We have never been so close to schism since the publication of Pope Francis' Fiducia supplicons.
From the beginning of Francis' papacy, there were always signs of this, priests and theological groups fought with each other, conservative and more liberal views collided. Now, however, the separation between the two camps is palpable. The battle is raging between continents, and Hungary is already involved in it. But there are differences even within countries, between the official Catholic position and, for example, a Dominican priest, as we shall see. Of course, our liberal Catholic theologian who teaches in Vienna rejoices, as does the entire liberal world press, after Pope Francis authorized the blessing of homosexual couples. The Catholic Church in Western Europe welcomes it, and they even asked the Pope for it for some time. Mainly Central Europe and Africa resist and do not allow the blessing. That is why it can be said that schism is near.
The Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference issued a statement regarding the "blessing".
According to this, "every person can be blessed individually, regardless of their gender identity and sexual orientation", but a joint blessing must be avoided in the case of people living in a same-sex relationship and those living in a marriage not valid in the church. At the same time, he emphasizes that we accompany our brothers and sisters living in special life situations with love and respect.
The point is therefore, very correctly, on the individual blessing, but the blessing of the relationship is not supported.
A Catholic priest, when asked if he would bless same-sex couples, replied: Individually, as an individual, I will bless, but not the relationship, because then I would be sanctifying sin.
The Polish Church is of the same opinion. In a statement, the Polish bishops' conference said that the blessing of same-sex cohabitation is not possible.
In 30 countries in Africa, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death. Priests were forbidden to give such a blessing. According to the liberal press, the church sided with the exclusionary law. But the truth is that Africa, where the strength of faith is many times that of Europe, stood firmly in favor of God's law. Nigerian Catholics stated that "there is still no opportunity in the church to bless the coexistence and activities of same-sex couples." They declared that the "blessing of homosexual couples is contrary to the law of God, the teachings of the church, the laws of the nation, and the cultural sensitivity of the people."
In contrast, in Western Europe, liberal culture reigns in society, where faith has been shaken, where churches are closed, where the number of believers has dwindled, and where the "blessing" is welcomed.
Germany, Belgium and Switzerland are at the forefront of this. Their bishops have been asking for the possibility of blessing same-sex couples for a long time. In "Fiducia supplicons", they feel that the desire for an open church is fulfilled, and they hope to bring the faithful closer to the church. Unfortunately, they are seriously mistaken, because they are only going against God's laws.
The conservative critic of the Pope, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is right to say that it is "self-contradictory" and that bishops should be prohibited from giving blessings.
László Tokodi (OP), a Dominican priest and head of the Szent László Dominican parish in Debrecen, addressed the declaration on the blessing of same-sex couples. It is clear from his writing that he represents a contrary opinion to the statement of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference.
Thus, the division is already here within the country.
He cites a beautiful example of blessing and conversion from the Bible. ("He blesses you by converting everyone from his wickedness" (Acts 3:26). At the same time, he emphasizes that he cannot bless sin, only the sinful person. He also draws attention to the fact that Pope Francis' decree applies not only to same-sex couples , but also for couples of different sexes living in non-church marriages. In the Bible, you will find further proof that the blessing also serves to break the power of evil ("overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). "Blessings bring tears to repentance stimulating. That's why we shouldn't be afraid to bless same-sex couples living in an abnormal situation," he writes. However, he received a comment from Atya Laci, a senior staff member of CitizenGo, which bluntly destroys the whole argument.
Eszter Schittl is successfully fighting for the protection of Christian values at home and abroad on behalf of CitizenGo. He wrote the following:
"Dear Father Laci!
What you write about blessing a sinful person is very beautiful, I don't think anyone can argue with that. No one says that only the righteous are blessed and the sinners are not. After all, we are all sinners. The problem is with the blessing of couples.
I would like to invite you to a short train of thought in this regard, if you allow me:
Why is the individual blessing that has been possible for people living in such relationships not enough? Why is it important to give in pairs? What is the surplus of the blessing given in the couple, for which this gate had to be opened?
If the answer includes their relationship in any way, then we immediately arrive at the contradiction, since the relationship itself is problematic, not according to God, and in principle the blessing cannot include it.
If the relationship is not the so-called "surplus" that makes it necessary to give them the blessing as a couple, then what?
If there is no such "surplus" that would favor a double blessing for such couples, then why can't they be blessed individually, as they have been up to now?
Especially since such paired blessings cause confusion and even scandal.. Wouldn't it disturb or scandalize you to see men or women holding hands and receiving a blessing? Or when you stand for the blessing with your lover, who has a spouse and children at home? What does this do to the soul of the abandoned couple? What does the church convey to him with this? Or to those who, for the sake of Jesus, never start a new relationship even after their marriage has run aground... Doesn't it confuse the child if he sees his parent receiving a blessing from the priest with his new partner? I am reminded of the lovers' mass organized annually by the Franciscans on the road, and the blessings there. Would it be okay if unorganized couples and homosexual couples joined the queue from now on?
These can all be real problems where these blessings begin…”
In our country, there is still an opposition to the position of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference.
Miklós Beer is the former county bishop of Vác, who is a regular figure in the left-wing media, where his liberal principles are often published. He made a statement now, and what he said is certainly not surprising, knowing his previous statements. He said: "I can't interpret his (i.e. Pope Francis') attitude towards gays in any other way than the understanding and compassionate spirit shown towards the downtrodden, disadvantaged, people with some kind of disability, which again many people don't understand". He added that these people often express their pain, they cannot change their orientation, but they want to stay in the church.
This is actually nothing but liberal humanism that ignores God's laws, the concept that we are good without God.
The perception of András Hodász, the outcast former Catholic priest who is now in a homosexual relationship, is similar. In his last podcast, he explained that people of the same sex can live in fidelity and love. According to this, love covers everything, except that love cannot cover sins, as many people imagine today.
A Catholic nun with a holy life, to whom Jesus showed heaven and hell, reported her shocking experience as follows: "While walking in hell, I saw on earth a soul living in a homosexual relationship, who was in terrible agony and said about his sin: 'We called it love'." .
The schism is created between those who remain in the true faith and those who submit to the "prince of the world".
Catherine the Spider
Cover image: Pope Francis at the Mass presented in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday evening
Source: Facebook/Vatican News
