No Room to Distance Ourselves Doctrinally?

The ink was barely dry on our last article, African Bishops Reject New Blessing, when the author of Fiducia Supplicans, Tucho Fernández, issued a press release forbidding any such dissent. Fernández wrote, “Evidently, there is no room to distance ourselves doctrinally from this declaration or to consider it heretical, contrary to the Tradition of the Church, or blasphemous” [emphasis ours].

This whole debacle just went from the ridiculous to the absurd. Didn’t Fernández state in the original document, Fiducia Supplicans, that there would be no additional discussion? He wrote, “Thus, beyond the guidance provided above, no further responses should be expected about possible ways to regulate details or practicalities regarding blessings of this type”?  Oops – it appears that a further response was needed after all! Fernández has been forced to eat his words and, in the process, has shown the world what an ignorant political hack he truly is. How embarrassing for Holy Mother Church.

This whole situation would be laughable if it weren’t so serious. Where does Fernández come off with this “there is no room for distancing ourselves” rhetoric? Why don’t we see him trying to accompany and dialogue with the African Bishops, meeting them where they are and honoring their indigenous and noble culture? Here’s a great idea – Fernández could host a synod on Fiducia Supplicans in Malawi, listen to the people of God, and allow himself to be taken wherever the Holy Spirit leads him.

But of course, this will never happen as the talk of dialogue and synodality is simply a charade, a smokescreen, a gaslighting technique, and everyone knows it.  Pope Francis and his minions like Fernández aren’t fooling anyone. They pretend to listen (as long as the narrative supports their worldview). Still, in reality, they are small-minded, rigid tyrants who are trying to force their political and social ideologies down the throats of faithful Catholics.

Fernández begins his press release by telling everyone opposed to his original document to stop complaining. He states this new communication ” clarifies the reception of Fiducia Supplicans.” Then he suggests a “full and calm reading of the Declaration,” implying that those who dissent are hysterical and unable to see its true intent. How condescending! Many have expressed outrage and are understandably upset because it promotes the blessing of sin.

He then tries to spin the dissent by saying that Fiducia Supplicans uphold the sanctity of marriage (which it does), and, therefore, since there is some truth within the document, we must accept it whole cloth. But here is where the sleight of hand occurs. Fernández wants us to believe that by maintaining that matrimony between a man and woman is still “liturgical or ritualized,” it is in no way compromised by the blessings of irregular couples that are “spontaneous or pastoral.”  Thus, by creating a new category of blessings, Fernández tries to uphold the unchanging and unchangeable doctrine of the Church while also allowing wiggle room for his worldly view on the blessings of homosexual couples.

Here is a further example of the mental gymnastics and sophistry provided within the press release: 

The central theme, which invites us especially to a deeper pastoral practice which enriches our pastoral praxis, is to have a broader understanding of blessings and of the proposal that these pastoral blessings, which do not require the same conditions as blessings in a liturgical or ritual context, flourish.  Consequently, leaving polemics aside, the text requires an effort to reflect serenely, with the heart of shepherds, free from all ideology. 

Fernández tells prelates to abandon their ideology (i.e., doctrine), and if they “reflect serenely” (i.e., sit down and shut up), they should no longer have any opposition to his heresy. The fact remains that Fiducia Supplicans was unnecessary as people already receive a collective blessing at the end of mass. If someone needs an individual blessing, they can cross their arms instead of receiving communion or visiting a priest on their own. But what this document does is to create a subtle shift, a proverbial crack in the door for the future acceptance and recognition of sinful lifestyles by putting down on paper the modernists’ true intent taken straight from paragraph 31 of Fiducia Supplicans:

“Within the horizon outlined here appears the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex.”

In our article Catholics Must Resist the Blessing of Homosexual Couples, Ukweli provides a full-throated justification for why Catholics should defy these blessings. Reread this article and stand firm in your rejection of Fiducia Supplicans. It is apparent that the rollout of this document has not gone as planned, and the Vatican does seem to be in panic mode. As with all tyrants, Fernández and Francis are so out of touch with the masses and enamored with their power that they never imagined the strength of the opposition. We must continue to peacefully and firmly defy this offense against the teachings of our beloved Church.