How odd!

It was reported that the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, commenting on the reluctance expressed by individual bishops and bishops’ conferences (some 1,000 in number)  regarding the implementation of Fiducia Supplicans: “it’s proper for each local bishop to make that discernment.”  So, let me get this straight.  It is proper for each local bishop to decide whether or not to bless individuals in a same sex relationship but the very same bishops are not equipped to decide whether or how to allow the Latin Mass in their dioceses.  

When he was asked if this declaration is a first step toward the acceptance of homosexual behavior or equating marriage with unions between persons of the same sex, Fernández replied: “That perception is totally incorrect and whoever says that has either not read the text or is ‘in a bad mood,’ allow me the expression. The statement states clearly and endlessly that these are non-ritualized blessings, so that they are not interpreted as a marriage.”  Begging the prefect's pardon, but it would seem that Francis and the head of the dicastery are the ones in a foul mood.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts needs to be recast as beware of popes bearing gifts.  In the case of Francis, the gifts he brings are confusion and central control -- both of which are exploited well by those seeking to undermine traditional moraality and dogma.  Rome is in a very bad way and, as they say, when Rome sneezes, we catch a cold.  Again, my point is that there is less reason than ever before to be jealous of anything Roman Catholic except a few good buildings and artwork.  The rest of Rome seems to be rotting from the center as the pope alienates those who are most serious about what is believed and how it is practiced in favor of those who are not so serious about either.

Lutherans should not be smug.  We have our own problems with the same thing.  So many Lutherans are muddying up the waters of what we believe, teach, and confess that, as in Rome, the conservatives are deemed dangerous and the progressives and liberals are considered safe.  It is long past time for Christianity to realign itself along the lines of those who are pay attention to Scripture and apostolic tradition and those who don't.  Maybe we all need a grand divorce in the Methodist style.  Offer some cash and some weak institutions to those who want to erode the faith from within and let all Christians depart for groups that are consistently and authentically Christian.  Roman Catholics will soon have to decide how long they can abide a pope determined to kill the faith with confusion and centralized control so that what was will be lost and what will be is nothing remotely recognizable as orthodox.  Lutherans will have to decide the same thing.  How long before we can abide groups using the name Lutheran but refusing to pay any attention to the Confessions that say what we believe, teach, and confess.  I hope it comes sooner rather than later but things move slowly in the machinery of Christendom and we will have to swallow hard for many more years before we see any movement on this.  The progressives have already decided that they have more in common with the liberal fringe of Christianity that is almost unitarian than they do with the people who pay attention to Scripture, tradition, and confession.  This is just as true for Lutherans as it is for Roman Catholics.