With a sigh of relief, we, the faithful, receive the Vatican's recent document on human dignity: Not too bad!
Cardinal Fernandez is doing a little better with this document. It is, on the whole, a reasonably accurate and fair summary of Catholic thought on this immensely significant reality of human dignity.
It is a tedious, boring read, like most Church documents, as it mostly quotes earlier statements. Not recommended for leisurely or spiritual reading. It is mercifully short and succinct. To it's credit it quotes quite a bit from earlier popes, not just Francis. John Allen in his Crux publication has been advertising a theological artificial intelligence that can access thousands of Church documents to address any particular topic. I suspect that that application could produce something like this current document. It is a decent survey. But it lacks the personal touch of charm and inspiration we find in the encyclicals of John Paul and Benedict and even (by some miracle) The Catholic Catechism. It does not carry the fire of the Holy Spirit to inflame us with zeal and courage.
It's strengths:
1. Not once did I read the nauseating "s" word that begins with "syn" and ends with "ality." Additionally: there are no exhortations "to make a mess;" no defamation of rigid, retro priests; no mention of "accompaniment;" and no blessings of "irregularities." This shows that the Holy Spirit remains with the Church; that the Catholic Church maintains integrity, stability and resilience even in the worst of times; that there are resources of prudence, common sense and intelligence, however under cover, in the scandal-plagued Vatican!
2. There is a refreshing clarity and intensity in the rejection of gender ideology, surrogate maternity and related issues. The fact that the LGBTQ crusade is so upset with the document, that the Biden White House disagreed with it...these are very good signs.
3. Even more important is the very clear statement about the created nature of the human person as male/female. This is stated with force. It is applied to gender ideology but has obvious implications as well for other hot issues, particularly homosexuality and the masculine priesthood.
4. It also provides succinct, but very significant explanations of the philosophical and scriptural foundations for human dignity and rights. It alludes frequently to the United Nations statement on rights which asserted such without any solid foundations. Clearly, one aim to provide such a footing.
Weaknesses:
1. There is no mention of chastity and fidelity to one's (marital or religious) vows. This is a glaring deficit: personal purity/loyalty are the expression, the protection, the embodiment of dignity. The Sexual Revolution is specifically an assault on chastity as dignity. Yet, the document fails to engage precisely here. This failure is emblematic of the Francis Project: first, to renounce the stern, vigorous, traditional sexual ethos clearly announced by his three predecessors in the face of the Cultural Revolution; second, to avoid agonistic combat and seek peace through surrender to all opponents including Cultural Progressives, Chinese Communists, imperial Russians, and terrorist Islamists. Peace at any price! No war is worth fighting, dying for! No heroic ideal here!
2. Contraception, masturbation and pornography are not addressed. Pope Paul VI clearly predicted that societal acceptance of contraception would lead quickly to abortion, abuse of women, homosexuality, and the breakdown of the family. This is precisely what happened across the globe, but especially in the West. A culture of sexual sterility requires backup abortion, normalization of "self-abuse" (including its manifestation in homosexual acts), deconstruction of gender, and toxic individualism. Our youth especially are facing a pandemic of pornography and the assault on self-dignity that is lust.
3. Homosexuality is the thorniest issue for this pontificate. Cardinal Fernandez, in presenting the document, was asked about the language of "disorder" used by the Catechism in regard to the practice. H refused to defend this language, answering that a different word might be preferable but that the act cannot match the infinite beauty of heterosexual ones which bring forth human life. He, Francis and this document lack the charity, clarity and courage to call a sin a sin. (Note the irony that the gay-affirming Catholic group that works to normalize homosexuality calls itself "Dignity.")
4. There is no recognition of the supernatural, the demonic in the global assaults on human dignity. We Catholics know we are dealing with powers greater than ourselves and we will not prevail on our own agency, but only by calling for heavenly intervention. This is a failing coming from the office of doctrine.
5. "Who is the audience for this document?" This question hangs over the document. Coming from the Vatican office of doctrine we would assume it addresses the Catholic Church, especially bishops, priests, teachers and thinkers. In its foundational affirmations from revelation on the "image of God" there is assumed a Catholic faith or something close to it. At other times, however, as so often with this pontificate, the posture is that of "global chaplain" in giving binding guidance on policy matters like immigration, environmental concerns and other. This is a creeping clericalism that assumes some vague papal infallibility on matters that are vastly complicated, nuanced, unpredictable and removed from the specific God-given expertise on faith and morals.
6. Unfortunately, this propensity is glaringly evident in the forceful repetition that the death penalty is unacceptable in ALL circumstances. This absolute statement directly contradicts the unchanging teaching of the Church for many centuries. It was done without any "synodal consultation" by the fiat of Francis. One wonders if the African bishops would agree. The issue is marginal, however, as all Catholic majority and all Western (except the USA) countries have banned it. It is practiced by Communism and Islam, hardly the audiences for this document.
7. The "seamless garment" model is apparent in the document: a long litany of violations of human dignity are lumped together in a confused way. Key distinctions are not made; priorities are not set. Most troubling is the failure to contrast inherent moral evils which must be absolutely renounced and defeated from complex, ambiguous policy issues which allow difference in prudential judgements. Inherent moral evils that are always and everywhere wrong include: sex trafficking, abortion, genocide, deliberate targeting of civilian populations, torture, euthanasia and assisted suicide. Quite different are those issues which admit of different approaches: hunger, homelessness, medical coverage, immigration, gun control, and crime. The Francis pontificate has been heavily influenced by Cultural Liberalism in its obsession to downgrade the first category (especially those dealing with sexuality and innocent life) as they impose an ideological rigidity regarding the second category. The "seamless garment" approach allows the Vatican to mush all the issues together and thus allow different factions to advocate according to preferences: the cafeteria approach. No one is offended; everyone gets along!
8. The section on war is the worst instance of this confusion and indecision. A nod is given to "the need for self defense and protection" but then the document quotes Francis: "...no war is worth the tears of a mother who has seen her child mutilated or killed; no war is worth the loss of life of even one human being..." Actually, if the Vatican were to ("synodally") consult with the Ukranians or the Israelis they will hear from the vast majority that their war is worth fighting. There are many, many wars worth fighting, dying and killing for. In this world there always will be. This section is not only self-contradictory; not only histrionic, indignant, hysterical; but it reveals an underlying viewpoint that is naive, sentimental, Chamberlain-esque: that if we are nice to others (Hamas, Putin, Beijing, etc.) they will be nice to us.
Conclusion
My math shows 8 weaknesses to 4 strengths. Not an outstanding score! But every human statement is prone to limitations and inadequacies. It is a decent, accurate summary of our Catholic view on human dignity.
May the Holy Spirit protect Pope Francis and his Vatican and guide it into all truth!
No comments:
Post a Comment