Argentine Archbishop Victor Fernandez has taken liberties in his role as ghostwriter for Pope Francis. Michael Pakaluk, an ethics professor at the Catholic University of America, examines some of the problematic passages of Amoris Laetita in a stunning article at Crux.
In his response to Pakaluk, Archbishop Fernandez writes:
I would never admit that anyone can receive Communion if the person is not in a state of sanctifying grace. This profoundly contradicts my own theology, and cannot be based on my texts. I say only that an objective situation of sin can be subjectively not guilty. In that case, the objective situation of sin would not deprive the state of sanctifying grace.
I respond to His Excellency Archbishop Fernandez, because not too long ago I struggled with the precise theological point he believes allows him to sanction access to Holy Communion for those in “irregular” relationships. His logic is thus: There are couples who are in an objective state of grave sin but who do not feel subjectively guilty. There may even be evidence of grace in their lives. If they are at peace with God and a priest can attest to it, they are in a state to receive Holy Communion.
Read the rest of the article at First Things