PAT and Lois O’Shea (CL 9/4/06) make claims about Church teaching which could give the unintended impression that they are set in shifting sand and lack assurance of permanence and therefore truth.
The basic claim that doctrinal truth develops is supported by Vatican II: “Christ summons the Church … to that continual reformation of which she always has need … Consequently, if … there have been deficiencies in … the way that Church teaching has been formulated – to be carefully distinguished from the deposit of faith itself – these should be set right …” (Decree on Ecumenism, ch 2).
As regards the faithful (sensus fidelium) Vatican II has this to say: “The whole body of the faithful … cannot err in matters of belief … when from the bishops to the last of the faithful they manifest a universal consent in matters of faith and morals.
By this appreciation of the faith, aroused and sustained by the Spirit of truth, the people of God, guided by the sacred teaching authority (the Magisterium), and obeying it, receives not the mere word of men, but truly the word of God” (The Church ch 2 sect 12).
Truth is not decided by majority opinion.
The O’Sheas list a number of changes undergone by the Church throughout its history – priestly celibacy, usury, election of bishops, slavery, attitudes to Jews, the status of the papacy, attitudes to science “and many others”.
Space does not permit a detailed discussion, however, it is obvious that a substantial proportion relate not to Church teaching but rather to attitudes, rules and regulations.
The teaching on usury, which has indeed changed, was based on Church opposition to exploitation of the poor.
But the nature of economic transactions also changed so the Church had to adjust.
Today we use the word, to quote my Webster’s Dictionary: “Usury – the taking of (now iniquitous or illegal) interest on a loan”.
So, while the Church has definitely changed its view on the taking of interest it is still opposed to exploitation.
St Paul accepted slavery but also appealed to owners of slaves to treat them with kindness.
The New Testament itself laid the groundwork for slavery’s abolition and though it took an interminably long time – much to the shame of Christians generally – its abolition was a natural progression from Christ’s command that we love one another.
Finally, (artificial) birth control: It is said that over 80 per cent of Catholics ignore Church teaching on this matter.
However, I don’t see the Magisterium rejecting this teaching.
There may be nuanced developments but the evidence suggests strongly that Pope Paul VI was right and in time I am confident that many Catholics will agree.
Anyway, how much dissent from Church teaching is due to a lack of effective teaching/preaching and how much to thoughtful, sincere, prayerful, conscience-driven decisions?
For years I have heard the strange notion that the faith is caught not taught. Strange because Jesus was a great teacher, the apostles taught, preached, lived and died for the faith … and it spread like wildfire.
Today the Church in this country struggles to hold its own. We need to treasure our faith and teach it with enthusiasm and vigour.
ROBERT LEACH
Noosaville, Qld
