Washington D.C., Nov 1, 2017 / 16:14 pm
A member of the Vatican's International Theological Commission has resigned his position as a consultant to the USCCB's Committee on Doctrine, following the publication of a letter written to Pope Francis asking the Pope to correct the "chronic confusion" of his pontificate, which he says "fosters within the faithful a growing unease."
Father Thomas Weinandy, OFM, Cap., who previously served as Executive Director of the USCCB's Secretariat for Doctrine, sent the five-page letter to Pope Francis July 31, the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Weinandy told Crux that he sent the letter after a powerful experience of discernment convinced him that "Jesus wanted me to write something" that would "be of help to Pope Francis, to the Church, and to the faithful."
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, James Rogers, Chief Communications Officer of the USCCB, said that "after speaking with the General Secretary of the Conference today, Father Thomas Weinandy, OFM, Cap., has resigned, effective immediately, from his position as consultant to the USCCB Committee on Doctrine. The work of the Committee is done in support of, and in affective collegiality with, the Holy Father and the Church in the United States. Our prayers go with Father Weinandy as his service to the Committee comes to a close."
Weinandy's letter, published by Crux on Wednesday, addressed five points. Weinandy told the Pope that his pontificate had fostered confusion, diminished the importance of doctrine in the Church's life, appointed bishops who teach and act in harmful ways, fostered a culture of fear among bishops, and caused faithful Catholics to lose confidence in the papacy.