Would you be able to give me the Vatican II documents and citations which go to the fact that theology did not change with the Council.
I am looking to perhaps establish a dialogue with this person and to that end I would like to be more prepared than I am at this time. To that end, having Vatican II conciliar documents (with the citation) would be enormously useful so as to respond to her contention that theology changed with Vatican II.
I have the Catechism, Ordinatio Sacredotalis, Humanae Vitae, Donum Vitae, Evangelium Vitae, Theology of the Body to discuss the moral Truths, but Vatican II is the battleground.
Thanks.
You're trying to prove a negative, don't, call for the dissenters to back up their claim that dogma changed. The silence will be deafening...except for them trying to pass off changes in discipline and small "t" tradition as "theology". When they do that, and they will, blow 'em out of the water;)
"Would you be able to give me the Vatican II documents and citations which go to the fact that theology did not change with the Council."
Do you mean "theology did not change" or do you mean "doctrine did not change"?
There are changes in the Council documents when compared with traditional Catholic teaching, and there are errors and ambiguities in the documents which give the unwary the impression that doctrine has changed. The authority of such changes is very debatable, however, as the Council does not make it plain or obvious that it is actually trying to set forth any new teaching as being definitive.
However, in restating the previous Magisterium, the Council does give the basis for the reason why doctrine cannot change, in that revelation is closed and no bishop, council or Pope has any authority to alter that:
Lumen Gentium 25:
"But when either the Roman Pontiff or the Body of Bishops together with him defines a judgment, they pronounce it in accordance with Revelation itself, which all are obliged to abide by and be in conformity with, that is, the Revelation which as written or orally handed down is transmitted in its entirety through the legitimate succession of bishops and especially in care of the Roman Pontiff himself, and which under the guiding light of the Spirit of truth is religiously preserved and faithfully expounded in the Church.(45*) The Roman Pontiff and the bishops, in view of their office and the importance of the matter, by fitting means diligently strive to inquire properly into that revelation and to give apt expression to its contents;(46*) but a new public revelation they do not accept as pertaining to the divine deposit of faith.(47*)"
This last footnote here (47) refers to the 4th session of Vatican I which took place on 18 July 1870 and issued the Constitution Pastor Aeternis. More specifically it refers to Ch. 4 n.6 of Pastor Aeternis which is found in n.1836 in Denzinger where we read:
"For the holy Spirit was promised to the successors of Peter
not so that they might, by his revelation, make known some new doctrine,
but that, by his assistance, they might religiously guard and faithfully expound the revelation or deposit of faith transmitted by the apostles."
The bottom line is that the Church is not in the business of making new doctrine, and this is affirmed by Vatican II. This should be the paradigm through which the whole Council is viewed, i.e. in accordance with Tradition.