Posted on 09/26/2008 1:29:05 PM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even when it comes to morality, Catholics are not biblical fundamentalists, although they view the Bible as an important source of moral guidance, said top Catholic scholars.
The various books of the Bible were written in different epochs, in different cultures and by different authors, the scholars said, so when looking for moral precepts, a Christian cannot focus on just one line.
In their new document, "The Bible and Morality," the scholars on the Pontifical Biblical Commission said biblical morality is not so much a set of dos and don'ts as it is a set of principles meant to help Christians grow in perfection and contribute to establishing God's kingdom on earth.
The English translation of the document rolled off the Vatican printing press Sept. 24, less than two weeks before the opening of the world Synod of Bishops on the Bible.
In the 235-page booklet, the biblical scholars presented two main criteria for judging human actions or potential actions: Does it protect and promote the dignity of the human person? Does it conform to something Jesus would do?
With those two criteria in mind, and taking into account the fact that some biblical precepts are repeated so often that their ongoing validity cannot be denied, the scholars addressed only a very few specific moral questions.
Acknowledging a development in morality throughout the Old Testament and culminating with the teaching of Jesus, they said the Bible: clearly insists on protecting human life from conception to natural death; defends marriage as the lifelong union of a man and a woman; obliges human beings to safeguard the environment; and insists that priority be given to the needs of the poor, the weak and the sick when making decisions.
The scholars opened their document with a reprint of the Ten Commandments and the beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount.
The biblical idea of morality is more than "a code of behavior to be adopted or avoided" or "a list of virtues and vices to be practiced or countered" in order to protect individuals and society, they said.
For Christians, living according to biblical morality is a spiritual quest, the document said, and striving to act in a morally upright manner is a response to God's gift of love and his willingness always to forgive.
The Ten Commandments are not the harsh part of a carrot-and-stick approach God takes to dealing with humanity, but contain the principles necessary so that each person and all people together can deal responsibly with the freedoms God has given them, the scholars said.
The commandments promote the values of paying homage to God, recognizing his presence in the world, recognizing that time has a sacred value, honoring the family, upholding the right to life, safeguarding marriage, defending human freedom and dignity, protecting people's reputations, respecting their family and group ties and respecting personal property.
The scholars said the commandments "are presented in decreasing order of value, from the most to the least important," with God at the top and material goods at the bottom.
Unfortunately, they said, modern societies often seem to assign value in the completely opposite way, not just putting human beings before God, but putting material goods before people.
In his life and in the Sermon on the Mount, they said, Jesus literally radicalized the values promoted by the Ten Commandments, urging his listeners to strive toward perfection in truly being an image of God in the world.
For the scholars, that striving is a key point of biblical morality: Just as God revealed himself and his plan for salvation over time, the human response to God's gift is something that naturally occurs in stages and includes failures, forgiveness and starting again
The Eucharist is both nourishment to strengthen believers and the renewal of Christ's total sacrifice, which reminds believers that they must never be content with divisions and moral failures, they said.
"Unless there is obstinate resistance on the part of individuals or the community, participation in the Eucharist will always be a strong call to conversion and the best means to give new vitality to the covenant, which renews the life and conduct of the church and, through the church, of the world," they said.
As some 250 bishops prepared to gather at the Vatican for the synod discussion on "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church," the biblical commission document reminded readers that what the Bible reveals is not a specific moral code, but God himself.
What the Bible demonstrates, the scholars said, is that "God is not a dour creditor intent on putting his accounts in order, but a benevolent creator who restores human beings to their pristine conditions of being loved by him and mends the damage inflicted on the cosmos" by their errors.
Does it conform to something Jesus would do?
Which is, it seems to me, the wrong question. Some aspects of Jesus' work are going to be unique, in view of his unique nature and position.
Of course ... and that is one of the reasons why this synod is being convened.
Exactly. That's the meaning of each homily: a moral message to take home and live by.
Positively orthodox.
Judaism was against abortion except in the case of rape. It still does today. Judaism does not defend marriage as a life-long union of a man dn a woman; Judaism allowed divorce. Opposition to any kind of abortion is a strictly Christian position form the earliest days of the Church.
This is what I found on the early Church teaching on the question of divorce and remarriage. It is remarkably consistent and uniformly opposed to remarriage if the spouse is still alive.
1. If a spouse persists in adulterous behavior and there is no other alternative, the marriage relationship can be terminated by the innocent party. (Hermes, Clement, Jerome, Augustine)
2. Spouses that are divorced for any reason must remain celibate and single as long as both spouses live. Remarriage is expressly prohibited. (Hermes, Justin Martyr, Clement, Origen, Basil, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine)
3. To indulge in lust with the mind is to be guilty of adultery of the heart. (Justin Martyr)
4. Whoever marries a divorced person commits adultery. (Hermes, Justin Martyr, Clement, Origen, Basil, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine)
5. Whoever contracts a second marriage, whether a Christian or not, while a former spouse lives is sinning against God. (Justin Martyr, Ambrose)
6. God does not, and the Church must not, take into account human law when it is in violation of God’s law. (Justin Martyr, Origen, Ambrose)
7. God judges motives and intentions, private thought life and actions. (Justin Martyr)
8. The marriage covenant between a man and a woman is permanent, as long as both husband and wife are alive. (Clement, Origen, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine)
9. It is a serious offence against God to take another person’s spouse. (Basil)
10. The Church must charge all persons who are in possession of another living person’s former husband or wife with adultery. (Basil)
11. Sexual relations are a marital right that is limited to one’s own husband or wife. (Hermes, Justin Martyr, Clement, Origen, Basil, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine)
12. Sexual relations with one’s legitimate spouse protects from sexual sin. (Ambrose)
13. Marriage and sexual relations with a remarried spouse while a former spouse lives is the sin of adultery. (Hermes, Justin Martyr, Clement, Origen, Basil, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine)
14. It is a serious mistake to believe that it is simply one’s right to divorce a spouse and take another. Even though human law may permit such a thing, God strictly forbids it, and cannot, and will not honor it. (Clement, Origen, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine)
15. Anyone who follows human customs and laws regarding marriage, divorce and remarriage, instead of God’s Divine instructions should stand in fearful awe of God Himself. (Clement, Ambrose)
16. All lawmakers, in and out of the Church are warned, to their peril, to hear and obey the Word of the Lord in regard to His commands on marriage and divorce. (Ambrose)
17. Christians are to stop making excuses and trying to find justification for divorce and remarriage. There are no valid reasons acceptable to God. (Jerome, Augustine)
18. A marriage is for life. No matter what a spouse turns out to be, or how they may act, what they do or don’t do, or the sins they commit, the covenant remains fully in effect. A remarriage while a former spouse lives is not marriage at all, but sinful adultery. God does not divide the one flesh relationship except by physical death. (Hermes, Clement, Origen, Basil, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine)
19. Marriage is a lifelong covenant that will never be invalidated by God while both parties live. (Hermes, Justin Martyr, Clement, Origen, Basil, Ambrose, Augustine)
20. It never has been lawful, it is not now lawful, and it never will be lawful to divorce and remarry. To say and do otherwise is to worship and adopt the adulterous superstitions of a different God than the one to which we have to do. (Augustine)
Opponents charge that insisting on the passage form Matthew regarding divorce and Moses' Torah is Judiazing because Christians are not held to the Mosaic Laws.
The scholars opened their document with a reprint of the Ten Commandments and the beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount
Excellent choice.
18. A marriage is for life. No matter what a spouse turns out to be, or how they may act, what they do or don’t do, or the sins they commit, the covenant remains fully in effect. A remarriage while a former spouse lives is not marriage at all, but sinful adultery. God does not divide the one flesh relationship except by physical death. (Hermes, Clement, Origen, Basil, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine)
That is indeed a stringent rule.
I know several Christian couples who have been divorced - often in circumstances where they were treated badly by their former spouse.
In one case, a man married young, an apparently "good match" to a young lady from his Baptist church. But in no time, she got bored with the marriage, and their whole way of life. She left him, and went to live with a boyfriend.
This was a great disappointment, but he later married, to a very generous Christian lady, and they are friends of mine. I cannot honesty say that I think they were wrong to marry. They have lovely children. If he had not remarried, he would have to remain celibate for the rest of his life. And, as Genesis says: "It is not good for man to be alone."
I hear you. Unfortunately, the people who were a lot closer to the mindset of the culture and times of Christ left with documents that agree with Jesus and St. Paul. The Bible is clear: Jesus says divorce only in the case adultery, and no remarriage if the ex is still alive.
In doing so, Jesus clearly redefined the Law because he was addressing the Pharisees, not his followers. Which raises the question: why would the law of Moses apply to Christians vis-avis divorce and remarriage and not the rest of it?
I’ve always wondered how Jesus would drive? I do think it’s a little deeper than it first seems.
Beautifully orthodox.
Scripture doesn't say that...It says basically no remarriage if the wife still lives...Once divorced, the wife is no longer your wife, or spouse...
If your wife leaves you or you are divorced due to an adulterous spouse, you are free to marry again with the caveat; 'there will be trouble in the flesh'...
Why should rape qualify for an abortion? There is a young woman who was the product of rape. She treasures her life and now tours the country giving lectures on overturning this exclusion.
Whatever happened to the marriage vow .... "for better or worse"? That is why it is so important to enter into marriage properly disposed.
If he had not remarried, he would have to remain celibate for the rest of his life. And, as Genesis says: "It is not good for man to be alone."
There is nothing wrong with the celibate life. As for citing Genesis, that is the reason why God created woman. There is no codicil in Scripture that states man should keep on marrying until he finds the copacetic wife.
The "harsh" part would be hell. I'm surprised it is not mentioned in the story. Perhaps it is in the document.
I have no clue. Ask them. The product of rape is an innocent human being. Aborting children because of rape is still murder. Some "Bible-believing" Protestants also include incest as "justification" for abortion, in addition to rape. But in the Old Testament we have instances of "legitimate" incest, as well as polygamy. The Old Testament also found nothing wrong with slavery and stoning people to death, or killing children for disobeying parents, or genocidal massacres.
I am sick and tired of some Christians digging through the Old Testament and deciding what applies and what doesn't. They call it "Judea-Cristian" tradition. The Old testament applies to Christianity as conetextual overture that leads to Christ's appearance, mentioned in the New Testament quotes. That's all. Christianity is not an "amendment" to Judaism, to the Law.
As far as I know, the Church of the Gospels never found justification for incest, polygamy, abortion, stoning people to death, or genocidal massacres (unfortunately, it does not condemn slavery per se). So I am at a loss where some Christians get ideas that abotion is "justified" in the case of rape or incest. One thing is for sure: not from Christ of his Church.
Iscool: Scripture doesn't say that
Yes it does.
"whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." [Mat 19:9]
So, a divorced woman cannot remarry without being an adulteress, and a man who divorced his wife (except in the case of wife's adultery) is committing adultery if he remarries. Ergo, no remarriage, divorce or no divorce, as long as either is still alive, save for wife's adultery.
Perhaps you can explain to me where do Protestants get the idea that it's okay to divorce and remarry? I know the Orthodox Church "recognizes" divorce and remarriage as sin, but nonetheless a reality of the fallen world, but does not consider it morally right.
Remarriage in the Orthodox Church is more akin to a funeral procession than a happy occasion. It is full of repentance and contrition, and petitions that God for mercy on the adulterer, only because it is better for a man to be married than to fornicate, a "better" of two evils.
As far as I know, no Protestant denmination (except perhaps the Anglicans) considers remarriage so harshly. Last fall I was in Virginia, where almost everyone is Protestant/Baptist, and the people I was with all had something like 3 marriages and 3.5 kids between them.
Also, according to the Bible, only a man can divorce his wife; the wife could not divorce her husband. Is the Bible wrong? Or do we pick and choose what is wright and make the Bible "fit" whatever seems to be "hip" this week?
That is what my bible says...And this is what you posted...As you notice, words have changed so the meaning has changed, a little...
"but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." [Mat 5:32]
Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
"whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." [Mat 19:9]
Lotsa folks say it doesn't matter what bible you 'use' but as one can see here, a couple of words get changed, the whole concept gets changed...
In the Majority Texts which are in bold, the message is that who ever marries the woman that was divorced for adultry also commits adultery...In your version, everyone commits adultery...
But regardless, these JEWS were under the Law...What is the 'atonement' for the sins of adultery under the Law???
Fortunately, we are not under the Law...We don't live in adultery...We don't live in sin...We live in Christ...
No one will go to hell for divorcing his/her husband/wife any more than they will go to hell for smoking cigarettes, or turning their Temples of God (bodies) into mounds of fat...There will be a price to pay, in the flesh, but hell is not an option...
Also, according to the Bible, only a man can divorce his wife; the wife could not divorce her husband. Is the Bible wrong? Or do we pick and choose what is wright and make the Bible "fit" whatever seems to be "hip" this week?
I can see you and I have different views on what constitutes biblical marriage and divorce...
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Marriage is physical...It's not ceremonial...
1Co 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
Marriage is a physical act...Divorce includes the elimination of the physical act...The bible doesn't get any clearer than that...
Some folks have been married and divorced far more times than they would care to admit...
“Lotsa folks say it doesn’t matter what bible you ‘use’ but as one can see here, a couple of words get changed, the whole concept gets changed...”
You are absolutely correct, I. The problem, however, lies not with Kosta’s translation of the Greek, but rather yours. English is a lousy language into which to translate scripture and most translations aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. Take a lousy translation and couple it with an innovative interpretation and one gets Protestantism.
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