[annalex]

Saying something is semipelagian but not pelagian is awkward

Because I don't understand what "semi-pelagian" means. I suspect it is a way for our critics to accuse us of pelagianism despite the clear rejection of Pelagius and his teaching by Carthage.

What is semi-pelagianism?

[spatso]

"What is semi-pelagianism?... I suspect it is a way for our critics to accuse us of pelagianism"

If your concern is the opinion of critics regarding the fidelity of the Church to its own doctrine then I believe your suspicions are well founded. For example, from a pamphlet available through The Protestant Reformed Theological Journal.

"...the fact is that in 529, the Council of Orange spoke decisively on this question. While this Council condemned certain aspects of the teachings of the Semi-Pelagians, and while it also affirmed certain doctrines of Augustine, the fact is that the Council refused to adopt a pure Augustinianism. While it affirmed the doctrine of original sin and the unconditional necessity of grace, it left room for the notion of sin as an illness rather than as spiritual death and it was silent on such key doctrines as the absolute inability of the will to choose for the good, and sovereign and double predestination. It only saw fit to warn against the notion of a predestination to evil, something which Augustine did not teach. In effect, Semi-Pelagianism won the day."

The Westminister Dictionary of Christian Ethics is used in many Catholic Universities, it concludes its definition of grace by saying, "Thus the concept of grace set alongside the ultimate ethical dilemmas leads to a reconsideration of the theology of history and of the doctrine of the church."

So, I suspect our critics may be right. Perhaps, we did turn away from our own doctrine. But, I believe, we have found ourselves in the right place.