Conservative theologians accuse Pope Francis of heresy

VATICAN CITY — Several dozen traditionminded Roman Catholic theologians, priests and academics have formally accused Pope Francis of spreading heresy with his 2016 opening to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics.

In a 25-page letter delivered to Francis last month and provided Saturday to The Associated Press, the 62 signatories issued a “filial correction” to the pope — a measure they said hadn't been employed since the 14th century.

The letter accuses Francis of propagating seven heretical positions concerning marriage, moral life and the sacraments with his 2016 document “The Joy of Love” and subsequent “acts, words and omissions.”

The initiative follows another formal act by four tradition-minded cardinals who wrote Francis last year asking him to clarify a series of “doubts” they had about his 2016 text.

The Vatican spokesman didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment late Saturday.

None of the signatories of the new letter is a cardinal, and the highestranking churchman listed has no legal standing in the Catholic Church: Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the breakaway Society of St. Pius X.

But organizers said the initiative was a sign of the concern among some academics and pastors over Francis’ positions.

In the 2016 document, Francis states bluntly that “divorce is an evil” but gives some wiggle room on granting Holy Communion to divorcees.

On abortion and gay marriage, he was far less ambivalent, writing in the case of the latter that “same-sex unions ... may not simply be equated with marriage.”