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Rigidity: Faithfulness or Heterodoxy?
“Why is Pope Francis always criticizing faithful Catholics?” is an oft-repeated question whenever the Holy Father makes one of his usual invectives against religious rigidity. Francis has indeed made such denunciations a hallmark of his pontificate. But what does he mean by “rigidity”? Is he truly attacking faithful Catholics? Is he promoting moral and religious laxity?
In this book, Pedro Gabriel aims at clarifying Pope Francis’ teachings on rigidity, by relating them with certain keywords emerging repeatedly in his interventions. He also seeks to falsify the idea that a Catholic is faithful by being rigid, by comprehensively exploring precedents in Church history where the rigid course of action did not always prevent the faithful from falling into heterodoxy. Finally, Gabriel explains how eschewing rigidity does not necessarily entail the opposite extreme of laxism.
“Pedro Gabriel gives us a wonderful book on an ‘outgoing Church,’ a plea for the education of a Christian personality that is flexible but with a strong backbone. He discovers in the faith not an obstacle to the fullness of human life but a path—not only to eternal life but also to a life one hundred times more human here on earth.” – From the “Foreword,” by Rocco Buttiglione, Member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas
“Pedro Gabriel has written a truly brilliant book, not only for its readable style but above all for its pertinent content. Faithfulness or Heterodoxy? is not a mere exercise in Catholic apologetics, but a true educational path for those of us who need to rediscover the reasons for living to the full ‘the glorious freedom of the Children of God’ (Rom 8:21). Pedro Gabriel’s new book undoubtedly helps us to detoxify the Christian life from the frequent laxist and rigorist temptations that are so popular and so misleading in today’s world. Nothing could be more opportune to live the faith with maturity and balance following the teachings of the Gospel in communion with the Successor of Peter.” – Rodrigo Guerra, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Professor at the Pontifical Lateran University
“Many conservative and traditional Catholics take offense at Pope Francis’s warnings about rigidity. They believe he is associating faithfulness with rigidity. Pedro Gabriel shows that this is a complete misunderstanding of the Holy Father’s concerns. Pope Francis is actually upholding the authentic Catholic tradition, which seeks the golden mean between laxism and rigidity. In this much-needed work, Gabriel provides an historical survey of various groups in Catholic history that have criticized the immoral and lax Church while claiming to be the true, pure, and authentic followers of the Gospel. Throughout her history, the Catholic Church has resisted various rigorist groups such as the Judaizers, the Novatianists, the Donatists, the Spiritualists, and the Jansenists. Gabriel does not claim that the rigid Catholics of today can be identified precisely with any of these heretical movements. He does, however, note certain similarities, especially in the common tendency to believe that the institutional Church is corrupt or misguided and one’s own movement represents the true faith. Gabriel not only explores the history of rigorist movements; he also provides an authentic understanding of what Pope Francis means by present forms of Pelagianism and Gnosticism. In my opinion, Pedro Gabriel understands Pope Francis far better than the papal critics.
In this book, Pedro Gabriel aims at clarifying Pope Francis’ teachings on rigidity, by relating them with certain keywords emerging repeatedly in his interventions. He also seeks to falsify the idea that a Catholic is faithful by being rigid, by comprehensively exploring precedents in Church history where the rigid course of action did not always prevent the faithful from falling into heterodoxy. Finally, Gabriel explains how eschewing rigidity does not necessarily entail the opposite extreme of laxism.
“Pedro Gabriel gives us a wonderful book on an ‘outgoing Church,’ a plea for the education of a Christian personality that is flexible but with a strong backbone. He discovers in the faith not an obstacle to the fullness of human life but a path—not only to eternal life but also to a life one hundred times more human here on earth.” – From the “Foreword,” by Rocco Buttiglione, Member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas
“Pedro Gabriel has written a truly brilliant book, not only for its readable style but above all for its pertinent content. Faithfulness or Heterodoxy? is not a mere exercise in Catholic apologetics, but a true educational path for those of us who need to rediscover the reasons for living to the full ‘the glorious freedom of the Children of God’ (Rom 8:21). Pedro Gabriel’s new book undoubtedly helps us to detoxify the Christian life from the frequent laxist and rigorist temptations that are so popular and so misleading in today’s world. Nothing could be more opportune to live the faith with maturity and balance following the teachings of the Gospel in communion with the Successor of Peter.” – Rodrigo Guerra, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Professor at the Pontifical Lateran University
“Many conservative and traditional Catholics take offense at Pope Francis’s warnings about rigidity. They believe he is associating faithfulness with rigidity. Pedro Gabriel shows that this is a complete misunderstanding of the Holy Father’s concerns. Pope Francis is actually upholding the authentic Catholic tradition, which seeks the golden mean between laxism and rigidity. In this much-needed work, Gabriel provides an historical survey of various groups in Catholic history that have criticized the immoral and lax Church while claiming to be the true, pure, and authentic followers of the Gospel. Throughout her history, the Catholic Church has resisted various rigorist groups such as the Judaizers, the Novatianists, the Donatists, the Spiritualists, and the Jansenists. Gabriel does not claim that the rigid Catholics of today can be identified precisely with any of these heretical movements. He does, however, note certain similarities, especially in the common tendency to believe that the institutional Church is corrupt or misguided and one’s own movement represents the true faith. Gabriel not only explores the history of rigorist movements; he also provides an authentic understanding of what Pope Francis means by present forms of Pelagianism and Gnosticism. In my opinion, Pedro Gabriel understands Pope Francis far better than the papal critics.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2024
6 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Pedro Gabriel
6 books28 followersPedro Gabriel is a Portuguese oncology doctor, with a penchant for Shakespeare, Milton, Chesterton, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. As a published writer of fantasy novels, he seeks to better understand the relationship of God and Man by focusing on the frailty of the human condition, be it physical and spiritual.
Also since his younger years, Pedro has been fascinated by ancient myths and legends, and dreamed of creating his own full mythology one day.
Also since his younger years, Pedro has been fascinated by ancient myths and legends, and dreamed of creating his own full mythology one day.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 4, 2024
I found this book very helpful and was immediately surprised when I started it at the amount of detail and research that came across regarding the history of the Church. Not only does this book explain concepts and help you to understand, but I found that it also presents and explains the entire historical context. The history right from the beginning, Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas and the heresies throughout history really helped me to understand a lot of things in their context. I had read 3 times Pope Francis’ “Gaudete et Exsultate” and found the explanations on Pelagianism, Jansenism and Gnosticism really amazing but this book took them further and added more history. Having suffered from scruples a lot, I was pleased this book covered it. One of the most interesting bits was how the Pharisees appropriated God’s gift of mercy by reducing it to a “moralistic ideology”. I loved how this book was so relevant to now and drew upon Pope Francis, telling us more about “Indietrism”, I love Pope Francis’ word-use and I was pleased to discover other words, phrases and explanations which are just brilliant. I found this book not just great for information but presented in such a way that it helped me to understand, grow more and also to have more hope. Pope Francis is always leading us to joy. I was shocked by some of the realities of Donatism, the Cathars, The Fraticelli etc. I didn’t actually know much about any of that and it took a few days to digest but it has really helped to see everything in context and not just gloss over all the bad things in history but grow from knowing about them and their consequences plus the reasons why the came about. A lot of the time we lose sight of the whole point of our Faith, a God of Love, and get bogged down with fear and a fixation on sin only. It is sometimes difficult to find the right balance. It was refreshing and helpful on my journey to read this and I shall be reading it again as well as other books by this author. I found it very well researched, packed with info, totally in line with the Church, the beautiful magisterium of Pope Francis and how the Church is growing and developing especially in this time. I’d highly recommend it.
April 12, 2025
Much needed book
Great book that attacks rigorism head-on. Rigorism is a true blight in the Catholic Church today, especially in the US. My only criticism is that the author should have devoted a chapter to the proper use of the term "mortal sin." Mortal sin needs to be properly explained and understood. It is almost always misused by both laity and clergy, with disastrous results. This goes hand in hand with who is in a state of grace to receive communion.
Great book that attacks rigorism head-on. Rigorism is a true blight in the Catholic Church today, especially in the US. My only criticism is that the author should have devoted a chapter to the proper use of the term "mortal sin." Mortal sin needs to be properly explained and understood. It is almost always misused by both laity and clergy, with disastrous results. This goes hand in hand with who is in a state of grace to receive communion.
March 12, 2025
Pope Francis view of rigidity explained
I especially liked the first four chapters which elucidated Pope Francis 's view or rigidity and its harms. The remaining chapters dealt with past heresies dealing with rigidity and laxity.
I especially liked the first four chapters which elucidated Pope Francis 's view or rigidity and its harms. The remaining chapters dealt with past heresies dealing with rigidity and laxity.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews