In his article “Explaining to do” in the Jan. 12 issue, John L. Allen Jr. takes a cautious approach in explaining why Fiducia Supplicans may be less consequential than media reaction to it might seem. I disagree with this assessment.

As Allen himself notes, the fact that the prefect of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith had to “clarify” that this document was not “heretical” or “blasphemous” is unprecedented, and is a clear sign that we have entered a new era in the Church. The Vatican can now issue purposely ambiguous declarations on doctrinal matters, issue multiple “clarifications” in the media, and get away with it. This would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

I still don't know if Fiducia Supplicans is meant to lay the groundwork for changes to doctrine in the future, or if it’s Pope Francis’ way of trying to keep the Church together in a difficult time. But let’s not pretend the debate over same-sex blessings will go away quietly in the future.

— James Stance, East Los Angeles