[scouter]

I predicted this months ago. For all his professed love of "synodality"—explicitly expressed even in the document—he goes ahead and forces his pre-conceived ideas through just weeks ahead of the synod on the family!

It's hard to avoid the temptation to call him disingenuous in this whole thing.

I'd like to point out one huge flaw in his thinking, among many. The article states:

Included in those examples: When there was a clear lacking of faith on the part of one of the persons consenting to the marriage, when one person was in another undisclosed relationship at the time of marriage, or when one party procured an abortion -- indicating that they were not open to the procreation of life.

It's true that a positive intention NEVER to have kids, or to be sexually faithful, present at the time the vows were exchanged, means that a valid marriage never existed from a Catholic point of view. However, procuring an abortion is in no way at all evidence, much less particularly clear proof, that such an intention existed. People give into temptations, especially in difficult circumstances, to do things they know are wrong. That's what sin is. Just because someone gives into the temptation to commit the sin of abortion does not mean that they NEVER want to have kids, or that at the time they exchanged vows they never wanted to have kids, anymore than adultery means they never intended to be faithful.

What he's saying is that if a woman has an abortion after the marriage has been contracted, that is particularly clear proof that she never intended to have children, and that therefore there was no marriage!

Bullsh!t

This is a disastrous example of one of two things—either of Pope Francis' inability to think clearly, or his positive desire to undermine Catholic doctrine. Only God knows which. I am generally opposed to the idea of papal resignations, but in this case I think it would be a good idea. I will now explicitly pray that Pope Francis resign and that his successor be both faithful and competent.

[NYer]

Check out the article about conservative dissent brewing at the Vatican, posted above.

Conservatives counter that in the climate of rising liberal thought, they have been thrust unfairly into a position in which “defending the real teachings of the church makes you look like an enemy of the pope,” a senior Vatican official said on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely.

It's worth the read.

[NKP_Vet]

“I will now explicitly pray that Pope Francis resign and that his successor be both faithful and competent”.

Annulments to basically be passed out like candy by the Cupichs, Wuerls and Dolans of the Church. And free of charge. Maybe they’ll get a free Francis phone to go along with the quickie “annulment”.

[livius]

What I realized is that he does things the way Obama does - through administrative means, by issuing the equivalent of an Executive Order which renders any law or discussion immediately pointless.

He achieves his goals exactly the way Obama or any other leftist does.