Pope Francis has been accused of spreading heresy by a group of conservative Catholics who have taken issue with the pontiff's views on marriage, the Eucharist, and moral life to the extreme of "correcting" him.
Conservative Catholics said they gave the pope on Aug. 11 what is called a "filial correction," something that had not been done since 1333, and made the action public this week, the New York Daily News reported.
Pope Francis, 80, has drawn the ire of some conservatives for his perspective on Catholic teachings, including his tolerance toward gays, concerns about the environment, and his view of capitalism, according to the Daily News.
He also suggested in past writings that divorced and remarried Catholics could receive Communion under certain conditions, per the Daily News.
"The signatories respectfully insist that Pope Francis condemn the heresies that he has directly or indirectly upheld, and that he teach the truth of the Catholic faith in its integrity," the group said in a release.
CNN reported that the letter originally had 40 signatures from clergy and Catholic scholars when it was first given to the pope but 22 more supporters were added. The letter said the signees represent a "large number" of clergy and lay Catholics who "lack freedom of speech."
"This does not contradict the Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility, because Pope Francis has not promulgated heretical opinions as dogmatic teachings of the Church," the group's release stated. "While professing their obedience to his legitimate commands and teachings, they maintain that Francis has upheld and propagated heretical opinions by various direct or indirect means."
Joseph Shaw, one of the letter's organizers, said he hopes the Pope will respond to the letter, but admitted it was also meant for a wider audience.
"Pope Francis may be determined not to answer this, but it's not to say that bishops and cardinals aren't able to absorb it," Shaw, a professor of philosophy at Oxford University, said, per CNN.
"We have to press this problem on to people who can ultimately address them. If people become convinced that what he is doing is a grave mistake, the machine will seize up. There will be a reluctance to implement what he is doing."
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