On the 25th Anniversary of the CDF's Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian

Rorate Caeli ^ | 5/24/15 | Peter Kwasniewski

[marshmallow]

On May 24, 1990, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published one of the most important documents of the postconciliar period: the Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian,or more succinctly, Donum Veritatis.

This carefully written document, undergirded by centuries of prior teaching, not only reaffirmed the obviously important role of theologians in explaining, clarifying, and enriching the Church's teaching, but also called on theologians who disagree with Church teaching not to use the mass media to publicize their views or try to pressure for change in the Church. Could any message be more timely, as we watch the German episcopal faction, standing behind Kasper's pure and simple novelties, continually bombard the media with their dissenting opinions in an effort to strong-arm the conversation and make it seem a fait accompli?

This document also contains timely reminders about the real duty of the Magisterium to articulate without hesitation or compromise the truth of the Faith, especially in times of ignorance, confusion, or error. In this way, Donum Veritiats, particularly Part III, could serve as a kind of Speculum Papae, a mirror in which the Pope and other pastors could see reflected their own urgent responsibility to proclaim the one true Faith opportune, importune, in season and out of season.

The whole document is well worth reading (indeed, one could say now more than ever), but here are a few choice excerpts pertinent to our current crisis. We can see that Cardinal Ratzinger, at the helm of the CDF, grasped the very essence of the question and conveyed the mind of the Church with a serene simplicity, in a manner that will never be out of date.