What does the term “pastoral” mean? I see this word bandied about and can only come to the conclusion that it means something akin to “be nice.” But is being nice what Catholics are called to do? Are we the religion of nice?
I would say no.
Of course I would, right? I’m a sarcastic blogger who writes not nice things every day. But the actual term pastoral comes from acting as a shepherd in the pasture. When sheep get a little lost, the shepherd doesn’t affirm the sheep’s lostness. The shepherd doesn’t say “you do you.” Wanna’ know why? Because there are wolves out there. The shepherd must protect the sheep and so calls them back. They don’t affirm their waywardness.
In Pope Francis’ recent response to the latest dubia, there seems to be some confusion on this point.
His response to the question of blessing same sex unions leaves the door open to blessing same sex unions.
In dealing with people, however, we must not lose the pastoral charity that must permeate all our decisions and attitudes. The defense of objective truth is not the only expression of this charity, which is also made up of kindness, patience, understanding, tenderness, and encouragement. Therefore, we cannot become judges who only deny, reject, exclude.
e) For this reason, pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of blessing, requested by one or more persons, that do not transmit a mistaken conception of marriage. For when a blessing is requested, one is expressing a request for help from God, a plea for a better life, a trust in a Father who can help us to live better.
f) On the other hand, although there are situations that from an objective point of view are not morally acceptable, pastoral charity itself demands that we do not simply treat as “sinners“ other people whose guilt or responsibility may be due to their own fault or responsibility attenuated by various factors that influence subjective imputability (cf. St. John Paul II, Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 17).
g) Decisions which, in certain circumstances, can form part of pastoral prudence, should not necessarily become a norm. That is to say, it is not appropriate for a diocese, an episcopal conference or any other ecclesial structure to constantly and officially authorize procedures or rites for all kinds of matters, since everything “what is part of a practical discernment in particular circumstances cannot be elevated to the level of a rule,“ because this “would lead to an intolerable casuistry“ (Amoris Laetitia, 304). Canon law should not and cannot cover everything, nor should the episcopal conferences claim to do so with their various documents and protocols, because the life of the Church runs through many channels in addition to the normative ones.
This is Pope Francis essentially saying “play it by ear.” In today’s culture, this is an obvious watering down of the Church’s teachings on sexuality and marriage, all in the name of being “pastoral.”
What other sinful situations might be blessed by the Church?
