Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!paul.rutgers.edu!christian From: brendan@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au (Brendan Mahony) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: One of the best kept secrets in the Catholic Church Message-ID: Date: 19 Oct 90 07:57:35 GMT Sender: hedrick@paul.rutgers.edu Lines: 26 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu bralick@finglas.entmoot.cs.psu.edu (Will Bralick) writes: > The Second Vatican Council stated: "In the formation of > their consciences, the Christian faithful ought carefully > to attend to the sacred and certain doctrine of the Church. These are very carefully chosen words. It is well set out what within the body of RC discourse is "sacred and certain doctrine" and what is not. It is considered impossible that a "properly formed" conscience, i.e. one formed in communion with Christ and His church, would depart from "sacred and certain doctrine". This not nearly as restrictive as some would like to portray it. The vast majority of "Canon law", encyclicals etc. is essentially ephemeral and do not constitute "sacred and certain doctrine". They are intended to challenging, thought provoking and encouraging, not constraining and inhibiting. The positions stated within them is open to change, though this will not happen very often. Generally I find I do agree with the positions held by the Church hierarchy. They are usually intellegent, well-informed and devote people whose considered opinions are to be taken seriously. -- Brendan Mahony | brendan@batserver.cs.uq.oz Department of Computer Science | heretic: someone who disgrees with you University of Queensland | about something neither of you knows Australia | anything about.