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Defending
Families Against Forced No-Fault Divorce
As a Catholic, Is there any obligation
to judge, to follow specific teachers and reject others?
Learn what the Catholic Church Really
teaches about Divorce and Annulment:
This page summarizes statements
made by Church's Headquarters in contrast to statements made by
Regional Representatives
Headquarters Authoritative
teaching for all Catholics.
Vatican
II. Lumen Gentium
That discernment in matters of faith
is aroused and sustained by the Spirit of truth. It is exercised under
the guidance of the sacred teaching authority, in faithful and respectful
obedience to which the people of God accept that which is not just the
word of men but truly the word of God.” (Lumen Gentium, no. 12, par. 2)
The laity should, as all Christians, promptly accept in Christian obedience
decisions of their spiritual shepherds, since they are representatives
of Christ as well as teachers and rulers in the Church.” (no. 37, par.
2)
Catechism.
Catholics are called to obey and submit to authoritative teaching.
We are assisted by the gifts of
the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by
the authoritative teaching of the Church. When a man "takes little trouble
to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost
blinded through the habit of committing sin" he is ignorant and in such
cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.
Canon
212 §1.
Christ's faithful, conscious of
their own responsibility, are bound to show Christian obedience to what
the sacred Pastors, who represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith
and prescribe as rulers of the Church.
Congregation
for the Clergy, General Directory for Catechisis
[The] teaching of Christ on community
life ... calls for attitudes which it is for catechesis to inculcate: the
spirit of simplicity and humility ('unless you turn and become like little
children...' Mt 18,3); solicitude for the least among the brethren ('but
whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin...' Mt
18,6); ... fraternal correction ('Go and tell him his fault...’ Mt 18,
15); . . .” (Education for Community Life, paragraph 86 a)
Inside
the Vatican contributing editor, John Mallon
A Catholic is one in love with Jesus
Christ who freely chooses and assents to Catholicism as a lover to his
wedding vows, resonating with the truth and love "written in the heart"
and read with a conscience formed in good faith. A Catholic is not one
who grudgingly "takes orders from the Vatican," but rejoices and trusts
in the astonishing gift of the Holy Spirit of infallibility, given to the
Church in the Magisterium—the Vicar of Christ and the successors of the
Apostles teaching in union with him.
Regional Representatives
Contradict authoritative Church teaching. DISSENTING
Canon
law Society of America (CLSA)
dissents from Authoritative Church
teaching regarding Separation, Divorce and Remarriage. CLSA's editors want
church to change with the times. DISSENTING
Cleveland,
Don't judge, just listen, let people make their own decisions.
Self-published pamphlet teaches
people not to judge those forcing divorce. Just listen. DISSENTING
North
American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics, Inc. Trenton NJ
priest/author, Fr. Bausch
You can dissent and remain a faithful
Catholic (p. 65) They [people who have been hurt at the hands of the church]
hate those authoritarian representatives of the church who are supposed
to represent a loving God and God's mysterious and pervasive love and box
it into rigid rules and regulations. (p. 31) You too, after all, as we
never tire of saying, are the church (p 94) DISSENTING
North
American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics, Inc., U.S.
Catholic published by Claretians
Mature Catholics do not confuse
the way and the truth of Jesus with man-made rules. (preface p v)
All Catholics have the right to a voice in all decisions that affect them
including the choosing of their leaders. (p 52) The "Magisterium" is another
ill-used word. In effect, the magisterium is one person (he appoints others
who agree with him). 'All alike share in the Magisterium, or the teaching
authority of the Church' (p 90). (Fr. Fehren) DISSENTING
North
American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics, Fr. John Catoir,
canon lawyer from Catholic University in DC
September 1998 St. Anthony Messenger,
section
on the internal forum Fr. Catoir writes, "For members of the Church,
the magisterium is one, but only one, informant of conscience ...
outsiders [presumably those who agree with church teaching] should respect
the person’s conscience even if they disagree with it. DISSENTING
Chicago
Archdiocese, Divorce Ministry, Elsie Radke
"Suspend Judgements." This
is one of the items on the list titled, "Divorce & the Rest of the
Family" on Divorce and Annulment Support Ministry webpage. DISSENTING