The Authority Of Bishops… Can A Catholic Resist A Wrong Teaching Of His Bishop?
By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM
Part 1
It has certainly caused much confusion in the consciences of a great many faithful Catholics to learn that bishops in countries such as Malta, Belgium, Germany and Argentina are giving Holy Communion to couples who live in an adulterous relationship. And the confusion is naturally attributed to the ambiguous teaching of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.
Every Catholic knows that adultery is a mortal sin, and if a person dies in that state he can hardly expect to be saved. The Commandment is clear: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Period. Those that do, like David and the woman in the Gospel, were called to repent and to “sin no more.”
But today there are new “interpretations” of God’s Law, whereby some ecclesiastics (yes, I mean it, ecclesiastics, bishops and priests) affirm that a person living in adultery (no, they do not like the word, they prefer to say an “irregular situation”) in some circumstances can receive Communion.
That is, these ecclesiastics say, someone who was sacramentally married before, then got divorced, and is now living with another person without having received a declaration of nullity by the proper Church tribunal; that person, who knows he is living in adultery, can in certain cases receive the Holy Eucharist if in his heart he sincerely believes that his first marriage was not valid, or that his current relationship is blessed by God.
In plain English, what this means is that the subjective decision of the individual is sufficient to override God’s Law. Convenient, eh? Martin Luther would have agreed with this idea one hundred percent.
It does not matter that St. Paul affirmed that those who receive the Eucharist in mortal sin commit a sacrilege, and purchase for themselves judgment, condemnation (see 1 Corinthians, chapter 11). It does not matter that the Church has systematically taught for nearly 2,000 years that adultery is a mortal sin, and the sinner cannot receive the Eucharist unless he repents and changes his life. No, none of these things matter anymore. What matters is how you sincerely feel in your heart about your situation, and God’s Law will be bent in your favor.
The result is that today a growing number of Catholics are confused about the perennial Church teaching about receiving Communion while in a state of mortal sin. This confusion has produced a real schism in the Church today, as bishops are divided about the matter. It seems that the previous unity of belief was broken and confusion and relativism reign supreme.
Let us understand the situation: Bishops of several countries have given permission to give Communion to people living in adultery, in spite of the sacrilege involved, as long as they feel they are in peace with God about it, and their parish priest agrees with it. It seems that the Church tribunal is no longer required. If you are living in adultery but feel you are in peace with God, go ahead and receive the Eucharist, and do not worry about committing a sacrilege.
This is called “moral relativism,” purely and simply. But in Poland and some countries in Africa the bishops have taken the opposite view and have forbidden it.
This confusion is undoubtedly the direct result of the ambiguous teachings of Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia. Raymond Cardinal Burke and three other cardinals respectfully asked the Holy Father to clarify his teaching, but so far he has refused to do so. The ambiguity goes on.
Thirteen years ago, another cardinal delivered an outstanding homily at the Mass of the conclave that elected Benedict XVI. It was Cardinal Ratzinger himself. He addressed the conclave and said:
“A dictatorship of relativism is being constituted that recognizes nothing as absolute and which only leaves the ‘I’ and its whims as the ultimate measure.
“We should not remain infants in faith, in a state of minority. And what does it mean to be an infant in faith? St. Paul answers: it means ‘tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery’ (Eph. 4:14). This description is very relevant today!”
And he exhorted the cardinals to “lead the flock of Christ to the true faith. And this faith, the only faith, creates unity and takes place in charity.”
But today it seems that the opposite is happening. The true friendship with Christ has been stifled by an atmosphere of moral relativism that is being imposed upon the Catholic people, and a grave moral dilemma is raised: How can priests and laypeople discern between what is true and what is false, between deceit and truth, regarding adultery and Holy Communion?
Here is the big question: Should priests in Malta, Germany, Argentina, and elsewhere give the Eucharist to people who publicly live in adultery, even though their bishop gave his permission?
Or are they allowed to refuse? If they refuse, are they disobeying the lawful authority of their bishop, who is a successor of the apostles of Jesus Christ?
In plain English, can one resist a wrong decision of a Church authority? That’s a question that many prefer not to ask.
But this is not and cannot be a matter of individual opinion: We must learn from the teachings of the Church in order to both inform and form our consciences.
St. Catherine Of Siena
Where do we find the answer? Let us look back to the reign of Pope Gregory XI.
A previous Pope had moved the See of Peter from Rome to Avignon, in France, influenced by the French kings. The risk of schism and evident scandal were there for all to see. Then a young Dominican tertiary wrote to the Pope who was causing disgrace to his high office, telling him to go back to Rome, and said:
“Be a man, Holy Father. Arise! If you do not do your duty, then, indeed, you might have cause to fear. You know you ought to come to Rome — then be a man and come.”
And so this weak Pope gathered some backbone and listened to the young woman. He returned the See of Peter to Rome in 1377. And three years later, the young Dominican tertiary died at the age of 33. She was canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II. Pope Paul VI declared her a doctor of the Church.
She was the great St. Catherine of Siena!
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(Raymond de Souza, KM, is a Knight of the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta; a delegate for International Missions for Human Life International [HLI]; and an EWTN program host. Website: www. RaymonddeSouza.com.)
