Cardinal Müller criticises national episcopal conferences on Amoris Laetitia

Müller: Do not sit out dispute over Amoris Laetitia

Gerhard Ludwig Müller promotes a dialogue between supporters and critics of "Amoris laetitia". At the same time he sees a red line in the interpretation of the letter, which should not be crossed.

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller has again promoted a dialogue in the dispute over the interpretation of the Papal letter, "Amoris laetitia" on marriage and family. "A gap has been opened between the most critical critics and the most biting advocates," the former prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith analysed in an interview with the Catholic newspaper "Die Tagespost" (Saturday) in Würzburg. "The dispute can neither be extinguished nor solved by any knock-out hits being attempted."

Müller: Pastoral care must help with marriages

Mueller says that "with an advance of trust, the theological and pastoral problems should be solved objectively and the affected persons would be best be helped on their way to God." The indissolubility of the marriage cannot be shaken. In view of the many marriage crises, however, one should not remain inactive in pastoral care. "Somehow, both concerns are right. Some set a stop sign before a dangerous ditch, the others are trying to build bridges over it." "Both are necessary" on the path of salvation.

The Cardinal also criticised the interpretations of several national and regional bishops' conferences, including Malta and the Philippines, which derive from the Papal letter that re-married divorced persons could be admitted to communion in certain circumstances. Some of these episcopal declarations were of the opinion that they could forgo the basic principles of interpretation of the Catholic Church, Müller complained. The applause of the published opinion, however, is "not a theological criterion."

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