The following comes from an October 13 Catholic News Agency article:
Cardinal Gerhard Müller spoke with an Italian daily on Tuesday about the synod and about a letter allegedly sent to Pope Francis from a number of cardinals about its process, calling the leak of a private document scandalous.
“I’m not saying whether I signed or not. The scandal is that it makes public a private letter of the Pope,” the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith told Corriere della Sera Oct. 13.
“The intention of those who willed its publication is to sow strife, to create tensions. I think that’s clear.”
The text of a letter, and a list of 13 cardinal signatories, were published by Vaticanista Sandro Magister the day before. Several of the prelates listed have denied having signed the document, and others have contested the text published by Magister.
Cardinal Müller is among the list of signatories published by Magister, as well as an alternate version published by Jesuit-run America magazine.
After discussing the letter with Corriere della Sera, the cardinal turned to larger issues of the synod, and Francis’ papacy.
He took umbrage at “those who sustain that in the Roman Curia there is opposition to the Pope. Those who say and write that there are wolves, that Francis is surrounded by wolves. This is an offensive expression, and criminal. I am not a wolf against the Pope.”
He added that the debates should not be characterized as between “liberals” who are approved by the masses, and unpopular “conservatives” who defend the doctrine revealed by Christ.
Cardinal Müller then turned to the divorced-and-remarried.
“Persons are suffering because their marriage is broken, not because they cannot receive Communion. For us the center of the Eucharist is the consecration: each Christian has the obligation to attend Mass, but not to receive Communion. Concentrating only on this one point resolves nothing.”
What the cardinals really did say
The following comes from an October 13 Christian Newswire article:
Thirteen Cardinals may or may not have written to Pope Francis to express their concerns about the direction of the Ordinary Synod on the Family. But one fact is clear, four of the Cardinals who allegedly signed the now infamous private letter did contribute essays to the recently published Eleven Cardinals Speak on Marriage and the Family, one of the most important books released addressing the issues before the Synod.
Cardinals Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Carlo Caffarra, archbishop of Bologna; Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht; and Jorge L. Urosa Savino, archbishop of Caracas, allegedly signed an October 5th private letter to Pope Francis addressing concerns about problematic elements to the “Instrumentum Laboris” as well as the potential dominance of the theological/doctrinal issue of Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried. While these concerns may be at question in this private letter, these same four Cardinals clearly spell out their concerns in their own essays that make up a portion of the controversial book released just before the beginning of the Synod.
while Cdl Muller says that there is not a fight within the curia. it is clear that a secret hand is still at work within the vatican administrative structure, a mole, or several moles. the same darkness that moved against Benedict has not been dislodged despite all the changes. some of the darkness must have been diminished, of course. at least this latest theft of private papl property has alerted the holy father to the lingering presence of malefactors close at hand. let’s hope the swiss guard has some good detectives in their ranks who can track down the prepetrator(s), the real wolves/
the pope has the authority to remove any bishop or cardinal and transfer that biahop if cardinal dolan signed tat letter he should be removed fron new York and given a job in rome. pope francias has been chosen vicar of Christ on earth and head of the church, many years ago, cardinal cody of chicaho who had a girlfriend refused to resign he claimed that Chicago gave a lot of money to the Vatican. he died die a few nonths later of heart issues
thomas nawn, you are NOT Catholic, so admit it.
No one can be removed for speaking the TRUTH.
“I am not a wolf against the Pope.”
Is the Pope a wolf?
Cardinals Müller and Sarah are wonderful and Faithful Catholics. But there are some Cardinals/Bishops who clearly do not believe in the Catholic Faith, and therefore will not teach it or insure their Priests teach it.
All literate Catholics over age 14 MUST study:
– – – 1) A Catholic Bible https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/Home+Page/BOOKS/Bibles/RSV+CATHOLIC+EDITION+BIBLE+-+LARGE+PRINT.axd
– – – 2) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” of 1997 – – –
https://www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/Home+Page/BOOKS/Catechism/CATECHISM+OF+THE+CATHOLIC+CHURCH+-+PAPERBACK.axd
The Synod on the Family is just a circus, with very poor leadership! Well, maybe someday, we will have a better Pope, and better, true Catholic leaders, in the clergy! The topic of the Catholic family and home, is so simple, so basic! Good Churchmen of the past, like Fr. Patrick Peyton, with his Family Rosary Crusade, knew how to lead Catholics — it is really a simple thing! Yes– ” the family that prays together, stays together!” And why not a simple pledge, for all Catholic families, to commit to a daily Rosary?? Is even that so hard?? And also– to commit to being true, daily practicing Catholics! Is that even a possibility??
On my way to Mass today, two young, beautifully-dressed (in suits!) and well-groomed Mormon missionaries approached me, with nice literature, on bringing the family to Christ, following God’s plan, to make a good family life. Of course, they were promoting their church! I told them how wonderful it was, that they were doing God’s work, especially ministry to today’s families! One of the young men said he was a former Catholic. I just smiled, and then had to quickly leave, and get to Mass. How many former Catholics have left our Church for other churches, hoping their families would receive better Christian religious and moral guidance?? Very sad!
Its good that they address issues facing families and divorce but what plans do they have to resolve those issues or at least what resources? I have several devout Catholic friends who are now dealing with infidelity and addictions from their husband’s. These women are traditional and devout. Of course they have more than 5 kids and are stay at home moms. They are dealing with alot. I hope for the sake of holy family life and for salvation, that we have more church leadership that is convicted to lead. Lets keep this in our prayers. Pray for our Pope too. Pray for me please, im hoping to looking into for ways to help give support to our faithful married Catholic women who are needing our support and perhaps help hold accountable their…