Wednesday, December 20, 2017

"Assent of Mind and Will"? Not Necessarily

Generally speaking, Catholics must give 'assent of mind and will' (obedience) to the authentic magisterium of the Church, whether "infallible" or not. 

But not always.

...“Authentic Magisterium” does not in fact mean “dogmatic,” and if the believer observes, in a reasonably evident manner, a precise opposition between a text of this Magisterium and the divine law of the Church, after accurately studying the matter, he may licitly suspend or negate his assent to the papal document.   This doctrine is found in the writings of the most authoritative theologians, such as Fr. Hugo von Hurter...

Not surprising that this discussion arises over Pp. Francis' "The Joy of Sex" (Amoris Laetitia) encyclical and its follow-on document from the Bishops of Argentina.  The link is to a mid-length essay responding to Canonist Ed Peters' legal-flavored discussion of same.

Ugh.

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