Archbishop: Synodality Francis Is "Intolerant Of Even Respectful Disagreement"
He goes on to say that Francis is "intolerant of even respectful disagreement", that he can often seem "mean-spirited", that his complaints about the Church in the United States are "insulting and uninformed", that his [unambiguous] ambiguity on matters of doctrine is creating confusion and division in the Church "when we already have a surfeit of both."
Chaput anticipates the ultramontanists' attack against him, "If saying these things is ‘disloyal,’ then so is the truth", noting the irony that Francis advocates "synodality" but is "the most authoritarian pope in decades.”
The importance of the Petrine office is vital to the Church, he explains, “so long as Peter remains faithful to the Word of God and consistent Catholic teaching.”
Bishops are more than simply franchise managers of Catholicism Inc. They have a duty of obedience to the Holy See in all things "true to the faith but they have "no obligation of unthinking agreement.”
Chaput analyses that they often avoid candour out of cowardice or, allegedly more often, out of “prudent fear” of scandalising the faithful and causing division.
But: “At this point, we’re well past worrying about such things. The papacy and the Vatican will look very different in the decades ahead whatever we do, if only because of finances.”
Picture: © angelamcave, CC BY-NC, #newsYrtshmeqle
