"Expect a mea culpa from the Pope"- interview with Professor Joseph Shaw

Correctio filialis: "Expect a mea culpa of the Pope" - Interview with Prof. Joseph Shaw

Is Pope Francis blind in one eye? Concerned critics of Amoris laetitia receive no answer. They therefore took a spectacular path and presented the Pope with a Correctio filialis. "An action unprecedented in recent history.

The daily Il Giornale speaks of an "action unprecedented in recent history." They published an interview yesterday with Joseph Shaw, one of the initiators of the Correctio filialis. Shaw, a son of the 3rd Baron Craigmyle, is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford.

The Correctio filialis is a Correction against the propagation of heresies which has been directed to Pope Francis by an international group of clerics and laymen. The Pope is accused of promoting at least seven heretical theses in his controversial post-synodal letter, Amoris laetitia. Since the letter, which was handed over to him on August 11, received no reply, the signers went public last Sunday. Since then, fire has broken out on the roof of the church. Il Giornale speaks of an "action unprecedented in recent history" which calls for a mea culpa from Pope Francis.

Il Giornale: How did the idea for this document come about?

Prof. Shaw: It is a text prepared by a group of theologians, academics and priests who are concerned about the presumed consent of Pope Francis to positions of the opening of Amoris laetitia, which clearly contradict ecclesiastical doctrine.

Il Giornale: Who can sign, how many signatures are there and where do they come from?

Prof. Shaw: When the document was handed over to the Pope, there were 40 signatories, theologians and priests. Then the text was published and every day new signatures came. At the moment, there are 146, but it is constantly increasing. The signatures come from 20 countries with a strong presence of the Anglo-Saxon nations and Italy.

Il Giornale: Can a simple believer sign?

Prof. Shaw: For the individual believers who want to support the document, there is the petition on Change.org. Each signature is given to the Pope individually. Currently, there are already more than 10,600, who have signed and it is hour by hour more and more.

Il Giornale: What do you think about the measure that the Vatican has taken blocking access to your site?

Prof. Shaw: First of all, the initiative is taken seriously. It is regrettable to try to prevent the people who live and work in the Vatican from participating in the discussion. If you want to sign, you will still find a way.

Il Giornale: Is there any contact with the Pope?

Prof. Shaw: We sent the letter to Bergoglio on August 11 but there was no answer.

Il Giornale: What are you asking?

Prof. Shaw: We want the pope publicly to reject the heretical positions contained in Amoris laetitia. The theses concern key questions of the doctrine which are incompatible with the Catholic faith. The document is a contribution to the ongoing discussion on the problem of the communion for the remarried divorced. These are very practical questions, and the bishops and priests must know what decisions to make. Without clear guidelines, they face different and confusing interpretations.

Il Giornale: Why did no cardinal sign the document?

Prof. Shaw: We decided not to involve cardinals. We want it to be an independent initiative and without people who are close to the Pope.

Il Giornale: How do you answer those who accuse you of violating Canon 749, which provides for the Pope's infallibility?

Prof. Shaw: I tell them that in this case it is not the infallibility of the Pope. And I add that Paragraph 3 of this canon states that a doctrine is then to be defined as infallible, if this is manifestly established.

Source