- Feb 5, 2002
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No more use of the term “Church Teaching,” that is. The Church needs to use “Catholic Doctrine” instead of “Church Teaching,” because the Church needs Catholic Doctrine. Without the deliberate attempt to be faithful to Catholic Doctrine, the effort to be Catholic – as a person, a parish, or an institution – will not consistently avoid errors in belief and practice or commission and omission.
I will make this case in two columns. In this column, I will explain what doctrine is. In the second column, I will show ways the Church needs doctrine and “doctrine.”
The word “doctrine” has been used countless times in the history of official Church documents, including official documents from the Vatican during the reign of Pope Francis. Yet outside of official documents, “doctrine” is a word almost unused in the Church since Vatican II. When is the last time you found “doctrine” used in a homily; or in a Catholic radio or TV program, video, podcast, or column; or in the mission statement, promotional material, or instruction of a Catholic educational institution or organization?
Amazingly, there is no official definition of “doctrine.” Therefore I offer the following definition, which I have used in my monthly column on the doctrinal meaning of the Sunday Readings. Catholic Doctrine is the essentially unchangeable clarification of Revelation and Faith that only the pope and bishops in union with him have the authority to make and that must be accepted as objectively true in order to be Catholic. I believe it is in harmony with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, e.g., 85-90, 94-95, and 888-892; the “Doctrinal Commentary on the Concluding Formula of Professio Fidei” issued under the authority of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith; and Avery Cardinal Dulles’ Magisterium: Teacher and Guardian of the Faith(Sapientia Press, 2007). I will explain my definition point by point.
Continued below.
catholicstand.com
I will make this case in two columns. In this column, I will explain what doctrine is. In the second column, I will show ways the Church needs doctrine and “doctrine.”
Defining “Doctrine”
The word “doctrine” has been used countless times in the history of official Church documents, including official documents from the Vatican during the reign of Pope Francis. Yet outside of official documents, “doctrine” is a word almost unused in the Church since Vatican II. When is the last time you found “doctrine” used in a homily; or in a Catholic radio or TV program, video, podcast, or column; or in the mission statement, promotional material, or instruction of a Catholic educational institution or organization?
Amazingly, there is no official definition of “doctrine.” Therefore I offer the following definition, which I have used in my monthly column on the doctrinal meaning of the Sunday Readings. Catholic Doctrine is the essentially unchangeable clarification of Revelation and Faith that only the pope and bishops in union with him have the authority to make and that must be accepted as objectively true in order to be Catholic. I believe it is in harmony with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, e.g., 85-90, 94-95, and 888-892; the “Doctrinal Commentary on the Concluding Formula of Professio Fidei” issued under the authority of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith; and Avery Cardinal Dulles’ Magisterium: Teacher and Guardian of the Faith(Sapientia Press, 2007). I will explain my definition point by point.
Revelation and Faith
Continued below.
No More Church Teaching but Catholic Doctrine! Part I - Catholic Stand
The Church needs to use “Catholic Doctrine” instead of “Church Teaching,” because the Church needs Catholic Doctrine
catholicstand.com
