At a meeting in the Vatican on Thursday, senior Vatican officials and members of the German Bishops conference held a conversation on a set of pastoral guidelines announced in February. The German Bishops’ Conference at the time approved the development of the guidelines, which would potentially broaden permission for non-Catholic Christians who are married to Catholics to receive Holy Communion.
According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, released in the wake of the encounter, the meeting took place in a “cordial and fraternal atmosphere.”
The German Bishops had been called to Rome by Pope Francis after “a not inconsiderable number” of Bishops expressed their opposition to the proposed guidelines. Seven diocesan Bishops appealed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts for clarification.
During the conversation, which took place in German, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Luis Ladaria, explained that Pope Francis “appreciates the ecumenical commitment of the German Bishops” and asks them to seek “a possibly unanimous arrangement”.
Full story at Vatican News.
Peter has spoken.
Yeah, and Paul corrects him. Sorry but I could not help saying that one.
I should have said that there will be other Pauls there to correctly interpret Church teaching according to what other Peters clearing stated, including St. John Paul II, on some of these issues that cannot be changed. There are others who will misinterpret as they always have. I do not know all of what Pope Francis has said about this issue.
Correction: “clearly stated”, not “clearing stated”.
I feel like the “Paul corrects Peter” truism is taken out of context, especially in this situation. Just because someone disagrees with the Pope does not mean they are Paul, a saint who suffered much to evangelize in areas that were often extremely hostile to the Gospel.
Peter was called out on hypocrisy, for behaving one way around the Gentiles and then another way around the Jews. It was not a matter of teaching but of his personal behavior.
No, it also applied to teaching, too, regarding Kosher Law and circumcision, among other things.
Even Peter denied the Lord. “Peter speaks infallibly only excathedra in Communion with the global College of bishops.” This is not “Peter speaking” – this is a joke.
There should be an “or” in your quote. The Pope speaks infallibly when teaching ex Cathedra or in union with the universal College of Bishops, such as in an Ecumenical Council. This is the teaching office of the Church. It preserves the Church’s teaching on Faith and Morals.
It does not apply to pastoral decisions, which does not mean that one is free to disobey. You can’t take Communion right after eating even though that discipline is not infallible. You can’t not fast and abstain on Good Friday without incurring guilt, even though that is not infallible.
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Pope Francis “appreciates the ecumenical commitment of the German Bishops” and asks them to seek “a possibly unanimous arrangement”.
No surprise with this Pope. You had to know he supports the heretical Germans led by Cardinal Marx.
The Holy Father is punting, rather than affirm8ng the Faith:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/popes-response-to-german-bishops-on-intercommunion-completely-incomprehensi
Agreed; one of the cardinals went further to call it apostacy for the Holy Father’s failure to definitively teach the official position of the Church. See the following, published today, in the National Catholic Register:
https://m.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/cardinal-eijk-pope-needed-to-give-clarity-to-german-bishops-on-intercommuni#.WvDHUMllDqA
To achieve a unanimous arrangement, all that needs for the German bishops to do is to consult the Catechism and the Code of Canon Law.
They have not been modified or revoked, and remain in full-force and effect.
It’s called “living in their own world.” Not having a firm grasp on reality is a definition of mental disability. Thank you bishops of Germany and Pope Francis for showing all the world how insane this thought process is!
There is still the true Church at work:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-burke-explains-why-he-supports-priests-asking-bishops-to-address-c
Pope Francis (and the post-Vatican II popes before him) are comically in the service of the German clergy. It is reported, for example, that no Pope would say the TLM publically — or take a Catholic Traditional stance on many other sacramental or theological issues — given German threats to bolt. Time to stand up, Holy Father.
The Catholic Faith is the Catholic Faith. And, if it is not, then having a “unanimous” vote among certain hand-picked delegates means nothing. Agreement by even all the bishops (?Order of Bishops, what is that?) also means nothing, if the agreed-to theological principle violates dogma or Tradition. Francis needs to go away, as do the Germans (or, fully accept the Catholic Faith).
Alternatively, the demand from the Holy Father to bring a unanimous proposal is a way to allow the “renegade” German prelates to go home whule saving face. It is nothing more than sending the Germans home after a diplomatic dismissal bt the Holy See.
The likelihood of unanimity among the German prelates is slim to none, particularly with a large minoroty opposed to inter-communion, most noteworthy, Cdl. Brandmueller.
Pope Francis is saying that the German bishops can changed Church doctrine. No, they cannot!
Democracy? Each Catholic is now supposed to be “ruled” by non elected officials who “vote” without laity, priests and religious having a say on abolishing doctrine and Tradition? So if we are in Germany and the bishops vote to approve Communion to non Catholic married spouses (iof Catholics) what happens when that couple travels outside of Germany? Will they “demand” the same treatment? And what if other “couples” who are not married, or are gay and in an active relationship? Will they insist on same reception as they cry, “Equal treatment!”? Confusion, disunity, watering down of authority of Holy Father; undermining of the stability of the Church. This is BAD news! Feels like the SAME plan to weaken the Faith that Francis and his cronies…
CONTINUED:
… Francis and his cronies have been conspiring to accomplish and implementing since the beginning of this pottificate and before that. Something rotten is not in Denmark – it’s in Rome!
No one has the “right” to allow bishops’ conferences to arbitrarily re-write Catholic doctrine/canon law.
Even if there was unanimity among the German prelates, that would be insufficient to make it apply to the Universal Church, including tje Latin Rite and the Eastern Catholic Churches.
Of course, the German prelates have the choice to break away and create their own church just like Luther, but it wouldn’t be the true Church founded by Jesus Himself.
So until there is a unanimous decision, there is no decision which mean it is still the traditional Church teaching.
What motivates a non-Catholic to want to receive the Holy Eucharist? What motivates a Catholic clergyman to want to provide it? It seems to me a non-Catholic who desires the Holy Eucharist desires, in some way, to be a Catholic. Is the Catholic Church in Germany so desperate for possible future members that short circuiting membership at the cost of established doctrine is the best that they can come up with?
Vince, I’m guessing here, but you may not understand the motivation of all non-Catholics when it comes to communion. I’m well aware of the instructions about communion found on the inside covers of the Sunday Missals. But, other faiths believe that when they consecrate the bread and wine, it becomes the true presence. They believe it is the Body and Blood of Christ. They don’t understand why they can’t receive in a Catholic church. Some Protestant denominations believe that “communion” is only a representation of the sacrament we call Eucharist. They therefore have no interest in a Catholic communion..Those who believe in the True Presence feel unwelcome when we restrict their reception.
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion USCCB
If you are not in communion, even if you are Catholic, you should not receive Communion.
Which Faiths are those, Bob One? And, as far as “feelings” go, it is proper to instruct people as to why they cannot receive. So one doesn’t allow sacrilege to avoid a teaching moment. That seems rather a neglect of basic duty on the part of the priests and the “Catholic” spouse.
Are we in the business of making everyone feel welcome so that they can go forward learning nothing of the Catholic Faith they supposedly hold?
That said, it is not “we” who restrict their reception. It is right reason (logic) that restricts their reception.
Under Pope Francis, the Universal Church has seen more confusion than in recent memory. The Holy See under Pope Francis has turned the Church into a debating society.
It is entirely possible for non-Catholics to receive the Holy Eucharist; however, there are currently established norms. All that non-Catholic spouses who wish to receive the Eucharist need to do is go through RCIA. Once completed, they will not only be welcome to partake in the Eucharist, but they will also have the Sacrament of Reconciliation which will permit them to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord on a regular basis; provided, that they are also spiritually disposed to receive the graces which come along with those Sacraments.
Yah, because this is what our Lord Jesus Christ said, “work the Law out amongst yourselves.”
NOT! #FakePope
It is very important for grown men and women to accept reality, and stop playing childish games. A spouse in s mixed marriage with a Catholic must respect the faith of their marriage partner— and if they sincerely wish to receive Holy Communion, they must first convert to the Catholic Faith. Likewise, a Catholic may only receive Holy Communion in their own Church! Time to grow up, stop playing games— and accept reality!
When all else fails, the frontline priests can take matters to their bishops to demand an end to confusion under this Pontificate ant its willing accomplices:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/priests-implore-worlds-bishops-to-correct-errors-in-church-under-pope-franc
I don’t understand the hoopla? American priests have been giving Protestant spouses of Catholics permission to receive communion since the 1970’s. I know this for a fact – and anyone who wants to verify it can do so very easily by asking almost any modernist priest. (That would be about 80% of them.) It’s been 3 or 4 decades now that the clergy and most of the faithful have ceased believing in the Real Presence.
How is it I (at 87 years of age) know these things and the bishop of Rome doesn’t? Poppycock!
IF there’s something Francis should do, it would be to declare what everyone already knows: the Catholic Church is in SCHISM.
Your statement:
“It’s been 3 or 4 decades now that the clergy and most of the faithful have ceased believing in the Real Presence.”
Reply:
Just because people have “ceased believing in the Real Presence” of Jesus in the Eucharist does not invalidate that the Real Presence still exists (and will remain existing) in the Eucharist.
The comfort level under this Papacy is one reason the church is in this mess. Start correcting these problems Francis and answer the question that many of us are waiting on. Stand up and be a man of Christ and not a COWARD !!!!!
Cdl. William Eijk of the Netherlands provides a stark reality about the current onslaugjt on the deposit of faith:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-raises-question-is-pope-francis-part-of-churchs-final-trial
The ability of the Church to survive unscathed and unfragmented is part if the trials it was prophesied to endure.
Cardinal Muller to the rescue!!!! See link below:
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/cdl.-mueller-hits-back-at-protestant-communion-plan
As former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, thete is no better person to assert the unchangeable teaching of the Church to his fellow German bishops.