Dicastery for the Faith: Secretary Remains a Priest, Under-Secretaries Become Bishops

On Monday, Francis appointed two members of the Congregation for the Destruction of the Faith as bishops, as if the episcopate were not a sacrament but just an empty honorary title. The two are:

- Monsignor John Joseph Kennedy, 56, an Irishman and secretary (head) of the disciplinary section in charge of cases of alleged abuse by clergy.

- Monsignor Philippe Curbelie, 55, a Frenchman and undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The superior of the two, the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Monsignor Armando Matteo, 53, remains a simple priest of the Archdiocese of Catanzaro-Squillace, Italy. His position was previously linked to an episcopal consecration.

With these two appointments, Francis has created the absurd situation of one priest being the superior of two bishops. In practice, this will inevitably lead to conflicts and more theological contradictions.

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