Dr. Taylor Marshall's podcast from
Wednesday discusses Bergoglio and "civil unions"as well as Francis's
status as Pope starting right about minute 27.
Unfortunately, Marshall sets up a false dichotomy. He represents our choice of responses as, "Bergoglio is a heretic, let's start a new Church," or "Bergoglio's the Pope and that's just the way it is." Who ever said anything about starting a new Church? There have been a number of anti-popes during the course of history and dealing with them has never meant that.
Then he uses the annulment analogy, and another false dichotomy sets in. Either a couple decides for themselves (which is wrong) or the couple waits passively for the judgment of the Church, declaring themselves incompetent even to form and advance a reasoned opinion.
This is ridiculous. If people couldn't form their own judgment, they couldn't petition the Tribunal in the first place. How could you wait for and submit to the judgment of the Church if the Church receives no petition to judge?
Like Gandalf talking to Saruman, I reject the options that Taylor has outlined here. I wonder, does he have others to offer? Because God does, and so does Canon Law.
Note: This was written by a good friend and one of the most intelligent
persons I know. The Catholic Monitor is honored to post it.
Pray an Our Father now for the restoration of the Mass and the Church as
well as for the Triumph of the Kingdom of the Sacred Heart of the Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Comments
This is our choice:
1) Is Pope Benedict XVI dead?
2) Did Pope Benedict XVI validly resign?
If th answer to BOTH questions is no - Pope Benedict XVI still reigns.
And so, I don't care about this fellow Jorge Bergoglio because we already have a Pope.
Your choices above do not apply - irrelevant. Perhaps they apply in Nu Church, but not the Catholic Church that has only one Pope at a time, as willed by Christ *directly*.