National Catholic Register.
COMMENTARY: Cardinal Fernández’s clarification of ‘Fiducia Supplicans,’ the Pope’s solidarity with the Jewish people, and the lack of priests at the Synod on Synodality were addressed by the Holy See last week.
Father Raymond J. de Souza Vatican February 7, 2024
On the feast of St. Blaise, the Vatican cleared its collective throat and made attempts to put things right on three separate fronts, all on the same day. Call it “Reset Saturday.”
First up was Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), who has had the most bruising month in the recent history of Curial prefects. After his declaration Fiducia Supplicans provoked an unprecedented rejection from many parts of the Catholic world, he was forced to back down by Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo on behalf of the African bishops.
Pope Francis directed Cardinal Fernández to follow the lead of Cardinal Ambongo, serving in effect as stenographer to the evisceration of his own declaration. The Holy Father was monitoring Cardinal Fernández’s compliance over the phone. It must have been a humiliating experience.
After that, perhaps Cardinal Fernández desired something of a reset. That might be the reason for an official “Note” from the DDF, Gestis Verbisque, published on Saturday.
It’s a curious document, in that it teaches what has been known for literally centuries — namely, that the minister of a sacrament (usually a cleric) may not alter the essential “form” and “matter” of the sacraments. If either one is altered, the sacrament is invalid. Why, then, the document now? The document demonstrates that Cardinal Fernández is capable of three things put in doubt by Fiducia Supplicans.
First, that he can consult with his brother bishops, rather than ambushing them after working in secret, as was the case with Fiducia Supplicans. The publication of the note mentioned that it had been discussed and approved unanimously by the cardinals and bishops who attended the recent plenary meeting of the DDF. Pope Francis then added his approval.
+Cardinal Müller laments: Efforts to Explain ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ Adding to Confusion, Divisions: ‘nobody is speaking about the blessing of marriage, of children, of the family,’ which is ‘our duty,’ and ‘not to divide the Church.’
+ The Law of Non-contradiction
+ When popes condemned deliberate ambiguity as the “art of deception”
Catholic Critique 