THE Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Coleridge, thinks that some of his fellow Bishops are afraid of confronting reality, and acknowledging that “uncertainty is simply part of modern life” in response to the debate about Amoris Laetitia.
The Archbishop attended the Synod of Bishops in Rome, 2015, where there was healthy disagreement about important issues to do with the family. The Pope had called for a healthy and open, honest debate. And that debate has continued with dissent from at least four Cardinals, including Cardinal Burke.
The Archbishop said that: “At times at the synod I heard voices that sounded very clear and certain but only because they never grappled with the real question or never dealt with the real facts.” He refers to a false clarity that comes when you do not address reality and a false certainty that comes for the same reason.
However, it seems that what the Pope is doing is simply asking the Church to confront some challenging questions to do with marriage, divorce and Communion. Coming to certain and clear positions follows, but not does not precede, examining the challenging questions.
This means delaying definite statements until the Church listens and discerns in the light of the Spirit. Not easy for some, I know, but necessary if we are to be a teaching Church with real authority and credibility.