Cardinal Walter Kasper has dismissed claims of “heresy” against his proposal of Communion for the divorced and remarried.
Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Kasper said that “a very bitter debate, way too strong, with accusations of heresy” has followed his proposal. He first made it in 2014, after Pope Francis invited him to speak to the College of Cardinals.
Heated debate followed at the time, and has continued in the family synods of 2014-15 and the aftermath of the Pope’s Amoris Laetitia, whose ambiguous words on the sacraments led to conflicting interpretations.
Pope St John Paul II reaffirmed the Church’s teaching that the remarried cannot receive Communion, except possibly when they try to live as “brother and sister”. Cardinal Kasper challenged this teaching in the 1990s, but it was repeatedly reaffirmed by John Paul II in response, and again by Pope Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Kasper said that “Tradition is not a stagnant lake.” He also said that “The People of God are very content” with Amoris Laetitia.
However, another cardinal also intervened in the debate last week. Cardinal Willem Eijk told Il Timone that the Communion debate was
“splitting the Church apart”, and that the teaching of John Paul and Benedict held the answer.
“Violating the total gift of the first marriage still to be considered as valid, and the absence of the will to abide by this total gift, makes the person involved unworthy of taking part in the Eucharist, which makes present the total donation of Christ to the Church,” the Dutch cardinal said.
Archdiocese sends male escort’s dossier to Vatican
The archdiocese of Naples has sent the Vatican evidence reportedly identifying 40 actively gay priests and seminarians from across Italy.
In a statement posted on the diocesan website, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe said he decided to pass on the file because “there remains the gravity of the cases for which those who have erred must pay the price, and be helped to repent for the harm done”.
The evidence, comprised of WhatsApp messages, recordings and photography, was put together on a CD by a self-proclaimed male escort, Francesco Mangiacapra, who said he was fed up with the priests’ hypocrisy.
None of the 34 priests and six seminarians are accused of child abuse. “We’re talking about sins, not crimes,” the diocese quoted the escort as saying.
Cardinal Sepe said that none of the accused priests ministered in Naples, so he had no jurisdiction over them. He said he was outraged, and that such behaviour served to undermine the good name of priests. If the allegations are true, he said, “there are very clear, precise measures that will be taken”. There are nearly 50,000 clergy in Italy.
Cardinal’s court hearing begins
A Melbourne court has begun a month-long hearing to decide if Cardinal George Pell should stand trial over decades-old allegations of sexual abuse.
Cardinal Pell, who denies the allegations, has taken a leave of absence as head of the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy. No charges have yet been announced against him.
The committal hearing could call up to 50 witnesses; much of it will be heard in private.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.