From the archives
From the archives Throughout 1999. Commonweal has been celebiating its 75th annivrsary. Here from the magazine's November 20. 1964 issue is an excerpt from "Hirth Control ami the Council"...
...But her teachings regarding natural wisdom and the meaning and content of the natural law, however true they may be, and however authoritative her voice in proclaiming them, are not and can never be infallible...
...Hero art.1 the reasons: I. The church receives the assistance of the Spirit to teach infallibly the saving revelation of God, that is, faith and morals which Jesus has announced to us...
...The answer is \o...
...The reason why...|is] because one position, namely that of the Holy See, was made obligatory...
...1964 issue is an excerpt from "Hirth Control ami the Council" by theologian Gregory Baum We must ask...
...and even if the ordinary teaching of the I loly See retains a particular authority, it never precludes the contribution which the bishops all over the world want to make to these issues...
...2. The present position on family morality belongs to the ordinary teaching of the Holy See...
...The doctrine of collcgiality which has emerged at the council means, among other things, that in teaching there is also a sharing, a discussion, a common search among the bishops...
...the question: Is the church's infallibility involved in her leaching on tamily morality...
...GREGORY Baum Commonweal 14 December 3,1999...
...They arc to be regarded as settled...
...The church also teaches with infallibility in matters which are essential to the defense of the gospel in the world...
...Since the nineteenth century, this leaching authority, though by no means claiming infallibility, has obliged Catholics, the bishops and the faithful, to be obedient to it, that is to cease reflecting on, studying, discussing matters thus proposed...
...There are areas where the church teaches with authority without claiming to speak infallibly...
Vol. 126 • December 1999 • No. 21
