Pope preparing for Protestants to receive Communion?
July 01, 2016
Veteran Vatican journalist Sandro Magister argues that Pope Francis is preparing the way for Protestants and Catholics to share the Eucharist, in an essay for L'Espresso.
Magister points to an article in La Civilta Cattolica, the influential Jesuit journal, that argues the Pope's advice to a Lutheran woman represented a change in papal teaching, similar to the change that Pope Francis introduced in Amoris Laetitia regarding the reception of the Eucharist by Catholics who are divorced and remarried. The Pope is not suggesting an outright change in Catholic doctrine, the Civilta Cattolica article contends, but is taking "small steps forward" by encouraging individuals to act in accordance with their own consciences.
The intepretation put on the Pope's words by Civilta Cattolica is particularly important, Magister observes, because articles in the Jesuit journal are approved in advance by the Holy See. In fact, Magister reports, the Pope himself "reviews and adjusts the articles that most interest him before their publication."
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Posted by: dmva9806 -
Jul. 02, 2016 11:54 AM ET USA
That lady's solution for her problem is very simple - nothing prevents her from entering the Catholic Church EXCEPT her free decision not to do so. Why is our Pope unable to see simple answers to simple questions. If you want to join your Catholic spouse in Holy Communion, then convert. Don't moan about how much you'd like to be able to do it as a (blank) (enter your favorite religion here). But Pope Francis seems determined to pile complexity upon complexity.
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Posted by: claire5327 -
Jul. 02, 2016 2:26 AM ET USA
The Pope must try to learn and understand that he has No Right to change anything that Jesus our Lord has Instituted⁄! The Protestants do not believe the Presence of Jesus is in the Holy Eucharist.That denial is a disqualification in itself! To give the Holy Eucharist to a NONE believer is a form of Desecration to what is HOLY! "The heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away." The Pope must try to REFRAME from doing more HARM than what he has already done! MERCY,Oh God!
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Posted by: JimKcda -
Jul. 01, 2016 9:13 PM ET USA
How about articles on "how Catholics practiced their faith during the reign of the "Bad Popes""as well as a history lesson on the signs of the times when those unfortunate situations occurred. Another topic might include Bishops correcting other Bishops; St Cyril vs Nestorius or St John Fisher vs Cranmer could be examples. Another Saint who might be written about is St Catjeten of Theines. Confusing times are rapidly approaching and I don't think the current generation knows about these things.
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Posted by: Mike in Toronto -
Jul. 01, 2016 7:43 PM ET USA
So now we wait for the authoritative version(s) explaining how Magister is not Magisterium and how his interpretation is wrong yet again. Yawn...
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Posted by: jalsardl5053 -
Jul. 01, 2016 7:01 PM ET USA
From the original referenced above: "The answer from Francis was a stupefying pinwheel of yes, no, I don’t know, you figure it out." I think maybe all this must be Pope Francis' version of New World Order. I have now nothing but great sympathy for a woman I know who has fervently prayed for her husband to convert; he's of the mind that it's all between him and God: nothing else needed. He's now got ammo to convince here to be otherwise too.
