A fascinating article by
Nicholas Senz from http://www.crisismagazine.com analyses the issues around Amoris Laetitia and how a "montanist" approach, is taking hold in certain circles. He writes:-
"The presence of the Spirit should assure the faithful of God’s active
guiding presence in his Church. Yet the way that some speak of the
Spirit’s action, one would think it is less a personal Spirit that leads
all into truth than a nebulous spirit that vaguely whispers to some,
leaving others confused. Consider the usage of the baneful phrase “the
spirit of Vatican II,” a curious expression that has served for decades
as a catch-all for a collection of preferences and opinions that some
would like to attribute to the work of the Second Vatican Council, but
most if not all of which are strangely absent from the texts of the
council. We have been told by certain prelates, theologians, and
activists that everything from
versus populum liturgy to
soft-pedaling the dogmas on justification to radical changes in the
understanding of Holy Orders and who may or may not be ordained would
all follow from heeding the call of the “spirit of the council”—yet when
the constitutions and decrees of the council are consulted, none of
these ideas can be found, while their opposites certainly can be. The
Spirit of the faith cannot be so far divorced from its formulations.
More recently, we have seen this expression used in reference to the
controversies surrounding the interpretation of certain elements of the
apostolic exhortation
Amoris Laetitia. There can be no doubt
that the document’s position on the reception of communion by the
divorced and remarried is unclear, for different bishops and bishops’
conferences have released statements saying how perfectly and obviously
clear it is, while coming to diametrically opposed conclusions. Thus,
many parties have asked the Holy Father to clarify his teaching on the
subject or declared their resolve to remain true to the traditional
faith, from a
filial appeal of bishops and theologians to the
dubia submitted by several cardinals that have caused such a stir in ecclesial circles.
Other parties have argued that the document is quite clear..... Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head of the new Dicastery on
Laity, Family, and Life, has said that
Amoris Laetitia is “
the Holy Spirit speaking.” The head of the Roman Rota, Msgr. Pio Vito Pinto, said that in the work of the two Synods on the Family, “
The action of the Holy Spirit cannot be doubted.” The
diocesan chancellor for San Diego
has said of Bishop Robert McElroy’s planned implementation, “I think
the bishop has made an opportunity for the Spirit to move in that way,
and it’s a great thing.”
An article by Fr. James Martin, S.J., at the
America magazine website argues that the essence of
Amoris Laetitia’s
teaching is the Jesuit tradition of the “discernment of spirits” .... which .... could
legitimately lead one to conclude that God is calling them to receive
Holy Communion even though they are knowingly committing mortally sinful
acts, even if the Church teaches such an action would be gravely
spiritually harmful. It’s a whispering of the Spirit, you see."
Senz, equates such attitudes with the error of montanism, he states:-
"Such a situation puts me in mind of ....Montanism, or Phrygianism, (
which)was founded by the eponymous Montanus along
with two prophetesses, Maximilla and Priscilla, in the second century in
Asia Minor. Montanus believed himself to be a prophet of God through
whom the Holy Spirit spoke directly, delivering new revelation to the
Church. Maximilla and Priscilla eventually joined him, and the three
entered ecstatic states in which they proclaimed their new truths. Chief
among these innovations was a severe moral rigor and the belief that
Christ’s work of redemption was incomplete. These excesses led to their
condemnation by papal decree. Still, the extravagance of the seers and
the allure of the possibility of being possessed by God drew many
followers.
Whether it is the second or the twenty-first century, the idea of
having one’s preferred ideas supported or even inspired by the action of
the Holy Spirit is a seductive one. Thus we see a long history of
various groups, sects, and schools of thought putting forth their ideas
and defending them by declaring them “a movement of the Spirit.” And
now, we see a movement to apply this defense at the individual level.
Every Christian would in essence become a moral Montanist, needing only
to say, “I feel led by the Spirit to do this” to justify their actions.
But could this be? Could the Spirit lead us into sin in such a way....
One Timothy 2:4 tells us that “God desires all men to be saved and to
come to a knowledge of the truth.” .... If God were to give this knowledge only to some, or to tell
different things to different people, his desire could hardly be said to
be universal.
And if the movements of his Spirit lead to the
ambiguities and enigmas some claim they do, he could hardly be said to
be leading us to the truth. Thank God that is not the case."
For the whole article see:-
http://www.crisismagazine.com/2016/beware-moral-montanism.