Church Teaching Authority

A unique, valuable, and long-overdue resource for all Catholics as well as those inquiring about the Faith, Teaching with Authority will help deepen your understanding of what the Church teaches by showing you (maybe for the first time) how and why and where it does. Not another catechism or "Catholicism for beginners" book, Teaching with Authority isn't about understanding specific teachings of the Faith (even the complicated and misunderstood ones) but rather about understanding Catholic teaching itself. Where does the Church's teaching authority come from? How do we weigh dogmas versus practices, doctrines versus disciplines, conciliar declarations versus papal interviews? How do we sort through the many kinds of ecclesial documents and determine their relative authority and relevance? And, in an age when accusations of heresy fly regularly across social media, Jimmy also tackles the issues of incredulity, apostasy, and schism-showing you how to recognize different forms of dissent

This volume provides all who minister to young people with an effective blueprint for building a truly meaningful ministry

A striking series of events of the past two decades have tended to raise questions about the exercise of teaching authority in the Catholic Church. The Second Vatican Council, the Encyclical Humanae Vitae, the controversy over Hans Kung's book on infallibility and the subsequent declaration of Rome that he could no longer teach as a Catholic theologian, the colloquium to which Edward Schillebeeckx was summoned by the Vatican, the pastoral letter of the American bishops on the question of nuclear warfare--have all stimulated a lively discussion of the claims of the Catholic hierarchy to authoritative magisterium. With all the abundance of literature on the subject, a book was still needed that would offer an up-to-date, systematic presentation of Catholic thinking about the nature and function of this magisterium. This is what the present volume sets out to provide. It takes as its point of departure the belief which a great many Christians besides Catholics share, namely, that the Church of Christ is maintained in the truth of the Gospel by the Holy Spirit. It then examines the various ministries by which the Gospel has been handed on and interpreted for each generation of believers, looking especially to the role of the bishops, and among them, of the Bishop of Rome, in settling disputes about the faith. Questions concerning papal infallibility, the response called for by papal encyclicals, the critical role of Catholic theologians vis-a-vis the magisterium, are treated in the light of current theological literature, with the non-specialist reader in mind.

It is fairly clear that, while Rome continues to teach as if its authority were unchanged from the days before Vatican II (1962-65), the majority of Catholics - within the first-world church, at least - take a far more independent line, and increasingly understand themselves (rather than the church) as the final arbiter of decision-making, especially on ethical questions. This collection of essays explores the historical background and present ecclesial situation, explaining the dramatic shift in attitude on the part of contemporary Catholics in the U.S. and Europe.

A striking series of events of the past two decades have tended to raise questions about the exercise of teaching authority in the Catholic Church. The Second Vatican Council, the Encyclical Humanae Vitae, the controversy over Hans Kÿng's book on infallibility and the subsequent declaration of Rome that he could no longer teach as a Catholic theologian, the colloquium to which Edward Schillebeeckx was summoned by the Vatican, the pastoral letter of the American bishops on the question of nuclear warfare--have all stimulated a lively discussion of the claims of the Catholic hierarchy to authoritative magisterium. With all the abundance of literature on the subject, a book was still needed that would offer an up-to-date, systematic presentation of Catholic thinking about the nature and function of this magisterium. This is what the present volume sets out to provide. It takes as its point of departure the belief which a great many Christians besides Catholics share, namely, that the Church of Christ is maintained in the truth of the Gospel by the Holy Spirit. It then examines the various ministries by which the Gospel has been handed on and interpreted for each generation of believers, looking especially to the role of the bishops, and among them, of the Bishop of Rome, in settling disputes about the faith. Questions concerning papal infallibility, the response called for by papal encyclicals, the critical role of Catholic theologians vis-a-vis the magisterium, are treated in the light of current theological literature, with the non-specialist reader in mind.

Over 3 million copies sold! Essential reading for Catholics of all walks of life. Here it is - the first new Catechism of the Catholic Church in more than 400 years, a complete summary of what Catholics around the world commonly believe. The Catechism draws on the Bible, the Mass, the Sacraments, Church tradition and teaching, and the lives of saints. It comes with a complete index, footnotes and cross-references for a fuller understanding of every subject. The word catechism means "instruction" - this book will serve as the standard for all future catechisms. Using the tradition of explaining what the Church believes (the Creed), what she celebrates (the Sacraments), what she lives (the Commandments), and what she prays (the Lord's Prayer), the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers challenges for believers and answers for all those interested in learning about the mystery of the Catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a positive, coherent and contemporary map for our spiritual journey toward transformation.

The issues of Authority and Governance in the Roman Catholic Church permeate each and every aspect of the Church's identity, teaching, influence, organisation, moral values and pastoral provision. They have left their mark, in turn, upon its diverse theological and philosophical traditions. The trends of postmodernity, advances in communication, the advent of new ecclesial movements and theologies, and a perceived policy towards increasing institutional centralisation on the part of the Curial authorities of the Church in Rome, have all facilitated a continuous and lively stream of dialogue and disagreement on authority and governance in relation to the place of the Church in our age and the new Millennium. This comprehensive Reader uniquely gathers together in one volume key writings and documents from the wealth of published literature that has emerged on the issues of authority and governance in the Roman Catholic Church. With guided introductions to each section and to each reading, and end of chapter further reading lists, this Reader offers a balanced range of perspectives, themes, international writings, ecumenical dimensions, and formal church documents and Papal pronouncements on core areas of contemporary study and debate. Focusing on the modern/post-modern period in the Roman Catholic Church, but grounded in the historical contexts, Readings in Church Authority presents an accessible source book and introduction for all those exploring current debates and studying central themes in church authority.

This book faithfully represents the teaching of Roman Catholicism on the Church's doctrinal authority while pointing to areas where there remains a gap between an ecclesiological vision of the Church informed by Vatican II and the popular understanding and concrete exercise of that authority in the life of the Church today.