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No, as Pope, he has never repudiated homosexual or adulterous unions. He has encouraged them, whether through phone calls, emails, interviews, public greetings or his recent heretical exhortation.

“Some forms of union radically contradict this ideal, while others realize it in at least a partial and analogous way.” AL 292.

“In such situations, many people, knowing and accepting the possibility of living ‘as brothers and sisters’ which the Church offers them, point out that if certain expressions of intimacy [i.e., sexual intercourse] are lacking ‘it often happens that faithfulness is endangered and the good of the children suffers’ ( Gaudium et spes, 51).” AL fn. 329

The Synod Fathers stated that the Church does not disregard the constructive elements in those situations which do not yet or no longer correspond to her teaching on marriage.AL 314

Gradualness in Pastoral Care

The Fathers also considered the specific situation of a merely civil marriage or, with due distinction, even simple cohabitation, noting that “when such unions attain a particular stability, legally recognized, are characterized by deep affection and responsibility for their offspring, and demonstrate an ability to overcome trials, they can provide occasions for pastoral care with a view to the eventual celebration of the sacrament of marriage”.AL 315

Hence it is can no longer simply be said that all those in any “irregular” situation are living in a state of mortal sin and are deprived of sanctifying grace. AL 339

Since when did mortal sin could no longer be stated as such? Since the new pope came into town?

I believe the real fault and danger in these statements is not overt heresy (of the kind carefully defined in Canon Law), but a kind of insidious equivocation.

That does not get Pope Francis off the hook. Ambiguity can be more dangerous that formal, technical heresy, inasmuch as it slips past a person's immune system and then quietly infects the mind and heart before the person realizes it.

For instance:

"“Some forms of union radically contradict this ideal, while others realize it in at least a partial and analogous way.” AL 292.

That *could* mean, "homosexual union radically contradicts this ideal, while a marriage with "the impediment of disparity of cult" (i.e. to a non-Catholic) realizes it in at least a partial and analogous way."

It *could* mean that, and that would be a solid, orthodox interpretation -- but we don't really know what Pope Francis was thinking of, and it's amazing that in a 60,000 word document, he wouldn't even define his key terms!!

Another example:

"Hence it is can no longer simply be said that all those in any “irregular” situation are living in a state of mortal sin and are deprived of sanctifying grace." AL 339

That *could* mean, "Even though there exists the objective, grave matter of serious sin here, we cannot say that all these people are living in a state of mortal sin, since the elements of sufficient knowledge and free consent of the will may not be present."

It *could* mean that, but it's too vague to say exactly what Pope Francis has in mind here. For instance, people might have entered into an objectively invalid second marriage, on the advice of a bad priest who told them it would be OK! They are doing something gravely and objectively morally wrong, but mortal sin cannot be imputed to them subjectively, because they did not realize this trusted priest was totally in the wrong!

Therein lies the danger: the erosion of good doctrine and practice, due to these slovenly (?) or are they hand-crafted (?) equivocations.

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