Cardinal Dominik Duka repeatedly defended Catholic fact in the face of doctrinal chaos and moral modernity. Together with it, the Catholic Church – and especially the Church in Europe – loses 1 of the brightest figures of the conflict for the continuity of its own teaching.
The multi-year Archbishop of Prague was celebrated in 2016, erstwhile he and 3 cardinals signed the celebrated dubia – an enquiry to Pope Francis. Walter Brandmüller, Carlo Caffarra, Dominik Duka and Joachim Meisner – these purples wanted to know what Pope Francis was actually teaching in the Apostolic Adhortation published that year Amoris laetitia. They asked the question of allowing divorcees in re-union to Holy Communion; they asked the pope to explain his teaching on the function of human conscience. Pope Francis never responded to these dubies, suggesting that he did not like their form. According to tradition, dubia is answered “yes” or “no”, and Francis refused to do so.
In 2023 Cardinal Duka resumed his attempt, this time asking the question of the Dicastery of religion Science. 1 of the Czech bishops, Tomasz Holub of Pilzna, began to apply an innovative explanation in his diocese Amoris laetitia, close to German. It was about allowing divorcees to enter the Eucharist, even if they live as a husband and wife in a second relationship, surviving intimately. The Cardinal asked if this explanation was acceptable. As you know, it contradicts teaching Familiaris consortio St. John Paul II. Cardinal Duce responded to the then prefect of Dycasteria, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández. He said Amoris laetitia has made changes and in certain situations it is possible to let specified persons to receive Holy Communion. The Czech purple did not comment publically on this reply.
Dominic Duka besides stood up for another endangered truths. He has repeatedly criticised LGBT ideology, which the increasing number of bishops in Europe accept. He specifically said that the Holy See should clearly defend the Gospel; he pointed to attempts to exclude the Church from public space in the West and to lie the fact about the human person.
He negatively assessed the German Synodal Way, naming Cardinal Reinhard Marx or Bishop Georg Bätzing as those who wanted to strike the legacy of Pope Benedict XVI.
He besides defended the Underground Church in China, as did Cardinal Joseph Zen criticizing the secret agreement the Vatican made with Beijing. citing his own experience of surviving in a communist state, he pointed out that collaboration with the government could seriously harm the Church.
At 1 time the cardinal besides spoke positively of monarchies, stressing that under unchangeable regulation of kings peace and prosperity could flourish, and Republican governments frequently lead to chaos. Among another things, he pointed to arabian states, where monarchs allowed and allowed social peace.
Without Cardinal Dominic Duka, the Catholic Church will undoubtedly be poorer in 1 of the most crucial defenders of truth. Give him, God, eternal rest—and to us successive bishops who will be ready to argue liberal ideology, whether in a state or in the Church itself.
Paweł Chmielewski
