Characterizing fidelity to Catholic belief and practice as “fearfully sticking to rules”—the words belong to PBS, but the intent is clearly the pope’s—is irresponsible and false. The faithful deserve better than such treatment.

It’s also worth noting that heading down “unexplored paths and new roads” can easily lead into the desert rather than Bethlehem. Over the past decade ambiguity on certain matters of Catholic doctrine and practice has become a pattern for the current pontificate.

That is Archbishop Chaput. I am familiar with Archbishop Chaput long before he was sent to Philadelphia to clean up the pedophile mess there. He never got to be a Cardinal because he was too Catholic for this Pope. But never mind: He does have the intellectual ability to discuss what is going on, and why this blessing of "irregular unions" (not the blessing of individuals in such unions) is causing so much confusion.

I am familiar with the good bishop because I worked with the IHS: He is a card carrying Potawatomie, and often gave talks to Native American Catholic groups.

He is also media savvy: Once when the NYTimes misquoted him in an interview to discredit him for backing those evil Republicans, he notified them that he had taped the interview and insisted they correct the story.

It is ironic that the usual suspects of the rich but mainly empty European churches, love the Pope's ambiguity and of course are interpreting this as gay marriage lite...

but the Eastern Catholics and African Bishops are saying no.

and one does not have to be a conspiracy theorist to see that if the American bishops pretend nothing is happening here...alas too many of then had this same I see nothing attitude when the pederasty was going on in open sight and their priests were busy cruising in the local gay bars.

Yes America has good bishops: but what will happen in areas run by the clueless bishops?

Will good priests could be punished for saying no because their bishop won't back their decision? Or in today's world, will they be sued for damages if they refuse to give such a blessing.

Sigh.

it is interesting that Archbishop Chaput ends his essay, not with a screed against being gay, or even pointing out the sexual agenda that denies biology, but pointing out that the Vatican is busy pushing ideas that make lay people confused while ignoring the broader intellectual trend that is about to be released that is destroying humanity:

The most urgent challenge that Christians face in today’s world is anthropological: who and what a human being is; whether we have some higher purpose that warrants our special dignity as a species; whether we’re anything more than unusually smart animals who can invent and reinvent ourselves.

italics mine.

Such ideas require deep philosophical analysis, and bishops who are willing and able to teach this....but instead, as the good bishop points out:

And yet our focus for 2024 is a synod on synodality.

ah yes. 

Must spread confusion... must spread confusion... 

Sigh.