Bishop James Golka's recent letter refers to the cause of Luisa Piccarreta as being temporarily on pause and, citing “publicly” from a “confidential” alleged letter of April 18, 2024, prohibits the dissemination of her writings and the gathering of any groups meeting to study and promote her writings. He adds, however perplexingly, that Luisa’s writings have “doctrinal errors” despite the fact that neither the Vatican, the Archdiocese entrust with her cause nor the confidential letter he publicly cites attribute ‘doctrinal errors’ to her original Italian original texts, several of which enjoy the Church’s present-day official seals of approval. Rather the letter the good bishop cites refers to “difficulties” - not ‘doctrinal errors’ - which may be clarified and resolved with theological contributions and clarifications. Consider, for example, the ‘difficulties’ identified by the Vatican in the writings of St. Faustina Kowlaska and Blessed Antonio Rosmini, all of which were later, through theological contributions, clarified, resolved and approved. It would appear to me that the good bishop intended to express that if doctrinal errors exist, they are not to be found in Luisa’s original text, but in its poor present-day translations.
Thus the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and the Doctrine of Faith have determined that in this period of reflection, a deeper study of and contributions by theologians is required to clarify some of Luisa’s expressions and language, the result of her limited education, dialect, cultural milieu, environment and religious ethos of the life of the community in which she wrote.
Canon Law Grants the Christian Faithful the Right to Gather
Allow me to cite canon 215 of the Church’s Code of Canon law that all clerics and laity are obliged to uphold: “The Christian faithful are at liberty freely to found and direct associations for purposes of charity or piety or for the promotion of the Christian vocation in the world and to hold meetings for the common pursuit of these purposes.” Inasmuch as one cannot prohibit the Christian faithful from holding meetings that adhere to those teachings and devotions that are in conformity with Magisterial teaching, and insofar as several of Luisa’s published works enjoy the seals of approval of the same Magisterium that remain in full effect today, e.g., The Hours of the Passion, the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will, etc., one cannot prohibit them from holding said gatherings. However, if what is being taught or observed in these gatherings contradicts Magisterial teaching, a cleric may intervene either to ensure that canon 223 §2 is not neglected, e.g., providing proper theological guidance or, if those attending said gatherings refuse such guidance or compliance with the Magisterium, to prohibit such gatherings.
It is noteworthy that an alleged letter (private or alleged) does not constitute an official public Church document and, as such, does not constitute grounds for prohibiting the Christian faithful from gathering.
Fr. J.L. Iannuzzi, STL, S,Th.D.
July 21, 2024