2023-07-05 07:55:41
The current prefect, Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, is retiring following six years at the head of the dicastery. He was in 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI. been appointed its secretary. In 2017 he succeeded Cardinal Gerhard Müller. He will resign from office in September.
The new prefect
Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández is a close confidante of Pope Francis. He was born in the province of Cordoba in 1962 and was ordained a priest on August 15, 1986. After studying biblical theology at the Gregorian University, he received his doctorate in theology from the Faculty of Theology in Buenos Aires.
He was a pastor and lecturer at a seminary. In 2009 he was appointed Rector of the Theological Faculty of the Catholic University of Argentina by the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, a certain Msgr. Jorge Bergoglio. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith objected. Installation was delayed until 2011.
In 2007, the two clergymen were part of the group that drafted the document of Aparecida on the occasion of the 5th Latin American Bishops’ Assembly. The content of the document draws some basic lines of the current pontificate, namely, for example, the importance of popular religiosity.
Strangely, two months following Pope Francis was elected, Fernández was appointed bishop as president of the Catholic university and was ordained in June 2013. He was a consultor to various Roman congregations and is currently a member of the Dicastery of Culture and Education.
In June 2018 he took over the office of Archbishop of La Plata.
Francis’ guidelines for the new Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Pope has given guidelines to the new prefect. Policies that are patently odd and that may be considered troubling. The letter of appointment, dated July 1, 2023, indeed contains passages that indicate a further transformation of the Dicastery, following the former Congregation of the Holy Office has already undergone some changes since the Council.
The very first paragraph sets the tone: “As the new Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, I entrust you with a task that I consider very valuable. Its central aim is to protect the doctrine that flows from faith, “to give reason for our hope, but not as enemies who point the finger and condemn” (Evangelii Gaudium, 271).”
The full quote from the papal document reads: “It is true that in our relationship with the world we are called to give an account of our hope, but not like enemies who point the finger and condemn”. The context is different: “to give an account of hope” and “to protect the doctrine that comes from faith,” which should be done without condemnation. Without judging anything? To condemn the mistakes? How to protect without opposing what attacks and destroys?
The following paragraph is downright strange: “At other times the department you will preside has resorted to immoral methods. There was a time when possible doctrinal errors were pursued instead of promoting theological knowledge. What I expect from you is certainly something completely different.” Every Catholic can only wonder here. What times are these? What immoral methods? In a way, the answer isn’t necessary for the rest of the story, because just reading it makes it clear that these “immoral methods” consisted of pursuing “possible doctrinal errors.” The letter suggests that the majority of these errors may not even have occurred.
This is a clear misinterpretation of the past of this dicastery of the Roman Curia, of which the prefect was once none other than the Pope himself. And it is also a disregard for the admirable defense of the Catholic faith done by the Pope-led Curia. All this now seems not only outdated, but also a dark episode in church history.
In the lineage of Amoris laetitia
The Pope goes on to describe the new prefect’s task towards the theologians: “It is good that your task expresses that the Church “encourages the charism of theologians and their efforts in theological research”, on condition “that they are not satisfied with a desk theology” (Evangelii gaudium, 132), with a “cold and hard logic that seeks to dominate everything” (Gaudete et exsultate, 39).”
And the paragraph concludes: “We need thinking capable of convincingly portraying a God who loves, who forgives, who saves, who liberates, who nurtures people and calls them to brotherly service.” But before Above all, one might think, not the true God who “loves justice and hates injustice” and who requires us to believe everything he has taught us.
Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández should not be confused by all this. The website cath.ch reports that he “as one of the ghostwriters of the Apostolic Exhortation The joy of love” is seen. So a line continues.
1688548622
#Francis #appoints #lineloyal #prefects
