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“Totally disloyal”: Catholic Twittizens roast Benedict and Cardinal Sarah for new book stifling celibacy debate

By Mada Jurado January 13, 2020
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Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has co-authored a book with Cardinal Robert Sarah, one of Pope Francis’ fiercest opponents, in which both plead against ordaining married men, arguing that “optional celibacy for priests is not actually optional for an authentic priesthood”.

The debate on Twitter was served.

Here’s what some opinion makers had to say there.

First there were the visceral reactions, raging from shock to disappointment.

This was from veteran Vatican correspondent for La Croix, Robert Mickens:

No one should be surprised. Disappointed? Saddened? Upset? You bet. But, no surprise here. Unforunately, this was quite predictable. https://t.co/DXNNGXuyXZ

— Robert Mickens (@robinrome) January 12, 2020

Well-known US Jesuit James Martin said the Pope Emeritus’ intervention was “hard to fathom”, while Vaticanist Joshua McElwee described it as “incredible”:

This is hard to fathom. I have the greatest respect for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Nonetheless, when he resigned the papacy, he said he would remain "hidden from the world." Of course it is his right to say whatever he wants. But here, he is speaking out on an issue that was… https://t.co/oaGy8UK8Rp

— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) January 12, 2020

…one of the main topics for the recent Synod on the Amazon and is now under consideration by the Pope. Some may see this as a great theologian contributing to the conversation; but given his unique role, some may see this as a "parallel magisterium," which can lead to disunity.

— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) January 12, 2020

As I digest this, I'm realizing how incredible it is. A former pope speaking in public about something his successor is currently in the process of considering.

— Joshua McElwee (@joshjmac) January 12, 2020

Beyond the shock, commentators like theologians Natalia Imperatori and Massimo Faggioli pointed out that with the new book Benedict seemed to be breaking the promise he made when he resigned the papacy, that he would keep to a life of “prayerful silence”:

One pope at a time. Prayerful silence this is not. https://t.co/yNDAXsQg9J

— Natalia Imperatori (@nimperatori) January 12, 2020

Didn’t he say he’d be quiet and live a life of prayer after resignation? What’s with these published writings?

— Rev William Promesso (@RevDrWJP) January 12, 2020

Benedict XVI is really not breaking his silence because he (and his entourage) never felt bound to that promise. But this is a serious breach

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 12, 2020

Shock and disbelief aside, other Catholic netizens wondered how Benedict, at 92, could have found the energy and concentration necessary to pen the pro-priestly celibacy volume with Sarah, especially after a recent documentary revealed him to be frail and perhaps in poor physical health:

“One Vatican source [said] … Benedict XVI is no longer physically able to write. Another source said … it is difficult for him to engage in a conversation that lasts longer than 15 minutes. These sources wondered how this book came to be written.” https://t.co/nkbCaHyrv9

— Austen Ivereigh (@austeni) January 13, 2020

Hard to believe the man in this video could have written anything… https://t.co/QTkI8TR38a https://t.co/OzAFNKGp4y

— Robert Mickens (@robinrome) January 12, 2020

Aside from the strangeness of a former pope speaking publicly on a topic the current pope has under consideration, there are questions here about even Benedict’s ability to write a book, since he can no longer physically write or speak for more than 15 minutes at a time. https://t.co/2f065gEnjw

— Colleen Dulle (@ColleenDulle) January 13, 2020

But if Benedict’s physical and mental condition are not sharp enough for book-writing, Catholic Twitterers wondered whether there might be more to the story than meets the eye:

Reports on emeritus pope’s condition these past months concur: he is conscious for barely half an hour at a time. Yet he has insisted on loyalty. If he is giving views that undermine Francis it means he is being manipulated by the usual unscrupulous courtiers. #elderabuse https://t.co/fIhtrZC78t

— Austen Ivereigh (@austeni) January 12, 2020

compare this with the real circus in the Vatican, the one around the pope emeritus taking advantage of him https://t.co/qVuTYmxEkB

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 12, 2020

Ivereigh called it “intolerable” that Benedict, Sarah and their circles could be seen to be “interfering” with Francis’ pontificate, as did Vatican watcher Rich Raho:

Francis is reluctant to approve ordination of deacons as proposed by Amazon synod. Now, if he doesn’t, the Resistance will say: “Benedict stopped him”. In this way, the authority of Francis is undermined, and Benedict made to look interfering. It is intolerable.

— Austen Ivereigh (@austeni) January 13, 2020

The book co-authored by Benedict and Sarah is a totally disloyal intervening into the magisterium of Pope Francis.

— Rich Raho (@RichRaho) January 12, 2020

It’s stunning to think that as Francis pens Synod exhortation, that in the very backyard of the Vatican, Benedict co-authors book with a Curial head opposing the very thing the Synod proposed. But, Francis is free, and is the only Pope. I suspect he feels unconstrained by this.

— Rich Raho (@RichRaho) January 12, 2020

In the opinion of many Catholic Twitterers, that connection identified by Ivereigh and Raho to the (Amazon) Synod – which by a majority proposed the reintroduction of married priests in the Church – was the key to the Benedict/Sarah conspiracy:

There are certain truths with which some Catholics have yet to identify: The “Pope is one, it is Francis:” If Francis allows ordination in Amazon, that is part of the ordinary magisterium; if that teaching spreads to other global regions, so be it—today’s Church is “on the move.” pic.twitter.com/sYqMwJtdFi

— Rich Raho (@RichRaho) January 13, 2020

The synod made proposals to the Holy Father and each paragraph of the final document passed by 2/3 majority vote. As Supreme Pontiff, it’s now up to Pope Francis. Should he wish, Francis could make the final document or post-synodal exhortation part of the ordinary magisterium. https://t.co/Dy37UVeima

— Rich Raho (@RichRaho) January 13, 2020

Vatican correspondent for the British Catholic paper The Tablet, Christopher Lamb, was in agreement with the connection between the Benedict-Sarah book and the Amazon Synod:

#PopeFrancis talks about “opening processes”, as opposed to dictating ready made solutions. That’s what a “synodal Church” looks like.

Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah’s intervention on the celibacy debate won’t stop the discussion on ordaining married priests in the #Amazon

— Christopher Lamb (@ctrlamb) January 13, 2020

This is not about clerical celibacy. It’s about the freedom of the one pope Francis AND of the synodal process

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 13, 2020

Catholic Twitterzens made the most of the opportunity to point out the error in Benedict and Sarah’s thinking against optional celibacy: that is, that that of married priests is actually the older and more authentic tradition, and nothing (metaphysically speaking) to be ashamed of:

The Christian (indeed Catholic) Tradition has always embraced a presbyterate (i.e. ordained priesthood) of both married and celibate men.

The married presbyterate is actually older and more Traditional. St. Peter (the first pope?) was married and so were most of the apostles. https://t.co/XhB1j8MWNt

— Robert Mickens (@robinrome) January 13, 2020

Have greek-catholic married priests anything to say?

— Guido Dotti (@oKolobos) January 12, 2020

Today the Church remembers St. Hilary of Poitier, 4th century Doctor of the Church.

Hilary had a wife and had a daughter (Apra) who were still alive when he was named Bishop of Poitier around the year 350.

— Robert Mickens (@robinrome) January 13, 2020

How can the great Ratzinger lose his metaphysical marbles when talking about priestly celibacy? To suppose that total devotion to God and total devotion to a human being are incompatible is to make the elementary mistake of thinking that the two are on the same ontic plane. https://t.co/Xhqqqas9IV

— john milbank (@johnmilbank3) January 13, 2020

Ivereigh also pointed out that Benedict has actually admitted married men to the priesthood in the past, and in that sense appears to have backflipped in his book with Sarah:

In 2009, B16 admitted married men to the priesthood. In 2020, Cdl Sarah described them as “‘second class’ priests” who did not offer “a full experience of Christ the Bridegroom.” The emeritus pope appeared to agree. It was all very confusing. https://t.co/mY1Kc8q5TR

— Austen Ivereigh (@austeni) January 13, 2020

B16, Anglicanorum coetibus, 2009: the ordinary “may petition the Roman Pontiff … for the admission of married men to the order of presbyter on a case by case basis”. Emeritus B16, new book, 2019: “the ability to renounce marriage …. is a criterion for the priestly ministry.”

— Austen Ivereigh (@austeni) January 13, 2020

Beyond the specific question of Benedict and Sarah’s opinions on priestly celibacy, however, many Catholic Twitterers were in agreement that the news of Benedict still making his presence felt in Church debates revealed a fundamental problem around the institution of “Pope Emeritus”:

"Whatever you think, it's interesting that Ratzinger proposes his theological reflections under his papal name Benedict XVI." https://t.co/WfIzdXrONR

— Joshua McElwee (@joshjmac) January 13, 2020

3 lessons that having a Pope-emeritus has perhaps taught the church for the future: He should never be called pope-emeritus, but rather bishop-emeritus of Rome. He should never wear white. He should never live at the Vatican, or even in Rome.

— Rich Raho (@RichRaho) January 12, 2020

The “office” of emeritus Pope has become extremely problematic. With Benedict’s advanced age, I suspect other forces at work here. Benedict promised “unconditional reverence and obedience” to future Pope in his farewell address to College of Cardinals. https://t.co/kJGHpTM8sO

— Rich Raho (@RichRaho) January 12, 2020

the problem with the "emeritus" is that the power associated with the office of Bishop of Rome is no longer exclusively a religious power legally codified. This is why this kind of intervention constitutes an illegitimate form of pressure on the one pope

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 12, 2020

If being “Pope emeritus” means un-responsibility toward the one pope, there is something that evidently is not working

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 12, 2020

Not only there is no canon law concerning the situation created by an incapacitated pope.
The Catholic Church evidently also needs a law concerning the situation created by an incapacitated "pope emeritus" and his entourage.

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 13, 2020

Not only, though, is there canon law regarding the limits of the office a “Pope Emeritus”, but Benedict’s continued interference is giving fuel to Pope Francis’ opponents, as Faggioli pointed out:

for some Catholics, Benedict XVI never retired really. They are disobeying him, or he is disobeying himself, or both

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 12, 2020

That said, some netizens took the opportunity for a bit of catechesis.

Though we appear to have “Two Popes”, in reality there’s only one man on the throne of St. Peter, as canon law professor Kurt Martens recalled:

It is interesting to see how a book encourages people to claim that Benedict XVI is still pope. Well, sorry to break the news, but the see of Rome became vacant when Benedict resigned on February 28, 2013. Francis was legitimately elected on March 13, 2013. Francis is the pope. pic.twitter.com/luZncIYDne

— Kurt Martens (@DrKurtMartens) January 12, 2020

As this news about the emeritus pope emerges, it is good to recall that there is only one Pope, one Bishop of Rome: Francis. He and he alone has the power associated with the office of Bishop of Rome. It may be good to rethink the position of a pope who resigns from office. https://t.co/oXFiZn80iT

— Kurt Martens (@DrKurtMartens) January 12, 2020

Just as a reminder for Catholic Twitter: canon 273 imposes a special obligation on clerics (deacons, priests, and bishops, thus also including Joseph Ratzinger): they all are bound by a special obligation to show reverence and obedience to the Supreme Pontiff.

— Kurt Martens (@DrKurtMartens) January 12, 2020

I hope everyone who was upset with the portrayal in “The Two Popes” as fiction passing itself off as fact will see that in reality that movie is art that depicts life. https://t.co/mklt4xeGra

— David Gibson (@GibsonWrites) January 12, 2020

History will be with Joseph Ratzinger (and his unkept promises as “emeritus”) less gentle than “The Two Popes” https://t.co/J8ueM7fPtt

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 12, 2020

Meanwhile, Catholic conservatives like the Rorate Caeli blog were ecstatic with Benedict and Sarah’s latest intrusion into the smooth running of the worldwide Church under Francis, and were already looking forward to a future conclave.

This is as clear an anointment as there can be.#AmazonSynod #FutureConclave pic.twitter.com/269MivuOft

— Rorate Caeli (@RorateCaeli) January 12, 2020

That was just one sign of the confusion – to say the least – that Benedict and Sarah’s new book has created.

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Author Mada Jurado

Progressive Catholic journalist, author and educator. Working on social justice, equality and Church renewal.

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