Vatican backpedals - HARD
The Vatican bureaucracy, in what in one sense is an expected response to Marc Balestrieri's press release from yesterday, has denied all claims that Catholic politicians have automatically been excommunicated for their support of the civil right to an abortion. Fr. Basil Cole has denied that his response to Balestrieri was anything more than a private letter, never meant for release, and Fr. Augustine DiNoia, undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has denied that Fr. Cole spoke for the congregation.
This is the politics I was referring to yesterday, and is couched in theological doublespeak. Fr. Cole could not speak officially for the congregation, which is why he was asked to reply unofficially. Fr. Cole's letter has no authority, but the magisterium he quotes through canon law does carry that authority. "No church official had seriously approached the point of declaring Kerry a heretic," because doing so would be interference in a US election, and they will deny to their grave that they were trying to do any such thing. "No, Kerry is not a heretic," one official said - an unnamed official speaking verbally to a reporter, which by definition is not an official exoneration of the crime.
There is one telling piece of information, however:
When he wrote to the congregation, Balestrieri did not identify himself as the head of De Fide, he did not mention Kerry or politicians in general and he said he did not inform the congregation that he was trying to formally sue Kerry for heresy in the Archdiocese of Boston.The speed of the response and the clarity of the answer - in writing - suggests that despite their public denials, forces inside the Congregation are trying to get the Truth out around the politicians and bureaucrats, however they can.The doctrinal congregation, like other Vatican offices, receives dozens of letters and questions each day. Those from bishops are handled formally.
The tone of letters from lay people dictates how they are handled, a Vatican official said Oct. 19. Most letter writers are encouraged to discuss their concerns with their parish priest.
When a letter appears to be from a serious student, the writer may be referred to a book or published article, or he or she may be referred to a theologian or canon lawyer who could be able to provide direction.
What a way to run the Church.
My previous post stands until or unless someone formally calls me to account for daring to point out the beam in Mr. Kerry's eye.
