Posted by Philip St. Romain on August 30, 19100 at 07:29:54:
In Reply to: Re: Resolution of birth control controversy. posted by Warren on August 29, 19100 at 12:04:26:
Hi again Warren,
I can't quite figure if you are for real, or if you are a friend or aquaintance "pulling my leg." Whatever the case, I will respond to your points as though you are in earnest. As for the personal stuff about run-ins with bishops and being roasted by The Wanderer, I leave those matters to fend for themselves.
You said:
: Catholics are to follow the teachings of the pope, for he is our teacher designated by Christ himself. The pope teaches what has been revealed to him by God; not even he can change a teaching because to do so would be to go against God's will. This is why the Church has not changed its teachings through the ages even in the face of criticism from liberals and so-called "theologians."
Well, Warren, the Church has changed some of its teachings. It's important to distinguish between dogmatic teachings about the Christian mysteries, and moral teachings about how to live them in the concrete circumstances of daily life. The former have not changed, although our understanding of them has deepened, and our manner of talking about them has changed--e.g., we don't necessarily use Aristotelian philosophy to articulate the faith any more. But moral teachings can change for moral principles are ALWAYS acted out in a specific context. Hence, it is, in principle, wrong to kill other human beings, but in a context of self-defense or just war, it is allowed.
Once upon a time, the Church considered slavery part of the divine order of things, and accepted the institution without judgment. Slave-owners were told to treat their slaves well, but slavery itself was allowed. In fact, the Council of Gangra in 340 AD taught,
"If anyone, on the pretext of religion, teaches another man's slave to despise his master, and to withdraw from his service, and not to serve his master with good will and all respect, let him be anathema."
And Pope Gregory I in "Expositio in Librum B. Job," (600 AD) wrote: "All men aare equal by nature but. . . a hidden dispensation of prividence has arranged a hierarchy of meri and rulership, in that the differences between classes of men have arisen as a result of sin and are ordained by divine justice." When you read that one a certain way, you might even conclude that slaves are only getting what they deserve.
It was not until Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 that the Church unequivocally condemned slavery as an institution. The Catholic Church played a negligible role in speaking up for the end of slavery during America's civil war.
I could provide examples of other teachings that have changed through time (usury, right to private property, etc.), my point being that moral teachings have changed as social situations and psychological awareness has changed.
: I'm not trying to threaten you, Philip. Much of what you're doing on this web site is good and helpful. But you really should be more faithful in upholding the teachings of the Catholic Church. Especially if you call yourself a real Catholic teacher.
Anything henceforth from you that even comes close to a threat will be deleted. If you want to discuss something, fine. But leave the personal attacks aside. See if you can work within this framework. If not, then cease and desist.
Peace,
Phil