The African Bishops' Clever Gambit

The release of Fiducia Supplicans has been difficult for many in the Church.  As I noted in my Youtube video, a proper understanding of the document requires some technical reading.  

You can't read the stuff in paragraph 31 in the most intuitive way.  Instead it must be understood in light of stuff from way back in paragraph 8.  When one does that, the resulting reading is orthodox.  But how many people were going to do that? Confusion has abounded.

This left bishops around the world in a tough position:

1.  Pope Francis doesn't hesitate to punish those who question his authority 
2.  Pope Francis is also swift to punish those who critique him from the ideological Right
3.  Fiducia Supplicans has been a massive failure in terms of communication

So... how do you deal with document while not stepping on the toes of the Pontiff?  

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo found an interesting way to do it.  It has been described as a rejection of FS, but its far more subtle than that.  Let's take a look.

The text of his letter can be found here.  It works especially well because it did the following this:

1. Affirms the position and authority of Pope Francis:  

The letter reads: 

"In summary, the Episcopal Conferences across Africa, which have strongly reaffirmed their communion with Pope Francis...."

Whereas some bishops have decided to fire salvos directly at the Pope, Cardinal Ambongo wanted to make it clear that he (and the other African bishops) is Pope Francis' man.  

2. Uses FS to nullify FS: 

There are a few locations where FS says that the blessing of same sex couples can proceed as long as there is no danger of confusing or scandalizing the faithful.

"For this reason, when it comes to blessings, the Church has the right and the duty to avoid any rite that might contradict this conviction or lead to confusion." -5 

"Pastoral prudence and wisdom—avoiding all serious forms of scandal and confusion among the faithful—may suggest that the ordained minister join in the prayer of those persons who, although in a union that cannot be compared in any way to a marriage, desire to entrust themselves to the Lord and his mercy, to invoke his help, and to be guided to a greater understanding of his plan of love and of truth." - 30

With that in mind, Cardinal Ambongo uses those provisos as his reason to reject wholesale the blessings which FS proscribes:

"For this reason, we, the African Bishops do not consider it appropriate for Africa to bless homosexual unions or same-sex couples because in our context this would cause confusion and would be in direct contradiction to the cultural ethos of African communities."

In other words, the don't say they are rejecting Fiducia Supplicans.  No, perish the thought.  Instead, they are going to be rigorously obedient to those portions of the document which say you cannot have risk of scandal.  Then, to the rest of the document, they can say: "Thanks, but no thanks."

3. Frames Any Attempt to Correct Them as "Cultural Colonization."

Pope Francis has always used the term "Cultural Colonization" to describe evil acts of imposition of one culture upon another.  It's something he would never want to be credibly accused of - at least not from the African bishops.  That's what it's critical that Cardinal Ambongo ends the letter with the following words:

"His Holiness Pope Francis, fiercely opposed to any form of cultural colonization in Africa, blesses the African people with all his heart and encourages them to remain faithful, as always, to the defense of Christian values."

Now if Pope Francis tries to dictate terms to the African bishops, he makes it look like he's the kind of colonizer he has condemned in the past.  

A Winning Strategy:

Whereas some Bishops have tried to oppose FS directly and accuse Pope Francis of causing confusion, the African Bishops have chosen a wise path.  They don't criticize the Pope or call his authority into question.  

The collective letter professes union with him, and then uses the statements in FS concerning avoiding scandal to throw the rest of the document in the trash. Then they frame any attempt to oppose their gambit as "cultural colonization".  At that point, what can the Vatican do other than leave them alone?    

Which is probably why in the preface to the letter, Cardinal Ambongo was able to say: 

"The message I transmit to you today has received the agreement of His Holiness Pope Francis and of His Eminence Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez."