitted in Private DevotionIn comments on “Mater Populi Fidelis,” the DDF Prefect explains what the doctrinal Note means in stating the Marian title is “always inappropriate.”Three weeks after Mater Populi Fidelis sparked debate over its statement that the Marian title Co-redemptrix is “always inappropriate,” the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has clarified that the phrase is not a sweeping rejection of the title itself. The Cardinal said the word “always” applies only to official Church usage from this point forward, not to every...

Tucho Doesn’t Necessarily Dislike Mary, Just True CatholicsIf we had to pinpoint an even stronger motivation for Mater Populi Fidelis, it seems that it would be Tucho’s dislike of “conservative” and “traditional” Catholics, who are almost certainly the groups most offended by the rejection of Our Lady’s titles.In his June 11, 2025 tribute to Francis, Cardinal Víctor Manuel “Tucho” Fernández expressed his sensitivity to the way in which people perceive his words:“Therefore, when faced with a complex theological moral issue, we must always consider how it impacts real people, their lives, and their suffering. We should ask ourselves what effect...

Is Mary Co-Redemptrix? The Whole Doctrine Explained On November 4, 2025, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published a doctrinal Note in which it stated that the use of the traditional Marian title of Co-Redemptrix would be not only unnecessary, but even harmful. In the same document, however, the doctrine contained in that title is at the same time reaffirmed—though not always with precision. This article seeks to clarify the traditional meaning of this truth of faith, which for centuries has accompanied the Christian people in their sensus fidei.The Marian dogmasTo understand who the Most Holy Mary is,...

[Catholic Caucus] Fitting for Chaos-Tucho: Allowing Women an Acolyte-Like "Deaconess"The Synod's general secretary has prepared a document on a 'female diaconate', for which the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will be responsible for drafting the final report.ElWanderer.com wrote on 19 November that this is an "imminent danger" because of Tucho’s track record of never missing an opportunity to cause serious problems for the Church.In Catholicism, Holy Orders in the three forms deacon, priest and bishop are reserved for men for ontological reasons.ElWanderer speculates that Tucho will resort to the tactic he applied in Fiducia Supplicans, which he likely...

[Catholic / Orthodox Caucus] Pope Leo XIV can work towards attaining “Church unity” by first removing Cardinal (“Tucho”) Fernández from the DDFThey say that a quickfire way to start a schoolyard brawl is to start downplaying or insulting someone’s mother.On November 4, the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), led by prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel (“Tucho”) Fernández, did just that in the Catholic world when it published the document “Mater Populi Fidelis”( “The Mother of the Faithful People of God”). Strikingly and disturbingly, the document claimed that the title of “Co-Redemptrix” was not an...

[Catholic/Anglican Caucus] Bishop Schneider on the Co-Redemptrix ControversyThey Could Not Have Been Mistaken: The Voice of the Saints, Doctors, and the Ordinary Magisterium of the Church in Affirming Mary as “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix of All Graces”Over the course of time, the Ordinary Magisterium, together with numerous Saints and Doctors of the Church, have taught the Marian doctrines of Coredemption and Mediation, employing among other expressions the specific titles “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix of All Graces.” Consequently, it cannot be maintained that the Ordinary Magisterium, along with Saints and Doctors of the Church over so many centuries, could have led the faithful...

Fr. Heimerl: Of course the Blessed Mother is ‘Co-Redemptrix’The pious tradition of the Church has always known this and always understood it correctly. Is the Blessed Virgin Mary “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix of Grace”? Of course she is, I would say, because it was only through Mary’s “Fiat” that the only redemption through her Son became possible, and it was only through her that God gave us the fullness of grace in Jesus Christ.The pious tradition of the Church has always known this and always understood it correctly. No one would seriously have thought of “deifying” Mary or denying Christ’s unique...

[Catholic Caucus] Dear Pope Leo and Fernandez, Mary is Not the ProblemThe Virgin Mary is Co‑redemptrix, for no other creature was so intimately associated with the Passion of the Son. The liturgy says it, Tradition says it, the faith of the Christian people has said it for centuries. A Note, which in a year will already be forgotten, will not change what is eternal.On October 4, 2025, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith promulgated the Mater Populi Fidelis Note. As the title indicates, it is a doctrinal Note and concerns “certain Marian titles referring to Mary’s cooperation in...

[Catholic Caucus] Quis ut Virgo? - Who is like unto Mary? -- Reflections on the Document of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, by Roberto de MatteiOn October 16, 1793, what was perhaps the most disgusting crime of the French Revolution took place: the execution of the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, after a sham trial before the Revolutionary Tribunal. Plinio Correa de Oliveira wrote of Marie Antoinette: "There are certain souls who are only great when the winds of misfortune blow upon them. Marie Antoinette, who was futile as a princess and unforgivably frivolous in her life...

[Catholic Caucus] Rediscovered book by Cardinal Fernández features graphic erotic passages on ‘spirituality and sensuality’A 1998 book by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández featuring provocative, sexually-charged themes has resurfaced, likely adding further scrutiny to the already embattled prefect of the Vatican’s doctrine office.Titled “Mystical Passion: Spirituality and Sensuality,” the 26-year-old work includes graphic descriptions of human sexual relations and discussion of what the Argentinian theologian describes as “mystical orgasm.”The nearly 100-page-long book also depicts in detail an imaginary erotic encounter with Jesus Christ on the shores of Galilee, which Fernández said was based on a spiritual experience disclosed to him by...

[Catholic Caucus] Vatican rejects Marian titles ‘Co-Redemptrix’ and ‘Mediatrix’ in new doctrinal noteMater Populi Fidelis, approved by Pope Leo XIV, rules the expressions inappropriate and theologically 'unhelpful.'The Vatican has declared the Marian title “Co-Redemptrix” to be both inappropriate and theologically “unhelpful.” The statements came in a doctrinal note titled Mater Populi Fidelis (“Mother of the Faithful People of God”), issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on November 4 and signed by its prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández. The document was approved by Pope Leo XIV on October 7.“When an expression requires many, repeated explanations to...

Op-Ed: Mary, the Co-Redemptrix and Mater Populi FidelisThe document Mater Populi Fidelis of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, specifically in numbers 17 and 18 gives a undeservedly over-simplified overview of this important doctrine of the Catholic Faith. The fact that Our Lady cooperated in the work of the Redemption, at least mediately, is a de fide teaching. To doubt it would incur theological censure.For a clear and comprehensive overview of the main lines of this teaching and its historical development, I refer the reader to J. A. de Aldama, S.J., “De Corredemptione,” in Sacrae Theologiae Summa,...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo meets Cardinal Fernández in sign of doctrinal continuityPope Leo granted a private audience to Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández on Friday, October 10, in what is understood to be his ninth official meeting in his role as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.The meeting with the Cardinal, who was a key ally of Pope Francis, shows continuity at the heart of the Vatican between the two papacies. According to InfoVaticana.com, Cardinal Fernández “is close to Pope Leo XIV, who has chosen to keep him in his position at the head of the doctrinal...

[Catholic Caucus] Catholic Coalition Asks Pope Leo XIV to Reject ‘Powerful Lobby’ Pushing Same-Sex UnionsSignatories, inspired by TFP founder Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, urge the Holy Father to revoke Fiducia Supplicans and speak with ‘absolute clarity, leaving no room for doubt or ambiguity.’A coalition of Catholic associations has submitted a “filial appeal” to Pope Leo XIV, respectfully calling on him to “confirm and reaffirm” the Church’s perennial teaching on homosexual relationships and unions in the face of a “powerful lobby” that is seeking their moral legitimization within the Church.The group further calls on Pope Leo to annul a 2017 papal...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Fernández claims synodality is not a ‘revision of doctrine and morality’Cdl. Victor Fernández lamented that ‘many priests have doubts, questions, disinterest, and rejection regarding the proposal of synodality.’The prefect of the Vatican’s doctrinal office has rejected the notion that synodality is “a matter of listening to everyone in order to carry out a democratic revision of doctrine and morality.”As prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández has been a key figure in the latter years of Pope Francis’ pontificate and thus the Synod on Synodality. The synod – arguably Francis’...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Sarah: Fiducia Supplicans ‘threatens unity of the Church,’ should be ‘forgotten’Cardinal Robert Sarah blasted Fiducia Supplicans as ‘theologically weak’ and said the document should be ‘forgotten,’ warning it risks fracturing Catholic ‘unity.’Cardinal Robert Sarah has said that Pope Francis’ document allowing for same-sex “blessings” “threatens the unity of the Church” and should be “forgotten.”In a recent interview with the Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire, the African cardinal was asked about Francis’ highly controversial declaration Fiducia supplicans, which allowed the “blessing” of same-sex couples in certain situations.“I hope that the content of Fiducia supplicans can be clarified and perhaps...

[Catholic Caucus] Open Letter to Leo XIV on Amoris LaetitiaHis Holiness Pope Leo XIV22 July 202500120 VATICAN CITYEuropeI address to you this heartfelt petition regarding an urgent and practically unprecedented problem that Your Holiness has inherited from the previous pontificate. It is one which I and many other Catholics believe lies at the very heart of the mission entrusted to you by Our Lord as the Successor of Blessed Peter: that of guarding and teaching the uncorrupted doctrine of Christ that was “once and all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).1. I refer to the fact that Chapter VIII of...

[Catholic Caucus] Four more German dioceses reject blessings for same-sex couples» Continue to this story on Katholisch (German) CWN Editor's Note: Four more Catholic dioceses in Germany—Augsburg, Eichstätt, Passau, and Regensburg, have joined the Archdiocese of Cologne in rejecting a text with the support of the episcopal conference to be used in blessings for couples, under the terms of Fiducia Supplicans. The dioceses that have declined to use the text argue that it goes beyond the Vatican document in permitting blessings of same-sex couples. The text was prepared by the German Bishops’ Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics,...

They will Use Newman for Their HeresyI got back from a 12-day retreat to read the happy news that the Holy Father has confirmed the plans to proclaim St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church. I’ve never read much Newman myself, but he seems to be universally respected by all Catholic men of letters… but with a dark side. But let me return to that in a moment.The Apostasy of AlbionFirst, even though I haven’t read much from Newman, we can already see the immense significance of this news in the history of the Church. In many ways...