In his first interview since assuming the role, Archbishop Fernández (pictured) spoke about various pressing issues, including clerical abuse, the German Synodal Way, same-sex blessings and his approach to his new responsibilities.

The archbishop, who hails from La Plata, Argentina, revealed that he had written a letter to the members of the Vatican's doctrine dicastery, expressing his admiration for the current prefect, Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer SJ, as a theologian and for his work style.

However, "I will do it ‘my way' as the Italian song says," Fernández added in the interview with the Spanish Catholic website InfoVaticana published on July 5.

Emphasising the importance of Pope Francis' call for synodality, Archbishop Fernández stated that he would prioritise listening and understanding before making any decisions. He acknowledged the considerations put forth in the letter the pope sent him, expressing his intention to apply them in some manner.

Same-sex blessings

On the issue of same-sex blessings, Archbishop Fernández aligned himself with the Church's stance against same-sex unions, stating that marriage in its strict sense is the union of a man and a woman capable of procreation.

However, Fernández suggested that if a blessing could be given without causing confusion, it should be analysed and confirmed.

Archbishop Fernández discussed the complexities surrounding the handling of clerical abuse cases, citing the need to believe the accusers while ensuring due process for the accused priests. He acknowledged the challenges of striking a balance and learning from canonists to navigate these delicate situations.

When asked about the opposition to his appointment and concerns that he might deviate from the expected role of the prefect, Archbishop Fernández responded by highlighting the value of having a Latin American occupy such a position.

"Does it not seem good to you that for some time in history a Latin American who has been a parish priest of the peripheries, who grew up in a small town in the countryside, with a sensitivity close to the pain of the discarded of society, with a life story very different from that of a European or American, but who at the same time is a doctor in theology, occupies this position?

"Once again, I tell them that I will learn from history, I will respect the processes, I will dialogue, but I will do it 'my way'."

Sources

Catholic News Agency

InfoVaticana

CathNews New Zealand

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In a statement late Monday, the spokesperson for the Archdiocese of La Plata, Argentina, countered allegations from BishopAccountability.org that Fernández did not fully believe victims of sexual abuse.

Fernández has served as the Archbishop of La Plata since 2018.

The spokesman claims the Archbishop emphasised that while such accusations are "always believed," natural justice demands a thorough investigation, and due process is required.

Fernández has long faced criticism from BishopAccountability.org - a US-based group that tracks sexual abuse by clergy.

In a written statement, BishopAccountability.org's group co-director Anne Barrett Doyle said Fernández "publicly defended" and supported a priest in the face of five sex abuse allegations in 2019.

She said that Fernández continued to stand by the priest even after an arrest warrant was issued and the priest committed suicide.

His "handling of that case causes me great concern. He kept the priest in parish ministry, even as more and more victims came forward.

"He showed a reckless willingness to gamble with the safety of children. He showed contempt for the alleged victims.

"If his response to this case is representative of his attitude toward allegations, he will do tremendous harm as prefect [of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith]."

However, his spokesperson says the archbishop is not soft on sex abusers, and in regard to the case Doyle raised, Fernández "never expressed that he did not believe them [the alleged victims], beyond what some blogs that issue free opinions may have said," the spokesperson says.

He notes accusers in cases like this are always, in principle, automatically believed.

The spokesman says Fernández is not to be swayed by either side until he knows the facts as decided in court.

He says Fernández believes investigation and due process are necessary because the legislation itself establishes it.

"As new testimonies appeared, the archbishop was taking new measures, beginning by prohibiting him [the accused] from all activities with minors until confining him in a Caritas department," his spokesperson says.

"At the beginning it was only a matter of reopening a criminal and canonical investigation that had been closed years before.

"Subsequently, other new testimonies appeared and new measures were taken before them."

In fact, far from being soft, the archdiocese has done well in responding to clergy abuse cases, the spokesperson says.

He cites a priest imprisoned and another (the Institute Miles Christi founder) expelled from the priesthood.

In all cases, established corresponding steps were followed "and always in consultation with the Holy See in the correspondence that is preserved."

The spokesperson added that Pope Francis asked Fernández to focus on his new role's doctrinal or theological sections, leaving child abuse matters to the specialised professionals of the discipline section.

Fernández is set to begin his tenure at the Vatican in September.

Source

• Catholic News Service

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is one of the Vatican's most influential departments.

Known as an influential papal theological adviser, Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez will take up his appointment in September this year.

That's just a month before the Sixteenth Ordinary Synod of Bishops, scheduled for this October in Rome. At this - the synod on synodality's third and universal phase - the bishops will reflect on synthesised feedback from all corners of the world.

Importantly, Francis's theme for this synod is the "Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission".

Marriage of two minds

Known as a trusted papal advisor, Fernandez is widely believed to have been a key author behind some of Francis' most consequential documents.

These include, for example, the 2016 papal exhortation "God is Love". That exhortation discussed enabling divorced Catholics who remarry in civil ceremonies to receive Communion.

It's an issue many hope will open the way for people who currently can't receive Communion to be allowed to do so.

Others are likely to object. The conservative hierarchy will. So will rank-and-file faithful. Many may not want such a change codified in teaching about the sacraments.

Changing times

Change is in the air and Francis is preparing for it.

His new appointee will lead the doctrine office immediately after decisions coming out of the synod on synodality are finalised.

In his letter to Fernandez about his prestigious appointment, Francis wrote:

"I entrust to you, as the new prefect of the Dicastery ... to safeguard the teaching that flows from the faith to ‘give reasons for our hope, but not as an enemy who critiques and condemns' (Evangelii gaudium, 271)."

He also says: "The dicastery over which you will preside in other times came to use immoral methods.

"Those were times when, rather than promoting theological knowledge, possible doctrinal errors were pursued. What I expect from you is certainly something very different.

"So as not to limit the significance of this task ... it is a matter of ‘increasing the understanding and transmission of the faith in the service of evangelisation, so that its light may be a criterion for understanding the meaning of existence, especially in the face of the questions posed by the progress of the sciences and the development of society." Francis wrote.

About Fernandez

The new Prefect is 60 years old. His roles to date include terms as dean of the Faculty of Theology of Buenos Aires, president of the Argentine Society of Theology, and president of the Argentine bishops' faith and culture commission.

The Holy See press office says his writings are marked by "a significant biblical basis and a constant effort to create a dialogue between theology and culture, evangelising mission, spirituality and social issues."

He is replacing 79-year-old Jesuit Cardinal Luis Ladaria who is retiring.

Ladaria took over the office in 2017 after Francis removed conservative German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller.

Francis is likely to appoint Fernandez as a cardinal, meaning he would be eligible to vote in future conclaves for the next two decades.

Source

• CTV News
• The Pillar