In this beautifully crafted response to the recent negative Vatican announcement on blessings for same sex couples, Jesuit priest and law professor, Fr Frank Brennan SJ masterfully sows words of love. Thank you.
Fr Frank’s reasoned homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent removes the sting from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) document that many people had read as judgemental or condemnatory, seeing it as marked by much “legalism and clericalism.” This is far from the pastoral spirit of Francis. Fr Frank embraces words of Love from the recent encyclical of Pope Francis’ ‘Fratelli tutti’.
The homily commences:
“This week, the Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in Rome published a response to a query whether the Church had the power to give a blessing to unions of persons of the same sex’. It’s one word response was ‘Negative’. A simple ‘No’.
The CDF has answered one question couched in terms of Church ‘power’, the giving of a blessing, and the bestowal of a blessing on a union of two persons. But there is another question: May a priest or any other member of the faithful fervently ask God’s blessing on any couple who are committed to loving each other for life, professing fidelity and mutual support for each other? In particular, may a priest or any other member of the faithful fervently ask God’s blessing on such a couple who are precluded from the sacrament of marriage, and may a priest or member of the faithful pray for such a couple that they will be happy and fulfilled in their lives together, avoiding injury to others? I answer unreservedly, ‘Yes’. This question is not couched in terms of ‘power’ and the bestowal of a blessing on a union but in terms of asking God to bless two people who are seeking to live a life faithful to each other in love. . . . . . “
It’s perhaps easier to LISTEN to Fr Frank on Soundcloud.
Fr Frank Brennan SJ
Fr Frank Brennan comments further on Facebook – 26th March 2022
Meanwhile in Rome, here is what Pope Francis said last Sunday in his Angelus address:
Read the Pope’s full Angelus address:
‘We too must respond with the witness of a life that is given in service, a life that takes upon itself the style of God – closeness, compassion and tenderness – and is given in service. It means sowing seeds of love, not with fleeting words but through concrete, simple and courageous examples, not with theoretical condemnations, but with gestures of love. Then the Lord, with his grace, makes us bear fruit, even when the soil is dry due to misunderstandings, difficulty or persecution, or claims of legalism or clerical moralism. This is barren soil. Precisely then, in trials and in solitude, while the seed is dying, that is the moment in which life blossoms, to bear ripe fruit in due time. It is in this intertwining of death and life that we can experience the joy and true fruitfulness of love, which always, I repeat, is given in God’s style: closeness, compassion, tenderness.’
In a broader context:
Can a priest bless a life long, loyal, loving gang of criminals ,who are planning to do a perfect bank robbery ,that will set them up for life .
May answer is no….why is that ….well because what they are doing is objectively morally wrong.
I would maintain that this principle also would apply to the “question” that Fr.Brennen has put out….but of course it’s how one frames a question doesn’t it. What’s that truism…”A foolish person will ask more questions than a wise person would dare to answer”!
Charles, Thank you for your very complex question. I don’t think it’s possible to respond satisfactorily by writing. Please feel free to drop by the presbytery, or phone 9358 5229 to arrange a suitable time to come in and chat with one of the priests. Be well.
Thank you very much for your kind invitation for me, to talk to one of your priests.You mentioned that my question seems very complex to you,yet as Angie,John Fleming and Peter Fitzsimmons have articulated so well ,have demonstrated that they were able to give a reasonable reply, written in Truth and Love ,all for The Greater Glory of God! ( AMDG)
May God bless you.
Absolutely, Charles. This is simply the natural law and the law of the Church. And this is the scripture – “15But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. 16And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. 17And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.” Matthew 18. This scripture does not say, “And if he will not hear the church, invite him and his boyfriend over for dinner every Sunday.” – We are instructed to PART COMPANY from those who, after having been instructed by faithful friends, Church teachings and scripture by 2 or 3 or more, will still not listen to the Church! – If only that was the practice of faithful Catholics. We must not condone mortal sin or foster mortal sin or accept as acceptable mortal sin. I’d believe that whomever responds in support of homosexuals and lesbians and transgender and… and… and… remaining in mortal sin “until death do they part” is either a member of one of those categories listed or has a close friend/family member who is. We must ALL love God AND His scripture AND His teaching through His Church. This is what we are all called to. We all have sufferings. We all must make sacrifices. And we are ALL saved if we choose God’s path.
I have always held Fr Frank Brennan in high regard. He is a lawyer and has helped the church through many a legal conundrum.
He, in my opinion, is answering the question: What would Jesus do?
Jesus created His Church on earth. The teachings of Church and Scripture ARE the teachings of Jesus. Jesus would do just as He did with Mary Magdalen. “Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee? 11Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.” She was brought to be stoned, Christ forgave and instructed. “Go and sin no more” – not, “Oh, that’s ok. We all have our financial and sexual needs. Go and continue selling your body. It’s fine with me. Because I love you.” – Please tell me, would this be what Jesus did?
Angie,
I respect where you are coming from on this.
“Truly Catholics’ mission is to mobilize solid, authentic Catholics to learn & teach the magisterial teachings of our One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church.”
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Pope Francis brings more of a pastoral spirit in his words which I realise cause you concern. You maintain a more legalistic and clerical interpretation, as do so many Catholics who do not agree with Francis.
Fr Frank responds and embraces words of Love from the recent encyclical of Pope Francis’ ‘Fratelli tutti’.
In response to your specific question, Fr Brennan explained what he believes Jesus did . . .
Thank you.
Wonderful! This is a beautiful beautiful way to continue to bridge the gap!
This is a sinister undermining of Church teaching on homosexuality. Sexual acts of this kind are not acts of love but acts of sexual lust. Homosexuals are to be loved as brothers and sisters should be. Condoning immoral sexual behaviour is not a loving thing to do since such approval serves to entrench these habitual sinful acts and put souls at risk of their salvation.
John, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. There is no ready answer to this. Many Catholics read the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) document as judgemental or condemnatory, seeing it as marked by much “legalism and clericalism.”
This is far from the pastoral spirit of Francis. Fr Frank is urging us to embrace words of Love and suggest we read the recent encyclical of Pope Francis’ ‘Fratelli tutti’. http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html
There is absolutely a ready answer to this. It’s the teachings of God through His one, true Church that He empowered and authorized to teach for Him.
Fr Brennan,
You will one day, very shortly, give an account to the One who is Truth. If I say nothing, I will be held to account for you, also i am to pray and love you as you are one who is called to a higher standard than I, for you do speak the words of Christ in concentration.
You cannot bless sin. To be a homosexual is not a sin, to have sex outside of marriage, for a heterosexual or homosexual, is a sin against God and against the body.
Fr Brennan I do committee to pray for you each day & I humbly ask you to pray for me, for the day when we will have to give and account of the talents given to us.
Your brother in Christ.
Peter Fitzsimmons.
Dear Peter, I will be sure that Fr Frank receives your message. Thank you.
Please correct my errors in spelling above.
Regards Peter.
Thank you very much for your kind invitation for me, to talk to one of your priests.You mentioned that my question seems very complex to you,yet as Angie,John Fleming and Peter Fitzsimmons have articulated so well ,have demonstrated that they were able to give a reasonable reply, written in Truth and Love ,all for The Greater Glory of God! ( AMDG)
May God bless you.