Given the news today that Pope Leo will name Cardinal Newman as a doctor of the Church, I wanted to reshare my essay from last year about what Newman and the Magisterium say about development of doctrine.
Do you only trust and give respectful deference to authorities who are never wrong?
I think that's the key here. The Church doesn't demand blind obedience. If it did then I would expect it to be free from all error or deficiency in everything it taught. But it doesn't. It asks for trust and respectful deference. So I don't expect it to be perfect.
Arch-progressives (just kidding) like Cardinal Dulles and Dr. Larry Chapp have pointed out that “religious submission" to Church teaching means trusting and respectful deference, not blind obedience.
This is such a tremendous article. Should be required reading in the seminary. It’s part of my curriculum at Niagara U.
Thank you! I feel honored about that. I’m glad it’s helpful
Words, words, words.
Do you only trust and give respectful deference to authorities who are never wrong?
I think that's the key here. The Church doesn't demand blind obedience. If it did then I would expect it to be free from all error or deficiency in everything it taught. But it doesn't. It asks for trust and respectful deference. So I don't expect it to be perfect.
Arch-progressives (just kidding) like Cardinal Dulles and Dr. Larry Chapp have pointed out that “religious submission" to Church teaching means trusting and respectful deference, not blind obedience.