Cardinal Fernández Is a Victim of Himself

By inventing a blessing that is not liturgical, but “pastoral,” “spontaneous,” and “short,” Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández has established a praxis that he intends to apply to many situations. We will thus soon be able to see an ordination of women that is not liturgical, but “pastoral,” “spontaneous,” and “short.” A recognition of Freemasons that is not doctrinal, but “pastoral,” “spontaneous,” and “short.” And so on.

We can easily understand that this spontaneity and this pastoral brevity are the means specially invented to free oneself from Catholic doctrine and morality, while affirming--purely in form--that they are not at all called into question.

Facing such craftiness, it is useless to argue endlessly. It is simpler and more efficient to apply to Cardinal Fernández his own method. In plain language, the Prefect must be fiducialized.  This means, in concrete terms, that any document coming from his Dicastery which is not in conformity with tradition must be considered:

--a “pastoral” Declaration, therefore not doctrinal and even anti-doctrinal;
--a “spontaneous” decision, therefore thoughtless and even irrational;
--a “brief” instruction, therefore not lasting, and soon to be obsolete.

Such is the value of the teaching of the current Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. No more, no less. At heart, applying the Fiducia supplicans method to Cardinal Fernández amounts to exploiting a self-refuting system.

To paraphrase the British philosopher Roger Scruton, we could say, “A prelate who says that there are no truths, or that all truth is ‘simply relative’ because only the pastoral counts, is asking you not to believe him. So don’t.”

In short, we have here a cardinal’s variant of “it’s a case of the biter bit” or “the shoe is on the other foot.”

Fr. Alain Lorans, SSPX