>>Not much is solemnly defined as de fide. We should be careful not to go beyond the Church’s own claims Her authority.<<
Listening to a random priest or author, instead of listening to a Vatican official. How different is that from listening to Father Michael Pfleger over what the Vatican says? It’s not a matter of dogma, but a matter of authority. While not infallible, Vatican officials have more authority to speak on matters which are their specialty.
Are you saying that Father Pfleger has just as much authority to speak on Catholicism as a Vatican official?
It’s a very slippery slope.
The chief exorcist of Rome is “a random priest”? He is not someone with real knowledge and experience of the demonic, of evil? Wow. As the chief exorcist of Rome, he is the exorcist of the pope's diocese.
You're comparing the chief exorcist of Rome with Fr. Pfleger? Wow.
“While not infallible, Vatican officials have more authority to speak on matters which are their specialty.”
Yes, and the Pontifical Council on Culture has as its specialty is not film or book reviews, but rather, in a theological sense, how the Church interacts with culture, the various cultures of the world, and to study indifference in religion. The mandate of this council is to promote cooperation and understanding between those who are not believers but who are open to engagement with the Church. It isn't to determine the moral acceptability of individual works of literature.
Even so, you're elevating spontaneous remarks made by a priest in an interview to the level of authoritative teaching.
“Are you saying that Father Pfleger has just as much authority to speak on Catholicism as a Vatican official?”
When Fr. Pfleger isn't flogging heresy, when he is offering his prudential judgment (and that's all we're talking about here - prudential judgment of different priests), an appeal to authority isn't the appropriate response. Rather, an appeal to reason, to objective teaching, to rational argument. The problem with Fr. Pfleger isn't that he isn't an authority, but rather that he is disobedient to his bishop and that much of the stuff he says is lunatic, evil, or even against the authoritative teachings of the Church.
“It’s a very slippery slope.”
Only when one has greased the soles and heels of one’s shoes.
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