The Tablet: A silenced priest assesses the Pope’s changes to the CDF – Tony Flannery
Does Pope Francis want to make real change to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and has he the power?
Pope Francis has issued a document on his reform of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The English translation will not be available for some time, so I am dependent on articles by various media outlets for my information of what it contains. It is part of Francis’ intended major reform of the Curia, which, with the assistance of his Council of Cardinals, he has been working on since early in his pontificate.
First, let me say a little about my own experience of dealing with the CDF over the past ten years, and what I see as essential to any reform of that body. Ten years ago, after 40 years of ministry as a priest, I was forbidden to minister publicly because the CDF objected to some of my views in a magazine published monthly by my religious congregation, and that situation remains the same to this day.
The Tablet…Tony Flannery:
A chilling thought: was it not just a few years ago that abuse cases were handed to the CDF to deal with, so that its Prefect, Cardinal Ratzinger, had to spend every Friday dealing with them?
Has this arrangement proved unwieldy, so that we now have a return to the status quo ante, with the doctrinal CDF released to pursue its former role unimpeded while the new disciplinary CDF deals with the abuse issues?
But the newly unburdened doctrinal CDF will have a more modern, enlightened, responsive attitude to the teaching of the faith? But that is what Paul VI promised long ago, a promise shafted by his choice of personnel — by his leaving Ottaviani in charge as Prefect.
So the doctrinal CDF, no longer humbled by having to deal with abuse-related practical questions, will revert to type and wield the sword of dogma with more assurance than ever….