(Rome) Another theologian explained that Cardinal Walter Kasper Cardinal at the consistory in late February distorted the Church Fathers and manipulated quotations to justify the allowance remarried divorcees.
According to the Prefect of the CDF, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, according to the former President of the Pontifical Committee of Historical Sciences, Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, according questions about marriage that John Paul II's most esteemed theologian on matters of marriage and the family, Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, according to a leading canonist of the Roman Curia, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis and according to Cardinal Thomas Collins, a "rising star in the College of Cardinals," says Vatican expert Sandro Magister, and now also took one of the most important voices of the Australian theology, Adam G. Cooper, member of the International Association for Patristic Studies even made a statement.
Patristic Scholar Cooper Dismantles Kasper's "Theorem"
Cooper dismantled Kasper's "Theorem" and disagreed with the assertion of the German emeritus Cardinal that there is a possibility to allow remarried divorcees to receive Communion. A thesis advanced by Kasper at Cardinal Consistory from privileged position allowed by Pope Francis with a view to the October 2014 and 2015 Synods on the family.
In a lengthy essay in a respectful, but unambiguous tone that was published by the Catholic World Report , patristics expert examined the quoted Cardinal Kasper in support of its argument places of the Church Fathers: Origen, Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus and the Canon 8 of the Council of Nicea.
"Unfortunate that Cardinal Kasper, has distorted the testimonies of the early Church"
Cooper can prove that none of the references cited by Kasper's points can infer admission to Communion for remarried divorcees. Cooper's conclusion reads: "It is unfortunate that Cardinal Kasper has distorted the testimony of the early Church to this extent for a pastoral solution he seems to represent". For the overall question, says the Australian theologian, the subject is complex and is not to say that there are answers exactly to the problems of today which must follow from what stands in the writings of the Church Fathers. These can not derive in any case an admission of remarried divorcees to Communion. But this breaks down the whole argument of Cardinal Kasper, who justified his thesis in a misleading manner by reference to the Church Fathers.
