The Vatican Synod of Bishops on the Family begins on Sunday amid a degree of chaos unprecedented in recent Catholic history. And I’m afraid it’s the Pope’s fault.
Francis kicked off proceedings in February by asking the retired German Cardinal Walter Kasper to address the world’s cardinals. Kasper used the opportunity to float his proposal – which he’s been advocating for years – that divorced and remarried Catholics should be allowed to receive Holy Communion.
Kasper has now told the Catholic News Service:
I had the impression the pope is open for a responsible, limited opening of the situation, but he wants a great majority of the bishops behind himself.
But some of the most influential cardinals in the Church – Müller, head of the CDF, Pell, head of Vatican finances and Burke, head of the Vatican tribunal – are totally against Kasper’s proposal.
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