On Saturday, Feb. 15, Patrick Coffin, who lives with his family in Orange County and produces Coffin Nation, published a 12-minute video called “Amazonian Synod Docs for Dummies.”
He quotes from Querida Amazonia, not in tones of “Batman to Robin,” but the excerpts and surrounding statements are interesting.
One sample of a surrounding statement cited:
“The Canadian Jesuit who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019 has done a lot of interviews, Cardinal Michal Czerny. He recently said that ‘to ignore the final document would be would be a lack of obedience to the Holy Father’s legitimate authority.’ ‘Lack of obedience’ sounds like Vaticanese for ‘you’re deplorable if you don’t agree with it.’ “
Thanks Patrick Coffin, for pointing out the weaponized ambiguity in this document. Yes, it is intended to bite, just not quite yet.
Pope Benedict XVI, when Cardinal Ratzinger, clearly warned us of the dangers of ambiguity:
“… this Congregation wishes to ask the Bishops to be especially cautious of any programmes which may seek to pressure the Church to change her teaching, even while claiming not to do so. A careful examination of their public statements and the activities they promote reveals a studied ambiguity by which they attempt to mislead the pastors and the faithful.”