Catholic Dogmas, Doctrines and Principles

Catholic Dogmas, Doctrines and Principles - What are they good for?

JMJ

They are good anchors for weathering the storm that is rocking the Barque of Peter and guides for decision making and action taking.

In my earlier article on principles, I provided a list of principles that I think are particularly important in these times - especially when confronted with all sorts of aberrant behaviour from people who should know and act better (the list is long).

To this list I have would add the Four Marks and Visibility of the Church(see link), as in this crisis ignorance is causing people to believe all sorts of fantasies.

Pray lest you enter into temptation.

When you're not praying, read the Catechism of Trent on the 'One Holy Catholic Apostolic' Church.

P^3

The Church is "A body of men united together by the profession of the same Christian Faith, and by participation in the same sacraments, under the governance of lawful pastors, more especially of the Roman Pontiff, the sole vicar of Christ on earth" (Bellarmine, De Eccl., III, ii, 9) - Catholic Encyclopedia

This Church includes both the good and the bad. Even if the hierarchy, is 'debased by crime' they are still within the Church and retain their authority - Catechism of the Council of Trent

There are degrees to heresy with 'heresy - proper' being the 'pertinacious' denial of a defined de fide teaching (238 ish teachings). This degree of heresy must be manifested by the individual publicly and pertinaciously in order for the separation from the Church noted above to be in effect. - Catholic Encyclopedia

Following this a Catholic material heretic remains 'in the Church' as their error is presumed to be temporary and that they would submit when corrected by the Church - Catholic Encyclopedia

In anything less than an explicit denial of a de-fide truth, a compentent authority has to render a judgment. - Robert Siscoe quoting Canon Hesse.

The sin of schism has the same effect as heresy, in that it renders the responsible person outside of the Church. Simple disobedience does not constitute schism, unless it includes a denial of the authorities 'Divine right to command'. As such the refusal of submission to a legitimate command can imply such a denial. - Catholic Encyclopedia

"The Church is indefectible, that is, she remains and will remain the Institution of Salvation, founded by Christ, until the end of the world. (Sent. certa.)" Ott - Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma

The Church is visible, and the foundation of both its visibility and unity is the Pope - Ott and First Vatican Council

Because of indefectibility the Church, even now, retains the four marks (One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic). Following the principle of indefectibility and the special infallibility afforded to the Church in her discipline and laws, the new sacraments as promulgated are valid and provide grace under the normal conditions (form, matter, intention).

Obedience due to a superior is required if the command falls within the scope of authority and are not 'against God'. Disobedience in this condition is sinful - Summa 2,2, Q104, A5

Correction of a superior can be done in charity and must be done 'in a becoming manner, not with impudence and harshness, but with gentleness and respect' - Summa II II Q.33, a.4, ad 2m

Comments

SSPX and the Resistance - A Comparison Of Ecclesiology

Shining the light of Church Teaching on the doctrinal positions of the SSPX and the Resistance. Principles are guides used to aid in decision making. It stands to reason that bad principles will lead to bad decisions. The recent interactions between Rome and the SSPX has challenged a number of closely held cultural assumptions of people in both sides of the disagreement. This has resulted in cultural skirmishes in both Rome and the SSPX. Since it is the smaller of the two, the skirmishes have been more evident within the SSPX. The cultural fault-line that Bishop Fellay crossed appears to be linked to two points of Catholic Doctrine: Ecclesiology and Obedience. The cultural difference of view points is strong enough that it has resulted in the expulsion of a number of members. It should also be noted that some other priests expelled since the beginning of the latest interactions (starting in 2000) held the same view points and have joined with the l...

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

The Position of the SSPX on Canonizations by the Saint Factory

+ JMJ I have sometimes been criticized for including 'St' as a title for Pope John Paul II et al. I've given my reasons here in a discussion with Alex Long. The question is one of prudence in discussions with ntCatholics and in some cases with tCatholics. In discussions with: ntCatholics, I will use the title in order to continue the discussion and help them arrive at a realistic understanding of the crisis of the Church. tCatholics, I will use the title in order to broaden their perspective on the doctrine of dogmatic facts. This broader perspective is, in my opinion, essential maintaining a realistic understanding of the crisis of the Church. So from a doctrinal position, I have written the article Dogmatic Fact of Fancy and includes a reference on canonizations. Now, I know the position of the SSPX is that the canonizations are doubtful (see references below) and I also know of at least one non-SSPX theologian who agrees with the level of doubt du...

Comparision of the Tridentine, Cranmer and Novus Ordo Masses

+ JMJ I downloaded the comparison that was linked in the previous article on the mass (here) . ... a very good reference! P^3 From: Whispers of Restoration (available at this link) . CHARTING LITURGICAL CHANGE Comparing the 1962 Ordinary of the Roman Mass to changes made during the Anglican Schism; Compared in turn to changes adopted in the creation of Pope Paul VI’s Mass in 1969 The chart on the reverse is a concise comparison of certain ritual differences between three historical rites for the celebration of the Catholic Mass Vetus Ordo: “Old Order,” the Roman Rite of Mass as contained in the 1962 Missal, often referred to as the “Traditional Latin Mass.”The Ordinary of this Mass is that of Pope St. Pius V (1570) following the Council of Trent (1545-63), hence the occasional moniker “Tridentine Mass.” However, Trent only consolidated and codified the Roman Rite already in use at that time; its essential form dates to Pope St. Gregory the Great (+604), in whose time the R...

Church Militant TV and the SSPX - Again

+ JMJ The old narrative used to be that the SSPX was 'schismatic' and 'excommunicated'. Now the excommunication has been lifted for a number of years and the only ones who think it still has effect are the 'resistors'. That leaves the other opponents of the SSPX with the label 'schismatic'. Make it clear, the conservative Catholics have issues with the SSPX probably because they violate some of their assumptions about the Faith and this crisis of the Church. Church Militant TV is one of these the exists along the Catholic thought spectrum. They like the Traditional Mass but must ensure that they don't get tarred with the same 'schismatic' brush that the liberals use against the SSPX. So what do they do, they use the same brush against the SSPX. The funny thing is that even when the Church does speak, they don't want to listen and persist in calling the SSPX 'schismatic'. Here's a transcript of the latest s...

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