Leading scholars urge Pope to clarify Amoris Laetitia

December 09, 2016

Two leading Catholic scholars have urged Pope Francis to stop what they term the “misuse” of Amoris Laetitia, and more than 20 scholars have backed the four cardinals who submitted questions about the papal document, in separate appeals for clarity.

In a letter addressed to the Pontiff and “to all the bishops in communion with him, and to the rest of the Christian faithful,” John Finnis and Germain Grisez argue that popular misinterpretations of Amoris Laetitia are being used “to suppport errors against the Catholic faith.” They call upon Pope Francis to repudiate these errors, and ask “all bishops to join in this request and to issue their own condemnations of the erroneous positions we identify.” Finnis, a retired Oxford philosophy professor; and Grisez, a moral theologian who taught for years at Mount St. Mary’s, are among the world’s most respected Catholic thinkers.

In a separate document, 23 Catholic scholars gave their support to the four cardinals who have submitted dubia about the papal document. They warned that the rising tide of confusion within the Church is causing a “gravely critical” situation, comparable to the crisis of faith provoked by the Arian heresy. They suggested that if Pope Francis does not clarify Amoris Laetitia, it may become necessary for other prelates to “collectively approach him with some form of fraternal correction.”

Finnis and Grisez do not argue that Amoris Laetitia itself is in error, but insist that the document is being misused in order to undermine Catholic teachings. They write that papal statements “must be presumed to be consistent with one another when carefully interpreted,” and therefore Amoris Laetitia should be read in the light of previous clear papal statements affirming Church teaching on marriage.

To end the confusion that has arisen, Finnis and Grisez ask Pope Francis to condemn errors that have arisen. Specifically, they list eight propositions which contradict Church teaching, but have been advanced as consistent with the papal document:

1. - that priests can give absolution from sins even when penitents have no intention of amendment;
2. - that people may be too weak to obey God’s commandments;
3. - that there is no moral rule to which there can never be exceptions;
4. - that moral laws are ideals, and it is unrealistic to expect that they will be fulfilled;
5. - that in some circumstances it is best to violate a moral law;
6. - that sexual activity is only wrong if someone is exploited or hurt;
7. - that a valid marriage can dissolve; and
8. - that there is no one condemned to hell.

 

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Further information:

• An Open Letter to Pope Francis (First Things)
• ‘A gravely critical moment’: Catholic scholars call on bishops to support the four cardinals (Catholic Herald)
• The Misuse of Amoris Laetitia to Support Errors against the Catholic Faith (Full text)