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<h1>Cardinal Müller: Spiritual renewal is the Church's foremost need</h1><div><a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-mller-spiritual-renewal-is-the-churchs-foremost-need-55613">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-mller-spiritual-renewal-is-the-churchs-foremost-need-55613</a><br></div><a tabindex="1" class="gmail-at-icon-wrapper gmail-at-share-btn gmail-at-svc-compact" style="background-color:rgb(255,101,80);border-radius:0%"><span class="gmail-at4-visually-hidden"></span><span class="gmail-at-icon-wrapper" style="line-height:32px;height:32px;width:32px"></span></a><div id="gmail-shareTop" style="float:left"><div class="gmail-addthis_sharing_toolbox" style="clear:both"><div id="gmail-atstbx2" class="gmail-at-resp-share-element gmail-at-style-responsive gmail-addthis-smartlayers gmail-addthis-animated gmail-at4-show"><div class="gmail-at-share-btn-elements"><a tabindex="1" class="gmail-at-icon-wrapper gmail-at-share-btn gmail-at-svc-compact" style="background-color:rgb(255,101,80);border-radius:0%"><span class="gmail-at4-share-count-container" style="font-size:11.4px;line-height:32px;color:rgb(255,255,255)">32</span></a></div></div></div>
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<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/Card_Gerhard_Ludwig_Mller_Daniel_Ibez_CNA_CNA_6_14_16.jpg?w=760" alt="Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA." style="margin-right: 0px;" width="188" height="125" border="0">
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<div class="gmail-noticia_imagen_comentario">Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.</div>
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<div style="overflow:hidden"><div class="gmail-image-container"><p><span class="gmail-noticia_byline">Rome, Italy, Nov 29, 2018 / 04:22 pm (<a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com" target="_self">CNA/EWTN News</a>)</span>.-<span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>
Cardinal Gerhard Müller said in a recent interview that</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>the problem of
clerical sex abuse </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>must be countered primarily by spiritual renewal,
prayer, and penance.</b></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>The prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said in <a href="https://www.lastampa.it/2018/11/28/vaticaninsider/mller-no-one-has-the-right-to-indict-the-pope-U5ezacfKes3LQmANKAzu6N/pagina.html">a Nov. 28 interview with Vatican Insider</a>
that </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>“We need spiritual renewal, prayer and penance, drawing on the
grace of the sacraments, reading and meditating on the Bible, entering
into the spirit of Jesus Christ</b></span>. We must be <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>priests according to the
heart of Jesus </b></span>…<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> The priest is an alter Christus, not because of <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">his
skill or ability,</span> but because<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"> he</span> gives<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"> his <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">heart</span> for humankind.</span></b></span> We must
bear witness to this and in so doing restore the credibility of the
Church so that people may encounter faith.”</p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>He called </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>canon law “a necessary aid to the Church,” in which “we
have norms of divine law that we cannot<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"> change</span>,</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>but also norms of human,
ecclesiastical law <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">that we can change</span> and update to better respond to
the<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"> needs and circumstances </span>to be faced. </b><b>But, we, the Church, are a
sacramental and spiritual reality and </b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">more important </span><b>we are the
dimensions of morality and faith:<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"> rules, norms, external discipline are </span>
not <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">enough.”</span></b></span></p>
<p>Acknowledging that procedures “have been established to combat the
phenomenon,” he said, “<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>spiritual renewal and conversion are more
important. </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>There are priests who never</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>go to spiritual exercises</b></span>, <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>never
approach</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> the confessional,</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>never<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> </span></b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>pray the breviary. </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>And when the
spiritual life is empty, how can a priest <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">act</span></b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> according to Christ? </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>He
risks becoming a 'mercenary', </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>as we read in the Gospel of John.”</b></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>Cardinal Müller called for</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b> the “parties” in</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>the Church</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>to “</b><b>work
together to overcome </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>this crisis that is hurting</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> the credibility of the
Church … </b></span>We are all united in the revealed faith, and not by the
prejudices of political ideologies. <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>We are not</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>a political entity</b></span>,<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> the
Church was instituted by Jesus Christ.”</b></span></p>
<p>He suggested that the Pope could, to manage the crisis in the US,
“appoint a commission of cardinals he trusts, to study the situation and
then, on the basis of solid information, make some proposals, beyond
oppositions, struggles between factions, mutual suspicions, and
propaganda carried out by media campaigns. <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>We need a solid base of
information: only in this way decisions can be made for the future.”</b></span></p>
<p>Addressing episcopal accountability, the cardinal said, “We have sufficient norms in Canon Law, there is the <em>motu proprio <a href="https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_20020110_sacramentorum-sanctitatis-tutela.html">Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela</a></em>
of 2001, there are the already existing norms of the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, yet not always all the bishops have
collaborated with our department. They have not informed as it is ought
to be done. First we must do what is already established and indicated
as necessary and obligatory by the existing norms.”
</p>
<p>Discussing the thwarted effort of the USCCB to develop a code of
conduct for bishops and to create a lay-led investigatory body, he said
that “we must avoid confrontation and public controversy, and first
discuss together to then arrive at a decision.<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> We need to talk more
before. I thought it was necessary for the presidency of the American
Bishops' Conference to first consult with our experts at <u>the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith</u>.</b><b> The Holy Father</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b> is a single
person, <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">he</span> cannot deal with everything. </b></span>That is why <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>there are the
departments of the Roman Curia, to collaborate and arrive at a
well-developed proposal to bring to the Pope.”</b></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>Speaking of </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>the same-sex nature of much clerical abuse</b></span>, <span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>Cardinal
Müller rejected</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(249,203,156)"><b> the “category” of homosexuals,</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>and said </b><b>that there are
rather “concrete people who have certain tendencies, and <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">there are
temptations</span>.</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>Our hearts</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>are wounded by the original sin and </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>we</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> must
overcome</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>temptations</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> with grace, the new life in Jesus Christ.”</b></span></p>
<p>He called <span style="background-color:rgb(249,203,156)"><b>pedophilia and homosexuality “<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">expressions of psychology
that help </span></b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">t</span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>he Church in her moral theology.</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>But for us, the dimension
remains the moral one: that is whether we act according to the
Commandments, according to the holy will of God</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>, or not. </b></span>This is the
problem for us.”</p>
<p>“<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>We <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">must </span>collaborate with psychology and sociology,</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>b</b><b>ut we in the
Church at the level of the Magisterium must not put these disciplines in
the foreground,</b></span>” Cardinal Müller stated.</p>
<p>“Instead <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>we must base ourselves on moral theology</b></span>. It is clear that <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>
according to God's will</b></span>, <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>it is not possible </b></span>f<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>or the lay faithful</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>to have
sex outside of</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>marriage</b></span>, <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>and for a priest - who has committed himself
to celibacy</b></span> -<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b> it is not possible to have sex </b></span>… <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>We must raise the moral
level of the clergy.”</b></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>He also addressed</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>poor episcopal appointments</b></span>, saying, “it is
possible that<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b> the Pope <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">may appoint</span> a person who is '<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">false', </span>who is <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">not
</span>suitable for the role,</b></span> for the episcopate.<u><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b> Jesus Christ himself, even
though he knew everything thanks to his divine intellect, left freedom
to the<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"> traitor Judas</span>. </b></span></u>Everyone is then responsible for their sin: we
can, through the process of selection with the Congregations, through
all our human judgments, do everything possible to elect a good
candidate.”</p>
<p>The CDF prefect emeritus said it is impossible for human persons “to
formulate an absolute, perfect judgment: we do it according to our
limited possibilities, according to what we are given to know. One must
look for suitable candidates for the episcopate, but <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>the <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">Pope</span> is <u>not
</u>infallible in the nomination.”</b></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>Cardinal Müller also said, asked about Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò,</b></span>
that “<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>no one has the right to indict the <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">Pope</span> or ask <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">him </span>to resign!
</b></span>Clearly i<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">t is possible to have different opinions on the existing
problems and on the ways to resolve them, but we must discuss them
according to the roles of each and in the en</span>d,<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b> it is <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">the cardinals</span>, as
representatives of <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">the Church of Rome</span>, who can help<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> the Pope</span> or ask <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">the
Pope</span> for some explanations.</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>But this must take place in private, in the
proper places,</b></span> and without ever making a public controversy with attacks
that end up questioning the credibility of the Church and her mission.”</p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>“I am personally convinced that Pope Francis is doing everything
possible to counter<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"> the phenomenon of child abuse</span> and to foster a new
spirituality for priests, who must act according to the heart of Christ
and do the good of all people,</b></span>”<span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b> he said.</b></span></p>
<p>Cardinal Müller also spoke recently to Life Site News, <a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/interview-cdl.-mueller-on-abuse-crisis-and-its-link-to-homosexuality-in-pri">telling Maike Hickson Nov. 21</a>
regarding the US crisis that<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b> “<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">we</span> will not <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">succeed</span> with the help of a
lynch law and a general suspicion against the<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> whole</span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">episcopacy or of
'Rome</span></b></span>.'<span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b> I do not see</b></span> it as a solution that the laymen now take control,
just because the bishops (as some believe) are not capable of doing so
with their own strength. <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>We cannot <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">overcome </span>shortcomings by turning
upside down</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> the hierarchical-sacramental constitution of the Church.</b></span>”</p>
<p>“It would be important that the U.S. Bishops' Conference assume its
responsibility with independence and autonomy.<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b> The bishops are <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">not </span>
employees of the Pope who are subject to directives <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">nor,</span> as in the
military, generals who owe absolute obedience to the higher command.
<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">Rather, they carry together with the successor of Peter, as shepherds
appointed by<u> Christ Himself,</u> responsibility for the Universal Church,”</span> <span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)">
he said.
</span></b></span></p>
<p>Cardinal Müller said “<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>That</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>McCarrick, together with his clan and a
homosexual network, was able to wreak havoc in a mafia-like manner in </b></span>
<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>the Church</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"> </span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">is connected with </span>the underestimation of the moral depravity
of homosexual acts among adults.”</b></span></p>
<p>He said <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>the <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">root </span>of the crisis is “a secularization of<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> the Church</span> and
the reduction of<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> the priest </span>to the role of a functionary …</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>According to
this evil spirit, <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">the Revelation concerning Faith and morals</span> is being
adapted to the world without<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> God</span> so that it does not interfere anymore
with a life according to one's own lusts and needs.”</b></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>Cardinal Müller stated that</b></span> “<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>the primacy of the Pope</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>is being
undermined by the sycophants and careerists</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>at the papal court …</b> </span>a<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>nd not
by those who counsel the Pope in a competent and responsible manner.”</b></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>The role of a bishop and cardinal is “to represent the teaching of
the Catholic Faith, and not </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>to justify the different private opinions of
</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>a Pope</b></span>. <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>His authority is extended over the revealed Faith of the
Catholic Church and not</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>over the individual theological opinions of
<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">himself </span>or those of<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"> his advisers</span>.</b></span>”</p>
<p>Cardinal Müller said his supposed opponents “can perhaps accuse me of interpreting <em>Amoris Laetitia</em>
in an orthodox way, but they cannot prove that I deviate from the
Catholic doctrine. Additionally,<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b> it is irritating that theologically
uneducated people are being promoted to the rank of<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"> bishops</span> who, in
turn, think that they have to thank <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">the Pope</span> for it by means of a
childish submission.”</b></span></p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>“The Magisterium of the bishops and of the Pope stand under the Word
of God in Holy Scripture and Tradition and serves Him.</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>It is not at all
<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">Catholic</span></b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> </span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>to say that<span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"> the Pope as an individual person </span>receives directly
from the <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">Holy Spirit </span>the <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">Revelation </span>and that he may now interpret it
according to his own whims while all the rest are to follow him blindly
and mutely.</b></span> <em><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>Amoris Laetitia</b></span> </em><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>has to be absolutely in accordance with Revelation</b></span>, and<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b> it is not we who have to be in accord with <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><em>Amoris Laetitia</em></span>,
at least not in the interpretation which contradicts, in a heretical
manner, <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">the Word of God.</span> </b><b>And it would be an abuse of power to discipline</b></span>
<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> <b>those who insist upon an orthodox interpretation of</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>this encyclical and
of all the papal <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">magisterial</span> documents.</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>Only he who is in the state of
Grace can also fruitfully receive Holy Communion.</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>This revealed truth <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">
</span></b><b>cannot</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>be toppled by any power </b></span>in the world, and <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b>no </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)"><b>Catholic </b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>may ever
believe the opposite or be forced to accept the opposite.”</b></span></p>
<p>Cardinal Müller said that while he was CDF prefect “I did not oppose
any innovation or reform. Because reform means renewal in Christ, not
adaptation to the world.”</p>
<p>The cardinal said that<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b> if a priest “calls the blessing of homosexual
relationships the result of a further development of <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">doctrine </span>… it is
nothing but the presence of atheism in <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">Christianity.</span> </b></span>He does not
theoretically deny the existence of God, but, rather, he denies Him as
the source of morality <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>by presenting that which is</b></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"><b> before God</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>a sin as a
blessing.”</b></span></p>
<p>And Cardinal Müller <a href="https://de.catholicnewsagency.com/article/interview-mit-kardinal-gerhard-ludwig-muller-0408">spoke Nov. 29 to EWTN</a>, discussing in part the debate over a purported “gay lobby” in the Church.</p>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)"><b>While saying he doesn't know if there are “<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">homosexual networks”</span> in
the Vatican, he affirmed that</b></span> <span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"><b>“there are high-level representatives of
<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">the Catholic Church </span>who defend and promote beyond all measure people of
this trend.</b></span> But if the contents of the Catholic faith are called into
question, they show themselves broadminded and powerless.”</p><br></div></div><div class="gmail-read-next"><div class="gmail-item"><a tabindex="1" class="gmail-at-icon-wrapper gmail-at-share-btn gmail-at-svc-compact" style="background-color:rgb(255,101,80);border-radius:0%"><span class="gmail-at4-visually-hidden">More</span><span class="gmail-at-icon-wrapper" style="line-height:32px;height:32px;width:32px"></span></a></div></div></div></div><div id="gmail-shareBottom" style="float:left"><div class="gmail-addthis_sharing_toolbox" style="clear:both"><div id="gmail-atstbx3" class="gmail-at-resp-share-element gmail-at-style-responsive gmail-addthis-smartlayers gmail-addthis-animated gmail-at4-show"><div class="gmail-at-share-btn-elements"><a tabindex="1" class="gmail-at-icon-wrapper gmail-at-share-btn gmail-at-svc-compact" style="background-color:rgb(255,101,80);border-radius:0%"><span class="gmail-at4-share-count-container" style="font-size:11.4px;line-height:32px;color:rgb(255,255,255)">32</span></a></div></div></div>
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