Pope Francis and his postal service

From the current issue of The Tablet.

ONE CARDINAL described it as “incomprehensible”. An anonymous church source was quoted as saying that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has been “reduced to the role of a postman”.

These were some of the reactions following a summit here between a delegation of German bishops and a group of senior Vatican officials over the bishops’ plans to loosen the restrictions on Protestant spouses of Catholics being admitted to Communion when they attend Mass together. The critics were unhappy because Pope Francis had not issued a clear “Nein” to the German hierarchy’s proposal. Instead, Francis urged the bishops to seek an agreement that would be as “unanimous as possible”.

Under previous pontificates, the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation has been expected to issue crisp, crystal-clear directives to local bishops on matters such as Communion for interchurch couples. But this Pope insists that “not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues” need to be settled by Rome.

Dutch Cardinal Willem Eijk says he can’t understand Francis’ approach to the Germans’ proposal to relax the rules on intercommunion. He argues that the situation resembles the end times, when falsehoods will be dressed up as truth. He and other critics want the Pope to “act more like the Pope”, promptly issuing clear directives to bishops when disputes arise.

The cardinal’s uninhibited criticisms of the Pope reveal the serious internal tensions between senior figures in the Church. Francis must tread carefully. But his direction of travel is clear. He is keeping his balance, holding on to unity of the Church on the one side and faithfulness to tradition on the other.

While the Pope’s determination to give more freedom to bishops’ conferences may be disconcerting, it is rooted solidly in the Catholic tradition. Communion with Rome, the argument of the reformers goes, has traditionally  not meant bishops being told what to do by curial officials. It is expressed in Rome’s support for local Churches as it applies theological principles to real-life situations. It balances the needs of the local and the universal.

In Germany, a three-quarters majority of the bishops voted to relax the rules around intercommunion. Seven from the minority then wrote to the CDF, asking it to intervene. In response, the Pope has urged the German bishops to iron out their differences and seek unanimity. Unity of the bishops is vital; church history teaches that splits between them can quickly lead to further fractures.

Francis has been careful not to take sides, even though his sympathies appear to lie with those wishing to expand access to the sacraments, who include Cardinal Reinhard Marx, a close papal adviser. But Francis is also refusing to “outsource” theological decisions to the CDF. While some lament the downgrading of the congregation, this marks a return to the traditional understanding of the CDF’s role. Until 1968 the Pope was its prefect, and it was never intended to operate as a separate theological fiefdom. Like the rest of the Roman Curia, its job is to serve the papacy.