Replies

But do you really think that holding these opinions would lead to schismatic tendencies? Surely you are not suggesting that every word of Vatican II is binding on us??

<> Yes, including "it" and "the." Cite a Magisterial Teaching that says individuals have authority to reject parts of an Ecumenical Council. This unfortunate priest posits a protestant principle that gives unjust liberty to soi disant traditionalists to reject, in whole or in part, an Ecumenical Council. It locates ultimate authority within the individual and gives that individual more power and authority than an Infallible Ecuemnical council. All Ecumenical Councils, by their nature, are infallible.

Davies as Prez of Una Voce will march them closer to the fever swamps of schism. Do you know who it was that formed Una Voce? They wouldn't have gotten with a light year's distance of such a statement as made by the poor priest.<>

"Yes, including "it" and "the." "

Now you are just being extreme - Councils are not inspired as is scripture. Like the Pope they are only preserved from falling into error when teachings on faith and morals are declared binding on the faithful or are declared to be teachings of the supreme magisterium of the Church. Similarly when they restate the doctrine taught by the ordinary and universal magisterium they are preserved from error.

There is no guarantee that a Council will teach the full truth, or teach without ambiguity or with clarity. There is also no guarantee that a Council will state doctrine in a pastorally prudent way or that its canons and decrees will be enacted with wisdom at the prudent time.

Rather than your extreme position, I think the following quote is one of the most orthodox statements on the status of the teaching of Vatican II that I have seen and would challenge you to show where it is wrong!!

"Taking conciliar custom into consideration and also the pastoral purpose of Vatican II, the Council defined as binding on the Church only those things in matters of faith and morals which it openly declared to be binding."

This makes sense because the fundamental basis of all our belief is the revelation of Jesus Christ - the Word of God. The Magisterium is not above the Word of God, but serves it, teaching only what has been handed on. Sacred tradition, Sacred Scripture and the teaching authority of the Church, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others.

Thus if a non-binding teaching of a Council can be shown to be in opposition to either Sacred Scripture or Sacred Tradition, then it must be open to correction.