Hurrah for Msgr. Charles Pope!

I have disagreed with Msgr. Charles Pope more than once.  He is a traditionalist with traditionalist points of view.  Father John Zuhlsdorf has praised him on many occasions and called him "friend", which is always a bad sign.

However, there are no words of praise from Zuhlsdorf for his "friend" this time.  Msgr. Pope has shown tremendous courage and integrity with a post regarding Pope Francis' change to the Church's teaching on capital punishment.  The post, entitled "Let’s Be Careful in Our Charges Regarding the New Wording of the Catechism on the Death Penalty", is a logical, cogent argument against all the charges made by conservatives and traditionalists proclaiming Pope Francis to be a heretic for changing the catechism regarding capital punishment.  Please read his entire post.

Msgr. Pope writes in part:

I have concerns that the reactions I have seen in the Catholic “blogosphere” have been too extreme. There are accusations of error, heresy, violations of Natural Law, and unauthorized changes to an unchangeable doctrine. There are calls to resist the Pope, to reject the teaching, and even to bring charges of heresy.

I think we need to be careful, slow down, and look more carefully at the wording. While I understand that there are legitimate concerns, I hope for a more respectful discussion among Catholics than I am currently seeing, at least here in the U.S.

I have yet to see any "respectful" arguments made against Pope Francis by the Catholic right on any subject, so so there is little doubt that Msgr. Pope's call for civility will fall on deaf ears. But I still very much appreciate that he has made this statement.

Msgr. Pope goes on to make three points in support of this action by Pope Francis

1.  I do not think the Pope or the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has changed doctrine or teaching. 

2.  The circumstances of our times are such that there is a need for a pastoral strategy that speaks to the dignity of every human person.

3.  Some have said that the use of the word “inadmissible” is the same as calling the death penalty intrinsically evil. This seems a reckless charge meant to inflame. Had the Pope or the CDF meant to call it such (and it is not) they would have used the words “intrinsic evil”—but that is not the case. A more benign understanding is that the use of the death penalty is inadmissible due to the current circumstance.

The majority of people who follow Msgr. Pope are right wing conservatives/ trads.  One of the defining characteristics of this group is their hate for Pope Francis and anything he does.  Msgr. Pope has put his standing with this group at enormous risk, and he had to know it.  The comments left on his post show just how disgruntled his readers are.  Here are just a few of those comments:

Jmjt says:

August 3, 2018 at 18:48

Oppose the death penalty? One name: Osama bin laden… His son is out to “avenge” his father’s name… When one of them kills your sister, as they did to the sister of guys I know from 9/11…(her remains have never been found) … Then the question of the death penalty becomes personal, not a theory or a question about punishment, it is about the moral law & teaching of justice..

Larry Butler says:

August 3, 2018 at 21:35

Please read “Capital Punishment, the Case for Justice”, by Prof. J. Budziszewski, from First Things August 2004.
CCC2267 final two paragraphs are prudential judgements that only muddy the waters on settled church teaching.

Theo says:

August 4, 2018 at 11:03

I’m so tired of all the wordsmithing, the explaining away of confusing and contradictory statements from the Pope. You know a tree by its fruit, and this already has bad fruit in the anger and confusion of the faithful.

So let’s just call a spade a spade. And ask, why is it right that the Pope changes the catechism by fiat on a matter of long-standing doctrine? Surely this is a matter for a church council of bishops to discuss. If he changed this, why not change other things, too, due to “changing times?” This is moral relativism and I reject it.

Erin says:

August 4, 2018 at 11:42

Monsignor Pope, I love reading your words, and I always consider carefully all the wisdom you offer. However I truly cannot see this as anything other than testing the waters for greater “changes” to come, as well as an attempt at distraction from the shameful scandals bearing down upon the church. It may not be “required” to read this new wording as representing a break or reversal of past teaching on CP, but I believe it would be foolish not to read it as such, especially considering all the rest of the Pope’s words, actions, and appointments while in office. It would be foolish not to recognize this move for the not-so-subtle Trojan horse that it is – relativism masquerading as development. I can only wonder what teachings are next in line for “development”?

There were also some wonderful comments supporting Msgr. Pope's post.  Nonetheless, I applaud Msgr. Pope for his courage to submit a post like this.  He has shown that he is not just a bomb thrower but someone who is sincerely searching for the truth.

I am sure that I will once again disagree with Msgr. Pope in the future, but I have new respect for him now.  God bless Msgr. Charles Pope.