Why Theology is Not Catechism

People cite the Catholic catechism as if its formulations settle all theological reflection. If the faith is to stay relevant to lived Catholicism, it needs the constant exploration of the sources and the "what-ifs?" that arise from actual experience. The rote answers of the catechism are sufficient only for the day, but not enough for the width and breadth of Catholic faith"

Catholic Theology is not catechism. The point is made by analogy to a meat processing factory making sausage (theology) and the supermarket with cellophane-wrapped links (catechism). Much to the chagrin of those who would like to reduce Catholic theology to a mindless recitation, good theology doesn't produce bumper sticker slogans."

Catholicism has always taught that life begins at conception and that destroying such life is a sin: (catechism). But what constitutes conception? St. Thomas Aquinas relied on the science of Aristotle when he suggested the fetus was not human until about the third trimester. While he opposed abortion, St. Thomas argued from scientific principles that until much later in its development, the fetus in the womb was not sufficiently formed as a human being to receive its soul (theology). (For those who care to note, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade made a distinction about trimesters that closely adheres to the observations of Aristotle and Aquinas.)

By the 19th century, however, the scientific basis used by Aristotle and Aquinas was questioned within Catholic theology. The Church now taught that the fetus was human being when the woman became pregnant because the human soul was infused (theological term) once and for all when first the fetus is formed. Note that theology and the catechism had always been united in opposing all abortion at any time. What had changed with scientific input was the theological explanation and justification for Catholic practice. This enabled theology to debate non-believers who relied only on reason and science to make moral decisions.

Last century, when Roe v. Wade came before the Supreme Court, a series of conflicting rights about abortion were in play outside the theological realm: privacy, the role of big government, women's rights, etc. The legal principle frequently advanced was: "A woman should have control over her own body." This popular formulation may have been derived from the Talmud that considers the fetus "an appendage of its mother," and until the 40th day "mere water." I suppose that as a legal premise this reasoning was valid: as theology it is now unacceptable. Science has proven that the chromosomal make-up of a fetus is different from that of the mother - and, therefore, within - but not part of - her body. Catholic theology is equipped to argue that the law of the land should be based on modern science.

Catholic theology also allows majority and minority opinions about specific issues. Just as St. Thomas's opinion went from majority to minority opinion, theology is constantly evolving. Thus, the catechism holds that all embryos are conceived as human life and not to be destroyed even for well-intended research. However, most fertility science considers conception to take place only after implantation in the womb. While a Catholic theologian is required to teach the position upheld in the catechism to avoid damage to embryos before implantation, as theologian he/she exercises academic freedom in suggesting that certain embryos have not yet been conceived as human beings.

The affirmation of this role for theology comes from the Pope. "I wish to reaffirm the great value of academic freedom," Benedict XVI said in April. "In virtue of this freedom you are called to search for the truth wherever careful analysis of evidence leads you." The pontiff closed his remarks by distinguishing this vital freedom in Catholic theology from the catechetical obligation to "ensure that students receive instruction in Catholic doctrine and practice."

I have added the emphasis to Pope Benedict's speech to indicate how and why Catholic America recognizes that theology is not catechism.

Transgressing commandments from God because of religious tradition, is something ALL religions are prone to:

Mathew 15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”- 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Theology (Gr. Theologia, i.e. peri Theou logos) means objectively the science treating of God, subjectively, the scientific knowledge of God and Divine things. If defined as the science concerning God (doctrina de Deo), the name of theology applies as well to the philosophical knowledge of God, which is cast into scientific form in natural theology or theodicy. However, unless theodicy is free from errors, it cannot lay claim to the name of theology. For this reason, pagan mythology and pagan doctrines about the gods, must at once be set aside as false theology.
http://newadvent.org/cathen/14580a.htm

This catechism differs from other summaries of Christian doctrine for the instruction of the people in two points: it is primarily intended for priests having care of souls (ad parochos), and it enjoys an authority equalled by no other catechism. The need of a popular authoritative manual arose from a lack of systematic knowledge among pre-Reformation clergy and the concomitant neglect of religious instruction among the faithful.

http://newadvent.org/cathen/13120c.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02ab.htm

Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo (born July 8, 1941) is an American scholar of religion and retired Brooklyn College professor emeritus. At Brooklyn College, starting in 1980, he authored and/or edited a dozen books and wrote more than 100 scholarly articles, book chapters and reviews for leading quarterlies in the United States, Latin America and Spain.

Stevens-Arroyo co-founded (1992) and was first President (1995â€“97) of the Program for the Analysis of Religion Among Latinos, known as PARAL, which published a four book series on various aspects of Latino religious experience in the United States for which Stevens-Arroyo was the editor in chief as a resident scholar at Princeton University. In October 2008, his career achievements were recognized with his reception of the Luzbetack Award for Exemplary Church Research, from Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).

Stevens-Arroyo was appointed by the National Council of Churches to a commission reporting on religion in Cuba in 1976-77, and later named Director of the Hispanic Project for the Theology in the Americas in a program sponsored through the National Council of Churches. His history of Latino people of faith was published in 1980 by Orbis Press as Prophets Denied Honor; it was later designated as one of 15 outstanding English language books of 1980 by the editors of the International Bulletin of Missionary Research (London, UK). Seven years later the book was selected as a “Landmark of Catholic Literature in the 20th Century” by Philip Gleason in his 1987 book, Keeping the Faith: American Catholicism, Past and Present.

Stevens-Arroyo testified to the United Nations’ Committee for Trusteeship and Decolonization Committee hearings on Puerto Rico in September 1982. On June 25, 1990, he addressed the Sub-Committee on Insular and International Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives, concerning legislation authorizing a plebiscite for Puerto Rico. He returned to serving the United States Civil Rights Commission’s Advisory Committee for Pennsylvania. Retired as Professor Emeritus of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies at Brooklyn College, he currently resides in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He publishes the OnFaith blog. He is a staunchly traditional Roman Catholic who has publicly espoused the proposed controversial canonizations of Queen Isabella of Spain and Pope Pius XII.

He was awarded the Columbian Citation of Honor by the National Columbus Committee in April 1992. He was invited to present to attend an important religious conference sponsored by the Archdioceses of New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico as a keynote speaker in Spanish for a symposium highlighting 20th-century Catholic Thought in anticipation of the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas and the consequent foundation of Christianity by Spain.

***Catholic Theology is not catechism.***

Interesting. Here's some of what the Frequently Asked Questions About The Catechism Of The Catholic Church, put forth by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, says:

4. What is a brief history of the Catechism?
In 1986 Pope John Paul II appointed a Commission of Cardinals and Bishops to develop a compendium of Catholic doctrine.
5.What is the purpose of the Catechism?
d. It is a positive, objective and declarative exposition of Catholic doctrine.
10:What exactly is in the Catechism? The Catechism presents Catholic doctrine within the context of the Church's history and tradition
13: Is the Catechism simply a list of doctrinal formulations?
No. The Catechism presents the history and tradition of the Church's doctrine in a complete yet summary way.

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