Note: This is an ongoing work, so check back for updates – 12/22/2023
With the help/collaboration of a priest friend, I present to you this catechesis:
I. The Authoring of Fiducia Supplicans
A. The Author, Authority, and Proper Manner of Reception of Fiducia Supplicans
- What is Fiducia Supplicans?
Fiducia Supplicans (FS), meaning “Supplicating Trust” and otherwise known by its English title of On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings, is a Church document about the pastoral meaning of blessings and the question as to whether or not any blessings can be given to same-sex couples.
- Who wrote FS?
FS was written, after much labor and consultation with experts and the Roman Pontiff himself, by the Church’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), but it was formally approved by the Successor of Peter, the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
“In preparing the document, the Dicastery, as is its practice, consulted experts, undertook a careful drafting process, and discussed the text in the Congresso of the Doctrinal Section of the Dicastery. During that time, the document was discussed with the Holy Father. Finally, the text of the Declaration was submitted to the Holy Father for his review, and he approved it with his signature.” (FS, Presentation)
- What is the significance of FS being approved by the Holy Father in a papal audience?
The significance of FS being approved by the Holy Father in a papal audience is that this makes FS to be magisterial.
- What is meant when we say that a document, such as FS, is magisterial?
When we say that a document, such as FS, is magisterial, we mean that it is an official and authoritative teaching of the Catholic Church for it has been taught by the Catholic Church’s Magisterium. Consequently, the document is binding on the consciences of the faithful.
- What is the Catholic Church’s Magisterium?
The Catholic Church’s Magisterium is the Teaching Authority in the Church, consisting of the Successor of Peter (the Pope) and the bishops in union with him (the College of Bishops), to whose teachings Catholics are morally bound to give intellectual assent and whose disciplinary judgements require obedience.
“The Roman Pontiff and the bishops are ‘authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people entrusted to them, the faith to be believed and put into practice.’ The ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teach the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practice, the beatitude to hope for.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 2034)
- What is meant by giving assent to the teachings of the Magisterium?
What is meant by giving assent to the teachings of the Magisterium is an acceptance of the teachings as true.
- Why are Catholics morally bound to give assent to the teachings of the Magisterium?
Catholics are morally bound to give assent to the teachings of the Magisterium precisely because the Magisterium is the Teaching Authority in the Church and, as such, it has the right to demand assent from the faithful of the Church to its teachings.
- How is it that the Magisterium is the Teaching Authority in the Church?
The Magisterium is the Teaching Authority in the Church precisely because it consists of the Pope, who is the Successor of St. Peter, and the bishops who are in union with the Pope, which bishops are successors of the Apostles.
- What is the significance of the Pope being the Successor of St. Peter and the bishops being successors of the Apostles?
The significance of the Pope being the Successor of St. Peter and the bishops being successors of the Apostles is that they have the supreme authority in in the Church to teach, govern and sanctify, for Christ gave St. Peter and the Apostles this same authority which has now been passed on to their successors, the Pope and the bishops in union with him.
- When did Christ give this authority to teach, govern and sanctify in the Church to St. Peter and the Apostles?
Christ gave this authority to teach, govern and sanctify in the Church to St. Peter and the Apostles on multiple occasions, but most notably when He said to St. Peter, “You are Peter and upon this rock,” i.e., upon Peter himself, “I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.” Christ gave this same authority of binding and loosing to all the Apostles collectively on another occasion.
- What is the significance of this authority to teach, govern and sanctify that Christ gave to St. Peter and the Apostles being given also to their successors, the Pope and the bishops in union with him, i.e., to the Magisterium of the Church?
The significance of this authority to teach, govern and sanctify that Christ gave to St. Peter and the Apostles being given also to their successors, the Pope and the bishops in union with him, i.e., the Magisterium of the Church, is that we can have great confidence that the Magisterium will not lead us astray by its teachings, sanctification or governance, but, rather, that it will lead us closer to the truth, if we but give assent to its teachings, as we are morally bound to do.
- Are some teachings of the Magisterium irreformable, i.e., certainly true and without error?
Yes, some of the teachings of the Magisterium are irreformable, i.e., certainly true and without error.
- Are some of the teachings of the Magisterium reformable?
Yes, some of the teachings of the Magisterium are reformable.
- Is a Catholic morally bound to give intellectual assent to all the teachings of the Magisterium, even the reformable ones?
Yes, a Catholic is morally bound to give assent to all of the teachings of the Magisterium, even the reformable ones.
- What kind of sin does a Catholic commit who does not give assent to a particular teaching of the Church, even if it is reformable?
A Catholic who does not give assent to a particular teaching of the Church, even if it is reformable, incurs grave guilt.
- How is it that a Catholic who does not give assent to a particular teaching of the Church, even if it is reformable, incurs grave guilt?
A Catholic who does not give assent to a particular teaching of the Church, even if it is reformable, incurs grave guilt because in so doing he places his own opinion above that of the authority of the Church or over divine Revelation itself, both of which are grave matter.
- Is there any exception to the rule that a Catholic must give assent to a particular teaching of the Church, even if it is reformable?
The only exception, which is extremely rare, to the rule that a Catholic must give assent to a particular teaching of the Church, even if it is reformable, is that of a trained theologian who, after prayerfully considering a given reformable teaching, judges that there may be some deficiency in this teaching (in which case he is permitted to dissent internally, but, for the sake of the unity of the Church, he is permitted to communicate his dissent only through the proper, private channels in the Church, not publicly).
- How many kinds of intellectual assent are there towards the teachings of the Magisterium?
There are two kinds of intellectual assent towards to the teachings of the Magisterium, namely, the “assent of faith” and “religious assent”.
- What is the “assent of faith”?
The “assent of faith” is that assent by which we believe the teachings of the Magisterium as an exercise of the virtue of faith by which we recognize that a given teaching has been directly revealed by God and/or is infallible.
- What is “religious assent”?
“Religious assent” is that assent by which we believe the teachings of the Magisterium as an exercise of the virtue of religion by which we trust that a teaching of the Magisterium of the Church is true, even if not declared in an infallible manner, since we trust that God, Who founded the Church, will guide us to the truth through the Church’s Magisterium.
- What sort of assent, therefore, must a Catholic give to the non-infallible teachings of the Magisterium?
A Catholic must give “religious assent” to the non-infallible teachings of the Magisterium.
- What sort of assent must a Catholic give to the teachings of FS?
A Catholic must give religious assent to the teachings of FS since FS is an official (authentic and authoritative), teaching of the Church’s Magisterium, though not an infallible one.
- Alongside willfully giving religious assent to FS, what sort of disposition ought a Catholic to have with respect to it?
Alongside willfully giving religious assent to FS, a Catholic ought to have a disposition of humble docility towards it, since FS is a part of the Church’s Magisterium.
- What is meant by having a disposition of humble docility towards FS?
What is meant by having a disposition of humble docility towards FS is that one approaches it with the attitude of a child and student approaching the teaching of his mother and teacher, eager and ready to learn from it, since this is a teaching of the Mother and Teacher of all Catholics, the Holy Catholic Church, who teaches us through the Sovereign Pontiff, the Holy Father, the Pope, who is the spiritual father of all Catholics.
- What sort of dispositions is not fitting for a Catholic to have in approaching FS?
The sort of dispositions that are not fitting for a Catholic to have in approaching FS is one of suspicion of error, lack of trust, criticism, and a desire to approach the document in the manner of a judge and teacher rather than as a child and student.
- Why are these sort of dispositions not fitting for a Catholic to have in approaching FS?
These sort of dispositions are not fitting for a Catholic to have in approaching FS since FS is a teaching of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, our Mother and Teacher, and of the Holy Father, the Pope, who is the spiritual father and teacher of all Catholics.
- Is it important to have the proper dispositions in approaching FS?
Yes, it is very important to have the proper dispositions in approaching FS.X
- Why is it very important to have the proper dispositions in approaching FS?
It is very important to have the proper dispositions in approaching FS because “things are received according to the mode of the receiver” (as the philosophers say), that is, in this case, the proper dispositions enable us to better perceive and understand the truths contained in it, whereas the unfitting dispositions will tend to blind us from this perception and understanding.
- Is the importance of having the proper disposition in approaching FS unique to FS?
No, the importance of having the proper disposition in approaching FS is not unique to FS, but is a general principle, applicable to most writings, including the Holy Scriptures themselves the saving truths of which are not perceived and understood by those who are not properly disposed to receive them.
B. The Purpose for Fiducia Supplicans
- Why was FS written?
FS was written to respond to a pressing pastoral need.
- What was the pressing pastoral need to which FS was responding?
The pressing pastoral need to which FS was responding was that of needing to clarify how ministers are to minister to persons and couples struggling with sins of a homosexual nature, and, in particular, whether or not there was some way in which such persons and couples were able to licitly receive a blessing from an ordained minister of the Church.
- Why was there a need to clarify how ministers are to minister to persons and couples struggling with sins of a homosexual nature and, in particular, whether or not there was some way in which such persons and couples were able to licitly receive a blessing from an ordained minister of the Church?
There was a need to clarify this because such persons and couples do exist in today’s world and various questions on this matter have come to the attention of the Holy Father in recent years which, even though they were already addressed by the Holy Father (in 2021), still called for further clarification from the Pope.
C. The Form of the Document of Fiducia Supplicans
- In what manner did the Holy Father, utilizing the DDF, make this further clarification with the issuing of FS?
In the issuing of FS, the Holy Father, utilizing the DDF, made this further clarification with a document that is classified as a “Declaration.”
- What is a Declaration?
A Declaration is one of the types of formal Magisterial documents, of significant doctrinal weight, which is binding on all Catholics to give their intellectual assent.
- Why did the Holy Father, through the DDF, make this clarification in a Declaration?
The Holy Father, through the DDF, made this clarification in a Declaration because, in this FS, there is a development of the Church’s doctrine on blessings, which is important enough of a matter to warrant it being communicated through a formal Declaration.
II. The Material or Content of Fiducia Supplicans
- What teachings are contained in FS?
FS contains teachings about blessings, and addresses the question as to whether or not there is the possibility of having blessings for couples who are in same-sex unions (and also those in “irregular unions”).
- What is a blessing?
There are three kinds of blessings: A blessing which comes from God to man, known as a “descending blessing”, is His bestowing His gifts upon us; a blessing which goes from man towards God, known as an “ascending blessing”, is man praising God for His goodness and gifts; a blessing which goes from man to man, which can be fittingly be called a “horizontal blessing”, is a prayer by which one man makes a humble request to call down God’s graces and gifts upon a fellow man.
- What is meant by the word, “couple”?
What is meant by the word, “couple”, is a set of two individual persons who are connected by some kind of union.
- What is meant by the word, “union”?
What is meant by the word, “union”, is a relationship between one person or thing to another person or thing established by some quality or action in common between the two things or persons.
- Does the word “couple” mean the same thing as the word “union”?
No, the word “couple” does not mean the same thing as the word “union”, for the word “couple” signifies two individuals who are in a union of some kind, whereas the word “union” signifies the union itself.
- What is a same-sex union?
A same-sex union is a union in which the two persons are related to each other because of their engaging in same-sex actions with each other.
- What are same-sex actions?
Same-sex actions, aka., homosexual acts, are actions of a sexual nature between members of the same sex.
- Are homosexual acts morally good or morally bad?
Homosexual acts are extremely morally bad and heinous, an abomination in the sight of God and sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance.
- Why are homosexual acts extremely morally bad and heinous, an abomination in the sight of God and sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance?
Homosexual acts are extremely morally bad and heinous, an abomination in the sight of God and sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance because they are an utterly disgraceful use of the sexual faculty and the human body, both of which are sacred to the Lord.
- Can homosexual acts ever be approved by the Church?
No, homosexual acts can never be approved by the Church, because they are morally abominable, and to teach otherwise would be heresy.
- Will homosexual acts ever be approved by the Church?
No, homosexual acts will never be approved by the Church, because the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth and will never teach heresy.
- Does FS approve of homosexual acts?
No, FS does not approve of homosexual acts because they are sinful, and this teaching is not surprising since FS is an act of the Magisterium of that Church which is the pillar and foundation of truth.
- May the Church, through an ordained minister, bless a same-sex union?
No, the Church, through an ordained minister, may not bless a same-sex union.
- Why may not the Church, through an ordained minister, bless a same-sex union?
The Church may not, through an ordained minister, bless a same-sex union because that union, by its nature, is sinful, and the Church cannot bless sin.
- May the Church, through an ordained minister, bless a same-sex couple?
Yes, the Church, through an ordained minister, may bless a same-sex couple, under certain conditions.
- Under what conditions may the Church, through an ordained minister, bless a same-sex couple?
The Church, through an ordained minister, may bless a same-sex couple under the following conditions:
1.) It is not in the context of an established liturgical Rite, but rather it must be done as a spontaneous prayer of blessing.
2.) It does not cause any scandal to others, eg., it must not be done in any way that may make it appear that the couple is being treated as if they were truly married.
3.) The couple themselves recognize that they are destitute and that their union is not in accord with God’s law.
4.) The couple is looking to receive actual graces through the mediation of the Church so that they can be helped to live in accord with the moral law.
5.) The minister communicates in his prayer of blessing that the couple needs grace to live in accord with God’s law.
- What is meant by an established liturgical Rite?
What is meant by an established liturgical Rite is a ritual of prayers and gestures that are fixed within the Church’s liturgy which is the official public worship of the Church.
- Why must the ordained minister give a blessing to a same-sex couple not in the context of an established liturgical Rite, but rather as a spontaneous prayer of blessing?
The ordained minister must give a blessing to a same-sex couple not in the context of an established liturgical Rite, but rather as a spontaneous prayer of blessing, because giving a blessing in an established liturgical Rite would communicate that the union between the couple is good and holy when, in fact, it is not, and keeping it spontaneous gives the minister freedom to adjust his prayer for the circumstances of the given couple.
- How would blessing the same-sex couple in an established liturgical Rite communicate that the union between them couple is good and holy?
Blessing the same-sex couple in an established liturgical Rite would communicate that the union between them is good and holy because it is a property of the liturgy that unions that are blessed within the liturgy are oriented towards God and approved by Him.
- Does the fact that FS forbids such a blessing of a same-sex couple to be taken place in the liturgy show that FS teaches that the unions between these couples are intrinsically sinful and that the actions upon which their union is primarily established, i.e., homosexual actions, are sinful?
Yes, the fact that FS forbids such a blessing of a same-sex couple to be taken place in the liturgy does show that FS teaches that the unions between these couples are intrinsically sinful and that the actions upon which their union is primarily established, i.e., homosexual actions, are sinful, as do many other statements made throughout FS.
- What is the purpose of such a blessing for a same-sex couple?
The purpose of such a blessing for a same-sex couple is that actual graces may be given to these individuals by God so that they may grow in fidelity to the Gospel and that the human relationship between them may come to one in which divine love, not lust,
predominates, i.e., that it becomes a true and chaste friendship.
- Will such blessings truly be a source of actual grace for same-sex couples?
Yes, such blessings truly will be a source of actual grace for same-sex couples, and so help them overcome their vice of homosexuality.
- Will such blessings show same-sex couples the maternal love for the Church for them and the paternal love of her ministers for them?
Yes, such blessings show same-sex couples the maternal love for the Church for them and the paternal love of her ministers for them.
- Will showing same-sex couples this sign of the maternal love for the Church for them and the paternal love of her ministers for them help these couples?
Yes, showing same-sex couples this sign of the maternal love for the Church for them and the paternal love of her ministers for them help these couples and could very well serve as an impetus to help them leave their vices and sinful lifestyles behind.
- Does the blessing of the same-sex couple show approval of the sins of homosexual acts that they habitually commit with each other?
No, the blessing of the same-sex couple does not show approval of the sins of homosexual acts that they habitually commit with each other, but, to the contrary, it recognizes that these acts are sinful and harmful to the couple and so calls upon God’s graces upon them so that they may be given strength to live in accord with the Gospel and cease to commit these sins.
- Should a blessing be given to a couple who manifestly embrace their habitual sins against chastity, i.e., their sins of homosexuality?
No, a blessing ought not be given to a couple who manifestly embrace their habitual sins against chastity, i.e., their sins of homosexuality, for these blessings are for those persons and couples who desire to receive the grace of God to overcome their sin, not for those who are still embracing their sin.
- Did Pope Francis, the Holy Father, create this document for the sake of encouraging homosexual behavior?
No, Pope Francis, the Holy Father, did not create this document for the sake of encouraging homosexual behavior but, to the contrary, he created it because he recognizes the destructive nature of homosexual behavior for those who engage in them and he wanted to mercifully extend the Church’s help to aid them in overcoming their harmful vice.
- How ought a Catholic to view the Church allowing such blessings?
A Catholic, in humble docility and obedience to the Church, ought to view such blessings as extensions of God’s mercy to those souls who are suffering from the disastrous effects of their sins against chastity, such as deep shame and a lack of a sense of God’s love for them, by showing them a sign of the maternal love of the Church for them and paternal love of her ministers for them.