Problems With Canonical Form

Dr. Ed Peters lists 9 concerns about Canonical Form that I've never considered. As usual, he's probably correct that this is one area where we can legitimately reform the current practices surrounding the sacramentality of marriage.

The Right Reform

Fr. Peter Daly’s essay against the annulment process (and indeed, against the heart of Church teaching on the permanence of marriage) is mostly a repackaging of common historical errors, irrelevant platitudes, and bad theology.

Expect more of this as the Synod of Bishops on the Family gets closer.

Complaints about the juridic aspects of marriage and annulments are ultimately complaints about Christ's economy of salvation.

Exactly.

Harmful Defenses

The “Francis baptism” and the “O’Malley dabbing”, both of which actions I regard as canonically licit, have occasioned from observers who regard themselves as Francis-O’Malley champions some defenses that, I fear, indicate considerable ignorance (not ill-will, just ignorance) on their part about how sacraments and sacramental signs are supposed to work in the Church.

When we argue in favor of a practice we should take care that we don't harm other important practices or principles.

A Founded Hope

I don’t know what priests might be like in Argentina, but I am very sure I have never heard of an American priest withholding baptism from a baby based solely on the fact that the mother of said baby was not married.

The Holy Father did the right thing. Let's try and refrain from poor arguments to explain it.

Worship Matters

Coming to the conclusion, Francis invited those present to "ask the Lord today to give all of us this sense of the sacred, this sense that makes us understand that it is one thing to pray at home, to pray the rosary, to pray many beautiful prayers, make the way of the cross, read the bible, and the Eucharistic celebration is another thing.

Our current Holy Father is not a liturgist, nor is he a theologian. It is clear to me, however, that he has a profound piety and love for the Church.

Discrete Acts

I’m a big fan of “morals clauses” in contracts for Catholic school teachers and I certainly hold for the principle that Pacta sunt servanda (agreements once made should be kept), but I am having a hard time seeing my way clear to the firing of a Catholic school teacher for being pregnant outside of wedlock.

I agree with Dr. Peters that the grounds for dismissing this teacher as it's being reported is pretty tenuous. However, I would argue that the reason for the morality clause is that teachers are not actually private persons. It's because they are public persons (or at least quasi-public persons) that private sins that manifest in the external forum can be grounds for dismissal. Sadly, this means that women will be disproportionately affected when it comes to the sin of fornication.

Divorce, Remarriage, Communion, and False Charity

Or if what will prevail instead will be the sentiment of mercy that is now found for the most part in public opinion but also among the hierarchy: that of a reckless go-ahead for individual initiative, with "ad libitum" access to communion and with the conscience of the individual being the only one to lay down he law.

If history has taught us one thing it's that conflicts in society have their mirror in the Church. One thing is certain, the Church will not adopt a worldly interpretation of marriage no matter how large or loud the temper tantrum.

Measuring History

But the lesson for us moderns is, I hope, clear: phrases plucked from ancient documents, phrases such as “second marriage”, do not necessarily carry the same connotations today that they enjoyed in times past. Caution in reading them, and in reaching conclusions of law based on them, is therefore strongly advised.

Apart from the topic of this article there is a greater lesson here. Before we commit to a controversial position we should follow the old advice of carpenters everywhere, viz., measure twice, cut once.

I'll try to remember this lesson myself.

The Charge of Clericalism

There is a smear campaign currently underway against many young priests in the Catholic Church. However, this attack is not coming from the secular media or from dissenting advocacy groups. Instead, it is an attack from within the Church itself, even from fellow priests. What is the false charge being leveled against many of our younger priests? Clericalism.

Indeed. Often the pejorative use of Pharisaical serves the same purpose.

Fact Checking

Dr. Ed Peters writes:

Warning: It always takes longer, sometimes much longer, to correct mistakes than it takes to make them.

Have I ever mentioned that Dr. Ed Peters is my hero?