Cardinal Muller departs the CDF: What does it mean?

Pope Francis has not confirmed Cardinal Gerhard Muller for a second fiveyear term as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Jul 07, 2017

By Michael Sean Winters
Pope Francis has not confirmed Cardinal Gerhard Muller for a second fiveyear term as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Holy Father has selected the longtime Deputy at the congregation, Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J. to move up to the top spot.

I have not been able to confirm Andrea Tornielli’s report that Pope Francis offered Muller a different curial post and that Muller declined, saying such a post was “beneath his dignity.” If this is true, it is outrageous. Curial officials serve at the pleasure of the Pope. Their entire job is to help him. Cardinals take a special vow of obedience to the Holy Father. They pledge to support Jesus and His vicar even to the shedding of their blood, hence their red robes. Does Muller think his blood is less costly than his pride? I know this: If Pope Francis called Cardinal Sean O’Malley and told him he wanted him to go back to being the Bishop of the Virgin Islands or director of the Centro Catolico in Washington, O’Malley would be thrilled. I hope Cardinal Muller finds a job in which he can learn to cultivate the virtue of humility.

The right wing is already offering histrionic and hysterical interpretations about what this announcement means. My favourite so far comes from LifeSiteNews’ John-Henry Westen which shows just how elaborate the conspiracy theories are. You can google the rest.

There is enormous continuity in the life of the Church. For all the flashy headlines about Pope Francis making changes, and he is making changes, the people to whom he entrusts the work were largely selected for positions of responsibility by Pope Benedict XVI or Pope John Paul II. The idea that a prefect of the CDF is entitled to keep the job for life died this morning (July 2), and good riddance to it. But, the new prefect is a man chosen by Pope Benedict four years before the selection of Muller. That said, I hope Cardinal Robert Sarah reads this Bollettino with care. Ditto for Cardinal Marc Ouellet. They need to make sure their dicasteries are not loci of obstruction to the Holy Father but functions as intended, as adjuncts to his office. Pope Francis has gone out of his way to work with the team he inherited, but if they are found wanting, it is time to let them go.

(This article first appeared on NCRonline.org, the Website of National Catholic Reporter, and is being used with permission)

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