J.M.J.

Defend the Family
Synod Drama • Stand with Our Lady of Fatima

- Why do many Catholics fear the upcoming Synod will undermine Catholic
doctrine and practice?

The events that occurred at the 2014 Extraordinary Synod, and the apparent
trajectory of the upcoming Synod of October 2015, give the impression that
unchangeable aspects of Catholic moral law may now be up for discussion and
revision. Among many aspects, there is the proposal by Walter Cardinal
Kasper, taken as a serious proposition, regarding a new program for
divorced and remarried Catholics.

- Do all bishops accept the Kasper proposal?

No, many are horrified, and rightly so. Numerous Cardinals and bishops have
publicly challenged Kasper's proposition. In the past year, five Cardinals
co-authored a book entitled Remaining in the Truth of Christ in opposition
to the Kasper plan. Another three bishops just authored a book called The
Preferential Option for the Family -- 100 Questions and Answers Related to
the Synod, which rejects the Kasper proposal and supports authentic Church
teaching regarding marriage, family life, and the moral law.

- What is the proposal forwarded by Walter Cardinal Kasper?

Cardinal Kasper proposes a new "pastoral" approach that allows divorced and
remarried Catholics, after some sort of 'period of penance,' to be admitted
to Holy Communion, while they remain in this irregular union.

- Is this a novel idea?

Yes, it is a proposal completely foreign to the 2000-year doctrine and
discipline of the Church.

- Can the Church make such a change?

No, not even a Pope has the authority to make such a change, since he, and
all the world's bishops and priests, are bound to teach and practice what
the Church always taught and practiced for 2000 years. Vatican I teaches
infallibly that all Catholics are bound to hold the Catholic Faith "in the
same meaning and in the same explanation" of what the Church always taught
throughout the centuries without change.

- How does this relate to the Kasper proposal?

When it comes to the impossibility of "allowing" divorced and remarried
Catholics to the Eucharist, Cardinal de Paolis writes: "The Church supports
the Words of Jesus (cf. Mark 10:11-12), according to which a new union
cannot be recognized as valid until the previous marriage is declared
invalid by the relevant [Church] authorities. Please note the words 'cannot
be' -- the Church herself has not power to do so. Even assuming she wanted
to do it, she does not have the power."

- Can the Pope make this change in favor of divorced and remarried
Catholics?

When explaining the limits of Papal power, Vatican I taught infallibly,
"For the Holy Spirit was promised to the successors of Peter not so that
they might, by His revelation, make known some new doctrine, but that, by
His assistance, they might religiously guard and faithfully expound the
revelation or deposit of faith transmitted by the apostles." Even the Pope
may not change doctrine.

- But the proponents of the Kasper plan claim that what they propose is not
a change of doctrine, but only a change in pastoral practice.

Cardinal Brandmüller forcefully answers this falsehood: "It is evident
that the pastoral practice of the Church cannot stand in opposition to the
binding doctrine nor simply ignore it. In the same manner, an architect
could perhaps build a most beautiful bridge. However, if he does not pay
attention to the laws of structural engineering, he risks the collapse of
his construction. In the same manner, every pastoral practice has to follow
the Word of God if it does not want to fail. A change of the teaching, of
the dogma, is unthinkable. Who nevertheless consciously does it, or
insistently demands it, is a heretic -- even if he wears the Roman Purple."
In other words, he is a heretic even if he is a bishop or a Cardinal.

- Are these not strong words?

Cardinal Brandmuller is one of many prelates speaking up against the Kasper
proposal. Listen to Archbishop Athanasius Schneider of Kazakhstan: "The
concrete proposal of Cardinal Kasper and of the sympathizers of his theory
signified without a doubt the undermining of the teaching of Christ on the
indissolubility of marriage. Cardinal Kasper's theory reveals an
un-Christian notion of atonement and penance."

- Why does Kasper's theory display an un-Christian notion of atonement and
penance?

Archbishop Schneider explains: "The Biblical understanding of repentance
says … that one has the firm and honest resolution not to repeat in the
future that which one has done and now repents of it. It is obvious that,
according to Cardinal Kasper's theory, these faithful do not have the
repentance for committing deeds which directly violate the Commandment of
God, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' and hence violate the
indissolubility of marriage."

- But should not the Church, in the name of pastoral compassion, make
allowances for the faithful who are in difficult situations?

The Church is always there to help those in difficult situations find their
way back to the life of sanctifying grace, and it will always display the
mercy and compassion of Christ. But this mercy must accord with the
teaching of Christ Himself, who taught the absolute indissolubility of
marriage, "Whoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery
against her, and if the wife puts away her husband, and marries another,
she commits adultery" (Mark 10: 11-12).

As already noted, no one in the Church, not even the Pope himself, has the
authority to change this teaching, or to alter pastoral practice in such a
way that gives the impression of defying this truth.

- Suppose a churchman should make the claim that the practice can change?

Such a churchman is not compassionate, but cruel. He is permitting
something he has no authority to permit, and raising exceptions of the
faithful that can never be legitimately realized. Further, such a churchman
leads souls into sacrilegious Communion, which is a mortal sin. Such a
churchman is not a shepherd but a wolf.

- What harmful consequences will follow if the Synod Fathers fall in line
with the Kasper proposal?

Cardinal de Paolis lists four harmful consequences:

1)  It would open the door to sacrilegious Communions, seemingly with
"Church approval";
2)  It would call into question the need to be in the state of sanctifying
grace for the reception of the Eucharist; hence no need to go to Confession
to confess mortal sins prior to receiving Communion;
3)  It would call into question the Church's teaching on sɛҳuąƖ morality in
general, particularly in regard to the Sixth Commandment;
4)  It would give the appearance of the Church lending its support to
cohabitation and other irregular arrangements, which would weaken the
principle of the indissolubility of marriage.

- Is it possible that Church leaders could lead us so far astray?

Yes. Sister Lucia of Fatima in the 1960s and early 1970s warned of the
"diabolic disorientation" of various members of the upper hierarchy. This
disorientation continues into our time.

- What can the faithful do?

Priests and faithful, in accordance with the duties they receive from the
Sacrament of Confirmation, must defend the Faith and resist these damaging
proposals. Canon 212, section 3 of the Code of Canon Law tells us:
"According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess,
they [the faithful] have the right and even at times the duty to manifest
to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of
the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian
faithful." As noted by Father Linus Clovis, when speaking about Canon 212:
"In other words, we have to go public on this!"

- What is the Fatima Center Plan?

We encourage Catholics to stand up for marriage, the family and the
Eucharist in any legitimate way they can. We encourage our friends and
supporters to spread this flyer to others, and obtain copies to send to
priests, bishops and Cardinals. We also encourage fidelity to the daily
Rosary requested by Our Lady, make the Five First Saturdays of Reparation,
and continue to request the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart
of Mary by the Pope in union with the world's bishops, which will not only
bring peace to the world, but peace and order to our troubled Church.


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The above is available on a leaflet (LF317) from:
Servants of Jesus and Mary
17000 State Route 30, Constable, NY 12926  
In Canada: National Pilgrim Virgin of Canada:
452 Kraft Road, Fort Erie, ON L2A 4M7
www.fatima.org     1-800-263-8160

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Sincerely in Christ,
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
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