Moral theology of John Paul I
Encyclopedia
The moral theology of John Paul I has been openly debated and his opinions expressed on Humanae Vitae
, artificial insemination
and homosexuality
have been cited as a significant part of Pope John Paul I conspiracy theories
.
as the issue came to prominence in the wake of the Second Vatican Council
. In 1968 as Bishop of Veneto Vittorio he submitted a confidential report to his predecessor as Patriarch of Venice arguing that the recently developed contraceptive pill should be permitted by the church. The report was agreed by fellow Veneto bishops and submitted to Paul VI.
After Paul VI issued the encyclical Humanae Vitae
, Luciani did defend it publicly. But in a letter to his diocese on July 29, 1968, shortly after publication of the encyclical, he wrote: “I must confess that I hoped in my heart, even though I didn’t let it out in writing, that the very serious difficulties could be overcome and that the reply of the Teacher, who speaks with a special charism and in the name of the Lord, might coincide with the hopes raised in so many couples, especially after the establishment of a special pontifical commission to examine the issue.” Nevertheless, he added, "I am confident that I have everyone with me in a sincere adherence to the papal teaching."
Investigative writer David Yallop
claims that Luciani referred to several encyclicals and pronouncements from Pope Paul VI, but never referred publicly to Humanae Vitae
as pope himself. In May 1978 John Paul I was invited to speak at a conference in Milan
to be held that June to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the encyclical. Not only did he refuse to speak, but he also refused to attend. He supposedly informed his secretary of state Cardinal Jean Villot that, regarding Humanae Vitae, "we cannot leave the situation as it currently stands." . In another conversation with Cardinal Villot on September 19, 1978, he reportedly told the secretary of state that "We have been discussing birth control for forty-five minutes...during that period of time we have been talking over one thousand children under the age of five have died of malnutrition. God does not always provide." .
Journalist John L. Allen claims that "it’s virtually certain that John Paul I would not have reversed Paul VI’s teaching, particularly since he was no doctrinal radical. Moreover, as Patriarch in Venice
some had seen a hardening of his stance on social issues as the years went by. Nevertheless "...it is reasonable to assume that John Paul I would not have insisted upon the negative judgment in Humanae Vitae as aggressively and publicly as John Paul II did, and probably would not have treated it as a quasi-infallible teaching. It would have remained a more “open” question..
Others take a different view. In the book The Smiling Pope: The Life and Teaching of John Paul I, it is argued that, "Luciani was intransigent with his upholding of the teaching of the Church and severe with those, through intellectual pride and disobedience paid no attention to the Church's prohibition of contraception", though while not condoning the sin, he was tolerant of those who sincerely tried and failed to live up to the Church's teaching. The book also states that "...if some people think that his compassion and gentleness in this respect implies he was against Humane Vitae one can only infer it was wishful thinking on their part and an attempt to find an ally in favor of artificial contraception."
in Illustrissimi
, Luciani took a strongly critical view of abortion, arguing that it violated God's law and went against the deepest aspirations of women, disturbing them profoundly.
According to Lucien Gregoire, in 1941 Luciani wrote a thesis, Strategy of a Strange War (a copy of which is allegedly deposited in the Apostolic Library), in which he discussed human sexuality after observing the sexual behavior of Italian prisoners. He concluded that sexual orientation was essentially unchangeable, and that it was not uncommon for heterosexual male prisoners to engage in same-sex acts
, thus illustrating a distinction between sexual behavior and sexual orientation. During his time as Patriarch of Venice he became particularly outspoken on issues of sexuality, and controversially advocated greater tolerance and acceptance in the Church for gay men and women.
Luciani allegedly permitted the adoption of children from orphanages in his diocese by homosexual couples reasoning in a letter to a colleague, "that we have found that homosexuals will take handicapped and less than healthy and attractive children. Most importantly they will take bastards
." It was in part due to his lobbying in the Italian Parliament that it became legal for single persons to adopt children in Italy, and he directly accepted that this would include homosexuals . In a letter to his mother he bemoaned that "There is something terribly wrong with a society that thinks one's sex is what makes one a good parent".
Gregoire also claims that before his death Pope Paul VI
even permitted Luciani to address the Vatican cardinals on the possibility that the Church might encourage homosexuals to enter into long-term loving relationships. This received a poor reception, but in conclusion he stated that
Gregoire's account of Luciani's views on gay and lesbian issues has been challenged by other writers, who have argued that the thesis Strategy of a Strange War is nonexistent, and that Luciani's actual thesis for his licentiate in theology (corresponding to Gregoire's "intermediate thesis") was about the custom of judicial ordeals in the Middle Ages.
As a bishop, Luciani reportedly conducted research on the problem of clerical pederasty
and concluded that it was much more present among parochial clergy than among monastic clergy, given that such clergy were much less likely to be in contact with young adults. He is said to have criticized the role of certain liturgical vestments in attracting people with sexual paraphilias to the priesthood. He also felt that many members of the clergy were of a transgendered orientation, and were not necessarily homosexual.
, Luciani, while expressing concerns about the possibility that artificial insemination could lead to women being used as "baby factories," also refused to condemn the parents. He said, "From every side the press is sending its congratulations to the English couple and best wishes to their baby girl. In imitation of God, who desires and loves human life, I too offer my best wishes to the baby girl. As for her parents, I do not have any right to condemn them; subjectively, if they have acted with the right intention and in good faith, they may even obtain great merit before God for what they have decided on and asked the doctors to carry out." He added, "Getting down, however, to the act in itself, and good faith aside, the moral problem which is posed is: is extrauterine fertilization in vitro or in a test tube, licit? . . .I do not find any valid reasons to deviate from this norm, by declaring licit the separation of the transmission of life from the marriage act."
According to Gregoire, he also sent his own congratulations to the Brown family, stating:
"I want you to be assured that there is for you and your child a high place in Heaven."
Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae is an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI and issued on 25 July 1968. Subtitled On the Regulation of Birth, it re-affirms the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church regarding married love, responsible parenthood, and the continuing proscription of most forms of birth...
, artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
and homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
have been cited as a significant part of Pope John Paul I conspiracy theories
Pope John Paul I conspiracy theories
Pope John Paul I died alone in September 1978 only a month after his election to the Papacy. The suddenness of the death, and the Vatican's difficulties with the ceremonial and legal death procedures have resulted in several conspiracy theories.-Rationale:Discrepancies in the Vatican's account of...
.
Contraception
Albino Luciani had mixed feelings regarding the traditional Catholic teaching on contraceptionContraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
as the issue came to prominence in the wake of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. In 1968 as Bishop of Veneto Vittorio he submitted a confidential report to his predecessor as Patriarch of Venice arguing that the recently developed contraceptive pill should be permitted by the church. The report was agreed by fellow Veneto bishops and submitted to Paul VI.
After Paul VI issued the encyclical Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae is an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI and issued on 25 July 1968. Subtitled On the Regulation of Birth, it re-affirms the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church regarding married love, responsible parenthood, and the continuing proscription of most forms of birth...
, Luciani did defend it publicly. But in a letter to his diocese on July 29, 1968, shortly after publication of the encyclical, he wrote: “I must confess that I hoped in my heart, even though I didn’t let it out in writing, that the very serious difficulties could be overcome and that the reply of the Teacher, who speaks with a special charism and in the name of the Lord, might coincide with the hopes raised in so many couples, especially after the establishment of a special pontifical commission to examine the issue.” Nevertheless, he added, "I am confident that I have everyone with me in a sincere adherence to the papal teaching."
Investigative writer David Yallop
David Yallop
David Anthony Yallop is an agnostic British author who writes chiefly about unsolved crimes. In the 1970s he also contributed scripts for a number of BBC comedy shows...
claims that Luciani referred to several encyclicals and pronouncements from Pope Paul VI, but never referred publicly to Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae is an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI and issued on 25 July 1968. Subtitled On the Regulation of Birth, it re-affirms the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church regarding married love, responsible parenthood, and the continuing proscription of most forms of birth...
as pope himself. In May 1978 John Paul I was invited to speak at a conference in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
to be held that June to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the encyclical. Not only did he refuse to speak, but he also refused to attend. He supposedly informed his secretary of state Cardinal Jean Villot that, regarding Humanae Vitae, "we cannot leave the situation as it currently stands." . In another conversation with Cardinal Villot on September 19, 1978, he reportedly told the secretary of state that "We have been discussing birth control for forty-five minutes...during that period of time we have been talking over one thousand children under the age of five have died of malnutrition. God does not always provide." .
Journalist John L. Allen claims that "it’s virtually certain that John Paul I would not have reversed Paul VI’s teaching, particularly since he was no doctrinal radical. Moreover, as Patriarch in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
some had seen a hardening of his stance on social issues as the years went by. Nevertheless "...it is reasonable to assume that John Paul I would not have insisted upon the negative judgment in Humanae Vitae as aggressively and publicly as John Paul II did, and probably would not have treated it as a quasi-infallible teaching. It would have remained a more “open” question..
Others take a different view. In the book The Smiling Pope: The Life and Teaching of John Paul I, it is argued that, "Luciani was intransigent with his upholding of the teaching of the Church and severe with those, through intellectual pride and disobedience paid no attention to the Church's prohibition of contraception", though while not condoning the sin, he was tolerant of those who sincerely tried and failed to live up to the Church's teaching. The book also states that "...if some people think that his compassion and gentleness in this respect implies he was against Humane Vitae one can only infer it was wishful thinking on their part and an attempt to find an ally in favor of artificial contraception."
Abortion
In his letter to Carlo GoldoniCarlo Goldoni
Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty...
in Illustrissimi
Illustrissimi
Illustrissimi or To the Illustrious Ones, are a collection of letters written by Pope John Paul I when he was Patriarch of Venice. The letters were originally published in the Italian Christian paper 'Messaggero di S. Antonio' between 1972 and 1975, and published in book form in 1976...
, Luciani took a strongly critical view of abortion, arguing that it violated God's law and went against the deepest aspirations of women, disturbing them profoundly.
Homosexuality
In a 1974 interview in Venice, Luciani publicly upheld the traditional line: "A sexuality that is worthy of man must be a part of love for a person of a different sex with the added commitments of fidelity and indissolubility.".According to Lucien Gregoire, in 1941 Luciani wrote a thesis, Strategy of a Strange War (a copy of which is allegedly deposited in the Apostolic Library), in which he discussed human sexuality after observing the sexual behavior of Italian prisoners. He concluded that sexual orientation was essentially unchangeable, and that it was not uncommon for heterosexual male prisoners to engage in same-sex acts
Men who have sex with men
Men who have sex with men are male persons who engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, regardless of how they identify themselves; many men choose not to accept sexual identities of homosexual or bisexual...
, thus illustrating a distinction between sexual behavior and sexual orientation. During his time as Patriarch of Venice he became particularly outspoken on issues of sexuality, and controversially advocated greater tolerance and acceptance in the Church for gay men and women.
Luciani allegedly permitted the adoption of children from orphanages in his diocese by homosexual couples reasoning in a letter to a colleague, "that we have found that homosexuals will take handicapped and less than healthy and attractive children. Most importantly they will take bastards
Legitimacy
Legitimacy, from the Latin word legitimare , may refer to:* Legitimacy * Legitimacy of standards* Legitimacy * Legitimate expectation* Legitimate peripheral participation* Legitimate theater* Legitimation...
." It was in part due to his lobbying in the Italian Parliament that it became legal for single persons to adopt children in Italy, and he directly accepted that this would include homosexuals . In a letter to his mother he bemoaned that "There is something terribly wrong with a society that thinks one's sex is what makes one a good parent".
Gregoire also claims that before his death Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
even permitted Luciani to address the Vatican cardinals on the possibility that the Church might encourage homosexuals to enter into long-term loving relationships. This received a poor reception, but in conclusion he stated that
"The day is not far off when we will have to answer to these people who through the years have been humiliated, whose rights have been ignored, whose human dignity has been offended, their identity denied and their liberty oppressed. What is more we will have to answer to the God who created them".
Gregoire's account of Luciani's views on gay and lesbian issues has been challenged by other writers, who have argued that the thesis Strategy of a Strange War is nonexistent, and that Luciani's actual thesis for his licentiate in theology (corresponding to Gregoire's "intermediate thesis") was about the custom of judicial ordeals in the Middle Ages.
Clerical abuse
Luciani was allegedly reprimanded by the Vatican for condemning an American bishop for paying off the alleged victim of a predatory priest. He claimed that "It would be better to try our accused fellow servants in a court of law so they can be cleared of any wrongdoing and if found guilty, they should pay their debt to society. It is not Mother Church's business to pay their debt in cash, particularly to pay it with money intended for the poor. Besides, if we take no action to get at the truth, we may very well be endangering countless children in the future."As a bishop, Luciani reportedly conducted research on the problem of clerical pederasty
Pederasty
Pederasty or paederasty is an intimate relationship between an adult and an adolescent boy outside his immediate family. The word pederasty derives from Greek "love of boys", a compound derived from "child, boy" and "lover".Historically, pederasty has existed as a variety of customs and...
and concluded that it was much more present among parochial clergy than among monastic clergy, given that such clergy were much less likely to be in contact with young adults. He is said to have criticized the role of certain liturgical vestments in attracting people with sexual paraphilias to the priesthood. He also felt that many members of the clergy were of a transgendered orientation, and were not necessarily homosexual.
Artificial insemination
In an interview shortly before the death of Pope Paul VI, when asked for his reaction to the birth of the first test-tube baby Louise BrownLouise Brown
Louise Joy Brown is the first person to be conceived by in vitro fertilization, or IVF.-Birth:...
, Luciani, while expressing concerns about the possibility that artificial insemination could lead to women being used as "baby factories," also refused to condemn the parents. He said, "From every side the press is sending its congratulations to the English couple and best wishes to their baby girl. In imitation of God, who desires and loves human life, I too offer my best wishes to the baby girl. As for her parents, I do not have any right to condemn them; subjectively, if they have acted with the right intention and in good faith, they may even obtain great merit before God for what they have decided on and asked the doctors to carry out." He added, "Getting down, however, to the act in itself, and good faith aside, the moral problem which is posed is: is extrauterine fertilization in vitro or in a test tube, licit? . . .I do not find any valid reasons to deviate from this norm, by declaring licit the separation of the transmission of life from the marriage act."
According to Gregoire, he also sent his own congratulations to the Brown family, stating:
"I want you to be assured that there is for you and your child a high place in Heaven."