His actions prove he needs to be dismissed.
A prominent Catholic organization, the John Paul II Academy for Human Life and Family, has urged Pope Francis to remove Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez from his role as Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. This appeal comes in the wake of the revelation of sexually explicit books written by Fernandez in the 1990s, prompting concerns about his fitness for the position.
The academy, dedicated to studying and upholding Catholic teachings on marriage and family, issued a statement expressing their request for Cardinal Fernandez’s dismissal. The sexually explicit books, including titles like “Heal Me With Your Mouth: The Art of Kissing” and “Mystical Passion: Spirituality and Sensuality,” were written by Fernandez in the 1990s and have garnered attention in recent news reports.
Cardinal Fernandez, who became a cardinal in September, is known for his involvement in the recent Vatican document, Fiducia Supplicans, which approved priests to bless same-sex couples. The controversy deepens as one of the books, “Mystical Passion,” contains content describing a purported mystical encounter between Jesus Christ and a teenage girl. Fernandez has expressed regret for these writings, citing his youth at the time of publication, and has since prohibited their reprinting.
Thomas Ward, President of the John Paul II Academy for Human Life and Family, voiced concern over Fernandez’s response, stating that regret and prohibition of reprinting do not address the gravity of the matter. He characterized the books as “scandalous” and bordering on pornography, criticizing passages that clash with traditional Church teachings.
Ward further highlighted specific excerpts from the book, such as the assertion that “God’s grace can coexist with weaknesses and even with sins” and descriptions of a mystical encounter involving a fulfilling orgasm in the relationship with God. The academy contends that Fernandez’s inclination towards “sensical-mystical literature” aligns with the worst excesses of the sexual revolution, undermining moral teachings.
Referring to an instruction from the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI, Ward argued that mystical-sensual literature has long been condemned for mixing immodest themes with sacred elements, leading readers astray.
The academy concluded its statement by formally requesting Pope Francis to dismiss Cardinal Fernandez and appoint a theologian faithful to the moral teachings of the Church. While the statement did not directly reference the recent document on blessing same-sex couples, it coincides with increased scrutiny on Fernandez due to his involvement in the declaration. The document has sparked debate within the Catholic community, with some viewing it as a progressive step and others as contradictory to traditional Church teachings on homosexuality.