A real-world perspective on ‘Fiducia Supplicans’

With all the tempestuous debate and confusion regarding the Vatican’s recent document ‘Fiducia Supplicans,’ issued Dec. 18 by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and its subsequent explanations regarding who and how a priest may bless, I wish to add my “humble two cents” (trivia: this saying has a biblical reference, Luke 21:2).

I see anybody whom I encounter – parishioner or non-parishioner, Catholic or formerly practicing Catholic (I say, “Once a Catholic, always a Catholic), non-Catholic, non-Christian, agnostic, atheist, friend or “enemy,” homosexual or heterosexual, etc. – as a child of God, made in God’s image and likeness, and called to be an image of Jesus today (see Genesis 1:26-28; 5:1-3; Wisdom 2:23; Sirach 17:1-4; 2 Esdras 8:44, as well as Colossians 3:10 and Romans 8:29). This comes from God through creation and not from Father Matthew, the Church, society, nation, government or whatever other organization or group.

God calls all (including me and all our parishes, schools and organizations) to conversion, faith and to embrace the gift of salvation (see Hebrews 2:5-12). God comes to us above all in Jesus as “Emmanuel”; Jesus calls us to “come and see” and follow and listen to Him (see John 1:35-51).

In evaluating the situation of a person or persons, I must consider Sacred Scripture, the living Tradition of the Church, the Church’s consistent teaching (dogmas or doctrine), Church laws and directives, the situation we live in and the situation of the person(s) in front of me. I must also bring this to prayer and reflection, seeking wisdom from the Holy Spirit and, at times, the guidance of others (that is, good counsel – one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit), and not react and cancel out, which tragically, we do all too much in our communities and on social media, etc.

I try to approach everybody in the spirit of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd and Servant. When I have failed, I ask forgiveness, the benefit of the doubt and some understanding. (We all fail. Scripture brings this out clearly in Ephesians 4:17-32.)

Finally, we need to quell all cliquishness, divisions, rivalries, jealousies, anger, mean-spiritedness, harsh language, etc. and consider another truth of our faith: By virtue of baptism, we are all members of the Body of Christ (the Church) and that each member is important in its own way; in turn, we rejoice with and console one another as needed (see 1 Corinthians 12 and 13). Love builds up and heals us and leads us to forgiveness and unity, and not to disunity or discrimination.

Let us humbly recall the quote of Oscar Wilde, and alluded to by the late Cardinal Basil Hume of England many years ago, “The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” We all need the Sacrament of Reconciliation in which God our Father embraces us (see Luke 15:20-24); we need accompaniment and embraces from others; and we even need fraternal/sisterly correction from others when necessary.

With these thoughts in mind, I hope that any bishop, priest, lay person, religious person or fellow parishioner may have the same consideration for me when I come for confession myself or need spiritual guidance or direction.

Father Matthew R. Weber is pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Bridgeton.