Thoughts On Demos II (How Did It Come To This?)

In my previous article, I shared the full text of a recent anonymous letter from a supposed cardinal of the Catholic Church. One reader called the letter “a dishonest diatribe,” yet failed to provide any evidence or specifics. Others, who exist on the more conservative Catholic end of the spectrum, also criticized the letter as unbecoming of a cardinal. Here, I tend to agree. However, I also find sympathy with the author of Demos II. This author, whomever he is, holds desperate affection for the Church to such a degree that he feels obligated not to remain silent. Furthermore, as with Demos I, this person’s identity will come to light eventually.

In this article, I examine some of the most relevant points of Demos II’s letter to see if the “a dishonest diatribe” criticism holds any merit. Again, for the full letter, click here.

The Strengths of Pope Francis’ Pontificate

Demos II starts out considering Pope Francis’s strengths.

…he has given to compassion toward the weak, outreach to the poor and marginalized, concern for the dignity of creation and the environmental issues that flow from it, and efforts to accompany the suffering and alienated in their burdens.

All true. Pope Francis’ focus on compassion stands as a major highlight of his papacy.

Confusion, Abuse, Conflict, and Division

However, this focus also causes some confusion. How far does compassion go? Do we, in the spirit of compassion, deemphasize and redefine things like sin out of “love” for the “other?” Pope Francis seems inclined to more nuance on certain questions regarding morality. This in turn causes confusion, abuse, conflict, and division.

And the result today is a Church more fractured than at any time in her recent history.

Agreed. Pope Francis lacks the clarity and precision of his two immediate predecessors.

The Next Pope…

Moreover, much of the criticism comes from the letter laying out criteria for the next conclave, for the next papal election. Some view this as a voting cardinal attempting to influence the votes of other cardinals. We see this view taken up by Kevin Beck at the Pope Francis apologetics website Where Peter Is. I remain unconvinced…

A Needed Reminder

Instead of seeking influence over other cardinals, perhaps the author seeks to remind his fellow cardinals that the primary role of the Bishop of Rome, of any bishop, concerns the shepherding of souls. A pope must never fail to clearly teach:

(a) no one is saved except through, and only through, Jesus Christ, as he himself made clear; (b) God is merciful but also just, and is intimately concerned with every human life, He forgives but He also holds us accountable, He is both Savior and Judge; (c) man is God’s creature, not a self-invention, a creature not merely of emotion and appetites but also of intellect, free will, and an eternal destiny; (d) unchanging objective truths about the world and human nature exist and are knowable through Divine Revelation and the exercise of reason; (e) God’s Word, recorded in Scripture, is reliable and has permanent force; (f) sin is real and its effects are lethal; and (g) his Church has both the authority and the duty to “make disciples of all nations.”

Environmental issues hold some importance, but not at the expense of clearly and authoritatively proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples of all nations.

The Seven Points

Getting specific, the letter covers seven points of concern with the present papacy and how to avoid the same issues in the next.

Avoid authoritarianism. The letter infers that Pope Francis rules in a more autocratic manner and not collegially.

A new Pope must restore the hermeneutic of continuity in Catholic life and reassert Vatican II’s understanding of the papacy’s proper role.

Avoid democracy. The Church cannot operate as a democracy. Therefore, as the Church, we cannot create or alter Church teaching via an appeal to the sensus fidelium as a sort of democratic vote. The true sensus fidelium:

…derives only from those who genuinely believe and actively practice, or at least sincerely seek to practice, the faith and teachings of the Church.

Avoid ambiguity. Ambiguity holds some danger, especially when such ambiguity places already well-established truths within a new and “nuanced” understanding. Truth, in this sense, concerns more than mere “knowledge.” It encompasses how one ought to live, not just think.
Rely on canon law and not on motu proprio.

Again, as with ambiguity of doctrine, disregard for canon law and proper canonical procedure undermines confidence in the purity of the Church’s mission.

Reaffirm the “theology of the body” and Christian anthropology. On a positive note, the Vatican is currently preparing a document to address these issues.

She [the Church] can never be reduced to a system of flexible ethics or sociological analysis and remodeling to fit the instincts and appetites (and sexual confusions) of an age.

A focus on re-evangelizing Europe.

The Church in Italy and throughout Europe – the historic home of the faith – is in crisis.

Reaffirm the advisory role of the College of Cardinals.

The College of Cardinals exists to provide senior counsel to the Pope and to elect his successor upon his death. That service requires men of clean character, strong theological formation, mature leadership experience, and personal holiness. It also requires a Pope willing to seek advice and then to listen.

Moreover, the above reflects clear and concise advice. I detect no hint of “a dishonest diatribe.”

Final Thoughts…

In conclusion, the letter from Demos II reflects the sad state of the Church today. In the words of King Theoden in The Lord of the Rings, “how did it come to this?” Demos II points to the failing of the Francis pontificate as the chief cause of the current crisis of faith. This may be an overstatement. Catholics, all Catholics, must accept some responsibility for the lack of fidelity to the truth.

However, hope remains if we humbly turn to God.

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Amen!