NEWS: Thread on what the Vatican thinks of what the US Catholic bishops are doing re creating a new document about communion and pro-choice pols (there’s news in here if you stick with me!) 1/10
The head of the Vatican’s doctrine arm wrote to the US bishops last month saying, essentially, the goal is unity among you. Have a discussion and/or form a national policy, if it helps you be more unified. Here’s the letter itself: scribd.com/document/50739… 2/10
Here’s a story from the Vatican’s news service, headlined: “Cardinal Ladaria to US Bishops: Debate on Communion and abortion should not lead to division”
vaticannews.va/en/vatican-cit…
3/10
Yesterday, as the bishops opened their annual meeting, the president (who supports the writing of a new position paper on communion’s meaning) read a letter from a member of the Vatican’s doctrine arm that seemed to imply the congregation affirmatively wants the new document 4/10
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “looks forward” to reviewing an eventual draft statement on eucharistic coherence, read the letter to President Gomez from CDF member DiNoia. 5/10
So what was the Vatican saying? Did Gomez open the USCCB meeting with that letter to clarify that, yes, the CDF does want the document, that it has a position on it, that DiNoia’s letter was meant to clarify the disagreement that came after Ladaria’s letter? 6/10
So I asked the Vatican to clarify: Does the CDF have a position on the US bishops creating a document and/or policy on the eucharist’s meaning, including whether pro-choice Catholic pols may present themselves for it? 7/10
Is the CDF the one encouraging the discussion and possible policy? And who speaks for the CDF, the head or the member or can everyone just weigh in equally? 8/10
Here's Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni: “The CDF responded to a request from the President of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops with a letter, signed by Cardinal Ladaria, which you are aware of, and which represents the position of the Congregation on the subject." 9/10
(Bruni, cont) "The Congregation did not address the decision to draft documents or policies, except to suggest a dialogue among the bishops, fostering unity among the episcopacy." 10/10

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More from @mboorstein

18 Jun
BISHOPSBIDENCOMMUNION THREAD: It's not entirely clear the possible outcomes of the communion document the US Catholic bishops will write 1/x
Proponents weren't clear about its purpose. There has been recent talk of a "national policy" or national "guidance" and references to pro-choice pols. But there is pushback on that. The men all want a document about the "meaning" of communion. But they have different views 2/x
A "doctrine committee" will draw up a doc for the men to discuss at their annual Nov meeting. A lot could change in the doc between then and now. 3/x
Read 9 tweets
16 Jun
There has been little clarity about exactly what the Catholic bishops who want a communion document want. Something addressing Biden? A national policy? A general theological statement? We got a little more clarity today but it’s still not crystal 1/x
The awesome @FrancisXRocca asked Bishop Rhoades, who runs the doctrine committee that would be writing the document: What’s the deal? The next few tweets are the text of his answer verbatim: 2/x
“Back in March when I made the proposal to the administrative committee of the USCCB, really it was a broader document. It would present church teaching, its centrality and importance of eucharistic consistency, coherence. 3/x
Read 10 tweets
16 Jun
Today is the first day of the annual Catholic bishops’ spring conference and by my read two things emerged: Deep division, and strong emotions and views. A key vote right off the bat showed the men are in some ways split down the middle. #USCCB21 1/6
Bishops have various agenda items but most challenging is the move by some to create a doc about the meaning of communion, including for pro-choice Catholic pols. The bishops did this in 2006 but many conservatives want another one bc of the election of the pro-choice Biden. 2/6
Today, right off the bat the more-conservative bishops’ president reads a statement from a member of a Vatican committee that appears to encourage the bishops to create such a document. But the head of that Vatican body told the men to have various discussions first. 3/6
Read 6 tweets
26 May
A story and then a thread on bishops, Biden and abortion: U.S. Catholic bishops next month will take a vote aimed directly at the question of whether pro-choice politicians should receive Communion. 1/7
washingtonpost.com/religion/2021/…
I spoke to Archbishop Joseph Naumann, leader of the US bishops’ pro-life committee and one of the men pressing for the vote. He noted the bishops took a similar vote in 2004, but said the new effort is urgent because of what he calls a “different climate” on abortion. 2/7
“Those who promote abortion rarely talk about choice anymore. They’ve gone beyond that as they promote abortion as medical care..But that’s how they frame it; they want to coerce everyone to be complicit with it. This is a much different moment. It’s even worse than in 2004.” 3/7
Read 7 tweets
18 Jun 20
AMAZING NEWS: As part of its efforts to holistically deepen the diversity and inclusion of our journalism and newsroom, the @washingtonpost today just announced a DOZEN new positions, including (per newsroom memo) 1) a managing editor for diversity and inclusion (!): 1/x
"A senior leadership position who will act as a convener of regular coverage discussions that will bring together an expanded group of editors, reporters and visual journalists focused on race and identity. 2/x
This managing editor will participate in story meetings, review coverage involving sensitive issues of race and diversity and listen to and share staff concerns. They will also identify and recruit candidates and participate in final decisions on hiring and promotion. 3/x
Read 13 tweets
2 Jun 20
The Episcopal bishop of DC – who oversees the DC church Trump just stopped at – tells the @washingtonpost she is "outraged" and that neither she nor the rector was asked or told… “that they would be clearing with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop.." 1/3
..holding a bible, one that declares that God is love and when everything he has said and done is to enflame violence. I am beyond.We need moral leadership and he’s done everything to divide us and has just used one of the most sacred symbols of the Judeo-Christian tradition."2/3
"We so disassociate ourselves from the messages of this president. We hold the teachings of our sacred texts to be so so grounding to our lives and everything we do and it is about love of neighbor and sacrificial love and justice." @Mebudde Bishop Mariann Budde 3/3
Read 6 tweets

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