Is Our Pope Now Divisive?

by Letters Editor · February 3, 2018

Pope Francis meets with Peru’s bishops in the archbishop’s residence in Lima, Peru. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

JH Goossens, Pretoria – Archbishop Stephen Brislin calls the pope the Church’s central unifying aspect. But for the last two years, Pope Francis has been that no more.

After his publication of Amoris Laetitia, and of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, containing his interpretation of Amoris Laetitia, the unity of the Catholic Church is breaking apart.

This was caused by the pope allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion.

Bishops in Division

Some bishops, for instance in Germany, follow the pope in this new trend. Other bishops, for instance in neighbouring Poland, still refuse to give Communion to divorced and remarried Catholics.

The Polish bishops base themselves on canon law. Canon 951 does not allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion.

As Jacob Zuma is not above the Constitution, so the pope is not above canon law, but is expected to uphold its perennial truths of faith.