Archbishop Tucho Touched for the CDF
The appointment of Victor Manuel ‘Tucho’ Fernández as the new head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith – now, technically, a ‘dicastery’ – is a scandal. That does not necessarily mean that it is a sin, but it is discouraging that someone such as he is now in charge of defending the Faith. But, wait, the Pope, in his accompanying letter, f no longer thinks that is the sole, or perhaps even primary, task of the office. We are treated therein to the expected sideswipes against ‘desk bound theology’, ‘control mechanism’, ‘secondary issues’ and the dreaded ‘cold, hard logic’, and The only references in the letter are to Francis himself – fac omnia nova! – with the exception of one footnote to a relatively obscure document issued by the International Theological Commission – not a Magisterial body – on the ‘Fate of Unbaptized Infants’.
We as laity have the right to question decisions and appointments of the Vatican, even of the Pope, and this one is more questionable than most. I don’t quite agree with Timothy Flanders that this spells the demise of the CDF – set up originally as the ‘Holy Office of the Inquisition’ after the Council of Trent, in response to the Protestant revolt against Catholic orthodoxy. Can one imprudent appointment destroy a 500-year-old institution? But the appointment is telling, and that in itself may not be all bad. After all, ‘tells’ in poker give away one’s hand, and, as in Germany and elsewhere, the battle is coming more into the open. Setting up someone seemingly so unfit for the task tells us, perhaps, what we need to know, at least for now.
The Archbishop has told us of his own intentions and views, in interviews and answers, and others have recounted some of his odd statements. Much hay has been in particular made of his quasi-erotic book as a young priest on the ‘art of kissing’ for teenagers, and a few words about that: Kissing – at least of the prolonged, erotic and sexually arousing variety, what we might call ‘making out’, with all the accoutrements that go along – is at the very least an occasion of sin before marriage (and should be kept within the limits of chastity within marriage). It should not be fostered, never mind explained how to be done ‘well’ by hormonally-unhinged teenagers, least of all by a priest. That alone should have brought censure upon him. But three decades on, as Archbishop, Fernández is unrepentant, describing the book as a ‘catechesis for teens’, and admitting only he would not write such a book now, as a 60-year-old, as he ‘prepares for eternity’. Hmm. Why not? True contrition normally implies that what one would not do now, one should not have done then.
As Dan Hitchens describes, what may be more troubling still is that Fernández is also the likely ghost writer of the deeply problematical Amoris Laetitia, with whole passages lifted from previous works of his, and whose ambiguous ‘chapter 8’ has unleashed doctrinal and moral chaos in the Church. The five dubia of the stalwart cardinals requesting clarification have to this day – seven years on – never been answered.
Could God work a miracle of grace, and transform the archbishop into a second Thomas a Becket? Non erit inpossibile apud Deum, I suppose, but grace does build on nature, and one wonders how much natural foundation there be here. And it’s hard to teach a perro viejo new tricks.
One way or the other, I don’t think we will have to endure this for long, for our God is patient, but His patience does have limits, at least from our perspective. He gives enough time to allow us to suffer what we need to suffer, and for those of us who need repentance – that is, all of us – to repent. And the centre to all this cannot hold – things inevitably begin to fall apart at the seams, and the jig is up.
I do agree with Mr. Flanders that, at least for the time being, Catholics need to shore up in the trenches and defend the Faith without much help from most of the currently established hierarchy, to shore up the ecclesia domestica, to rely upon all that has been taught definitively and irreformably by previous pontiffs, at least up to the chaos of this current Magisterium. The Church is the pillar and bulwark of the truth – all that we need to get to heaven is at our fingertips in her two millennia of Tradition, and the great treasure of Scripture. Drink deep, and follow the Way, to Life.
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→
Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów
We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→
Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland
Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→
Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd
A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→
Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness
Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]Continue reading→
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→