Five conservative cardinals publicly asked Pope Francis on Monday, October 2, to reaffirm Catholic doctrine regarding gay couples and the ordination of women.
This question comes two days before the opening of the 16th ordinary general assembly of the synod of bishops, during which more than 450 members – bishops, women and laity – will debate behind closed doors for a month on a series of social subjects, at following an extensive two-year consultation of Catholics around the world.
In this document, the cardinals question the sovereign pontiff in particular on the blessing of same-sex couples, the ordination of women and the conditions of absolution. In July, the cardinals had already published a list of dubia (“doubts”, in Latin, or a series of questions formally asked to the pope, according to canon law), to which the pope had responded.
Not satisfied with this response, the signatories rephrased their “doubts” and published an open letter to Catholics. They explain, “in view of the gravity of the matter”, having the “duty to inform” the faithful “so that [they] are not subject to confusion, error and discouragement”.
On Monday, the Vatican linked to the response where the pope affirmed that “divine revelation” is “immutable,” while asserting that the Church “needs to grow in its understanding.”
Five conservative cardinals
These five cardinals, appointed by Benedict XVI and John Paul II and known for their conservative positions, are the German Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, the American Raymond Burke, the Mexican Sandoval Íñiguez, the Guinean Robert Sarah and the Chinese Joseph Zen. None has any function in the government of the Holy See.
Welcoming LGBT people and divorced people, polygamy, married priests, place of women, sexual violence: the subjects raised by the faithful include a series of sensitive questions and have given rise to fears of a distortion of the doctrine among a conservative fringe of the Church.
For the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, Francis also opened the right to vote to women and non-consecrated laity, a decision described as a “revolution” by observers.
This ordinary general assembly, which has a consultative role, will be followed by a second session in October 2024, following which the pope could possibly take into account the conclusions of this work in an official document.
Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has repeatedly aroused the ire of conservatives, notably by restricting the use of the traditional Latin Mass in 2021.