"AT CHRISTMAS YOU CAN": THE DERIVATIVES OF SUPER CATHOLICS SEEM LESS SERIOUS THAN THOSE OF CERTAIN BISHOPS

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It seems superfluous to remember, however in times of functional illiteracy it is good to reiterate this. The intervention of the Bishop of Pistoia cannot and must not be included within the eternal diatribe of logic between pro-wax versus no-vax. It informs a pastoral sensitivity that is becoming more and more opaque, so much so that it is assimilated to that pale way of doing politics that ends up being distant from the people.

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Author
Ivano Liguori, Ofm. Capp.

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«At christmas you can…» who does not remember the famous song that entered the homes of Italians like jingle advertising of a well-known confectionery product? Certainly many. Well, today I feel like dedicating this jingle a S. AND. Mons. Fausto Tardelli bishop of Pistoia, that this Christmas he could - the conditional is a must - have the smell of his flock on him, of that too no-vax, but who preferred to use the stick of politics rather than that of the pastor to create a in paliaton highly respectable to be addressed to the Pistoia faithful who are reluctant to use the serum.

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The harsh stance of the Prelate of Pistoia on the faithful no-vax it appeared in the diocesan weekly Life in the address book At the tip of the pen [you see WHO e WHO] but which from today it would be more appropriate to rename On the foil tip, given the Bishop's pastoral jab at those faithful who were reluctant to get vaccinated.

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«At Christmas you can…» make a good impression, but this is not the case of the Bishop in question who - poor soul - prefers to appear stunned, amazed and even embarrassed for those Christians who take such positions - read no-vax - and who regularly attend his diocesan church.

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I can't think of a more unbalanced position and crazy about this one, which perhaps risks appearing even worse than that assumed by the Bishop of Tempio-Ampurias, S. AND. Mons. Sebastiano Sanguinetti, who asked for compulsory vaccination for the clergy and faithful of the Gallura diocese [you see WHO].

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It seems superfluous to remember, however in times of functional illiteracy it is good to reiterate this. The intervention of the Bishop of Pistoia cannot and must not be included within the eternal diatribe of logic between pro-wax versus no-vax. It informs a pastoral sensitivity that is becoming more and more opaque, so much so that it is assimilated to that pale way of doing politics that ends up being distant from the people. For this reason I am convinced that it is necessary to delve deeper than what appears from a simple reprimand in a diocesan newspaper.. It would be at least wise and reasonable that at least we Christians should avoid similar dialectical drifts that select and contrast the good against the bad and that in the long run tire, creating social instability., people's uprising and distrust of institutions, all things that we are unfortunately getting used to and that have not allowed us to become better, more good or extremely tolerant.

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In my opinion it is necessary to emphasize and resume the pastoral attitude of a bishop who cannot afford to fuck the faithful for free. They in fact, albeit in blatant wrong, however, they are free to express legitimate reservations even if expressed in carnival tones or sometimes even close to science fiction, even if they were inspired by self-styled spiritual guides who from overseas discuss about plots and imminent apocalypses. We are still possessors of a baptismal freedom that God has given us and that He is the first to respect even in the face of our sin? It is evident that these faithful are confused and perhaps doctrinally unprepared and conditioned, but for this very reason they would not need to see their bishop as a father and not a stepfather? It would not be better for the bishop to act as a sure guide who watches from above, thus respecting the etymology of its name, instead of following the opportunist logic of politics that lives on the contradiction between opposites, waiting for the defeat of the opposing factions? Because, dear readers, even if division and faction break out in the Church of Christ, it is impossible to get along and give the Holy Spirit a way to act and create communion, even when we believe deep down that we have acted as mature and responsible people.

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About this I want to take up the words of the blessed apostle Paul who admonishes the Christians of Corinth:

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"Unfortunately, some of Cloe's family let me know that there are arguments between you. Let me explain: one of you says: “I am Paolo's”; another: “I of Apollo”; a third supports: “I am from Pietro”; and a quarter say: “I belong to Christ”. But Christ cannot be divided!» [See. 1 Color 1, 11-13].

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Even in our dioceses, in our parishes, in our ecclesial groups there are arguments due to vaccines and the approach to the presbytery is subordinated to the number of doses inoculated. Today Christ is torn between a health responsibility and a social emergency without his adorable person truly being the beginning and occasion for an authentic conversion to the Father, This is perhaps not the ultimate goal of any baptized person? Instead we are here arguing among ourselves and looking for the guilty, accusing everyone of irresponsibility and, if necessary, of little adherence to the Gospel, something that we detect in others but which is also hidden under the good carpets of our home. For you see, the fact that you point out a wrong does not automatically imply that you are right. Se i rigidi no-vax they are wrong this does not mean that i pro-wax are right or free from any well-founded objection.

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I am a priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, with years of ministry spent as a chaplain in a large hospital facility, today I exercise the ministry of parish priest of a parish entrusted by the local Bishop to one of our community of Friars, I'm vaccinated, as are my brothers, but I would never allow myself to label the faithful of my parish as from the pulpit self-styled Catholics (sic!) to watch out for, as the pastoral heart of the Bishop of Pistoia did using the official organ of the diocese [you see WHO]. If these self-styled Catholics instead of no-vax belonged to a different category, we don't think that maybe, in the space of just twenty-four hours, the prelate would be invited to resign and make way for someone more capable? We all know the answer, without needing to add anything else. I can only refer you to reading the book that I have just published together with Father Ariel S. Levi di Gualdo: From Prozan to Prozac, in which we made an analysis of the inevitable failure of the Zan bill sanctioned a few weeks ago by the Senate of the Republic.

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When certain ills they come to touch those who have been appointed to be leaders of the people of God, the faithful are lost, they fall into distrust and every possibility of dialogue and every pastoral affection that should be at the pinnacle of the intentions of every wise bishop is compromised. And in this entire emergency situation linked to the pandemic it is now clear that people are more than exasperated. The coercive methodology that was imposed on people on different fronts to achieve quick and painless salvation has not produced the desired results, not only has it not acted as a glue but it is creating fractures that we will bear the consequences of for a long time. So let's ask ourselves: we're sure it's still worth it? Whose profits? And if the Church and its pastors are also involved in this exasperated situation, we are at a loss, falling into the reasoned calculation of those seeking immediate profit and advantage instead of the salvation of souls.

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And yes because listening to speeches similar to those of the bishop of Pistoia politicians intent on accumulating electoral support and popular favor in order to have or maintain a position come to mind. Indeed, when a politician supports battles from which he can gain something, he is careful what he says, but above all what "not to say". Instead, on other less favorable fronts we prefer to ignore even if we find ourselves faced with much more important and sacrosanct battles and all this for well-reasoned calculation.

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Now I wonder and I ask this Prelate: in the diocese of Pistoia there are perhaps no people who, although Christian, attend Sunday mass (maybe daily) they did not support the ideas of Emma Bonino or Marco Cappato by stating that euthanasia is an act of love and mercy, perhaps by signing for the repeal referendum? In the diocese of Pistoia and among its clergy there are perhaps no supporters of Zan&Company complete with a little written and rainbow hand in support of the proposal for a liberticidal bill which aimed between the lines to prosecute and punish the crime of opinion, although illustrious gays have explained the opposite, by the lucid and cultured Senator Tommaso Cerno, former national president of Arcigay [you see WHO] up to our author Francesco Mangiacapra who recently published the illuminating critical essay with our editions The coup of the politically correct?

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Perhaps in the diocese of Pistoia there are no members of ecclesial groups who are in defiance of the doctrinal note of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [you see WHO] continue to militate in political parties that openly oppose the Church and support ideas contrary to the moral and social teaching of the Magisterium? Perhaps it would not be right and proper, at the tip of the pen and foil, also read about these things in the diocesan newspaper, waiting to hear the word uttered from the episcopal lips self-styled Catholics applied to some styles of Christianity that abound in curiae and parishes?

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However, let's also admit the case that the diocese of Pistoia was a model of ecclesial virtue and fidelity to the Gospel and to the successor of the blessed apostle Peter, also in this case the Christians no-vax they would equally represent a pastoral challenge from which the bishop could not escape, even at the cost of shedding one's own blood which is more uncomfortable and demanding than shedding ink on the diocesan newspaper.

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“Unity is essential, freedom in doubt, charity in all things", It is an ancient maxim which I see to be very dear to your Excellency. For this reason I also want to use it for the last underlining of this article. It is mistakenly attributed to Saint Augustine but he is not the author, over time it has been used to push towards a theological and religious liberalism that levels out uncomfortable thoughts and unravels embarrassing situations by trying to get everyone to agree. A political and populist method widely used today because it pays without the danger of overexposure.

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Excellency, if you were a true liberal would grant the faculty to Catholics no-vax to do what they believe in, respecting that freedom that even God respects with the man who makes mistakes, while at the same time opening a paternal dialogue and trying to recover some brothers, but we both know that liberal bishops do not exist and this has been true since Pasquino's time:

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I will not deceive you, Marforio, and let's talk frankly:

to say patriotic priest is to say white crow;

contradiction in terms, to which there is no equal,

being pope and being liberal at the same time".

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For this reason in his speech to the diocesan newspaper I see nothing of that healthy enlightened liberalism that saves differences by integrating them but only populism in a red sauce that does not bind consciences but perhaps exasperates them.

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Laconi, 9 December 2021

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