<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.crisismagazine.com/2016/problem-unofficial-francis">http://www.crisismagazine.com/2016/problem-unofficial-francis</a><br><br>"........ essentially two versions of
Francis: the official version, found in his own words and the
clarifications of the Vatican press office, and the unofficial version,
created by the reports and suggestions of others around him. <font size="1">It is
reminiscent of the phenomenon pointed out by <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2013/february/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20130214_clero-roma.html" target="_blank">Pope Emeritus Benedict</a>
shortly before his retirement: that in regards to the Second Vatican
Council, we had to distinguish between the “council of the media” and
the “council of the Fathers,” the council as it really was—and the
result of that divergence has been far from healthy for the Church.
</font><p>Several issues arise from this: <br></p><p>First, it creates the appearance of
an alternative, private magisterium, whereby teachings are upheld in
official documents but unorthodox practices are seemingly allowed with a
nudge and a wink." ... <br></p><p>Second, this alternative relies on and perpetuates a sort of
hyper-ultramontanism, where every utterance and suggestion and gesture
of the pope, whether in private or in public, whether in a promulgated
document or in an off-hand remark, becomes dogma and law—as if an
(alleged) comment at dinner between friends would require an update to
the Catechism and the Code of Canon Law. <br></p><p>Third, most importantly, these
two issues together create confusion for the faithful. Catholics whose
knowledge of their faith is lacking will often have the general sense
that since the pope is the head of the Church, what the popes says or
wants goes. So, when a poorly-informed media reports that certain ideas
have been attributed to Pope Francis by his associates, many Catholics
will conclude that the Church’s teaching and law have taken a new turn.</p><p>......<br></p><p>How could the
Church respond to this phenomenon?</p><p>.... We should not
assume that every report and rumor of <em>obiter dicta</em> of the pope is valid, nor should we give them any more weight than they are due. As <a href="http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/amoris-laetitia-and-the-constant-teaching-and-practice-of-the-church/" target="_blank">Cardinals Burke</a> and <a href="http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/05/04/cardinal-muller-amoris-laetitia-is-in-line-with-previous-teaching-on-communion/" target="_blank">Mueller</a> concluded regarding controversial interpretations of <em>Amoris Laetitia</em>:
there is nothing explicit in the text that changes either Church
doctrine or discipline, and doctrine and discipline do not alter or
reform based on suggestion, innuendo, or eisegesis masquerading as
exegesis.</p><p>..... Enough time and energy is spent
discussing the pope’s public words—we cannot spare any debating his
alleged thoughts."</p></div>