CCC compared to church teaching

[Oscarthecat]

I have a question about the importance or “weight” of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as compared to Encyclicals, Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents.

This is in regard to a statement one of my professors made that “the Catechism of the Catholic Church is not as important as the teaching documents of the church” with the implication that the interpretation of the CCC is no more important than any other interpretation of the teaching documents of the Church, and that over time, the CCC will become less and less important.

My response was that the CCC is the clearly stated interpretation of the whole of the Church’s teachings, and that it can be no less important than the documents referenced within it because it is the accepted interpretation of the Magisterium.

His response was just to restate “the CCC is not as important as the documents of vatican II, and in time as our understanding of V2 grows, the CCC will be replaced”.

Any thoughts on this would be really appreciated…

 

[thistle]

Extract from the letter written by Pope John Paul II and published in the beginning of the CCC.

QUOTE
The Doctrinal Value of the Text

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved 25 June last and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. May it serve the renewal to which the Holy Spirit ceaselessly calls the Church of God, the Body of Christ, on her pilgrimage to the undiminished light of the Kingdom!

The approval and publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church represent a service which the Successor of Peter wishes to offer to the Holy Catholic Church, to all the particular Churches in peace and communion with the Apostolic See: the service, that is, of supporting and confirming the faith of all the Lord Jesus’ disciples (cf. Lk 22:32 as well as of strengthening the bonds of unity in the same apostolic faith. Therefore, I ask all the Church’s Pastors and the Christian faithful to receive this catechism in a spirit of communion and to use it assiduously in fulfilling their mission of proclaiming the faith and calling people to the Gospel life. This catechism is given to them that it may be a sure and authentic reference text for teaching catholic doctrine and particularly for preparing local catechisms. It is also offered to all the faithful who wish to deepen their knowledge of the unfathomable riches of salvation (cf. Eph 3:8). It is meant to support ecumenical efforts that are moved by the holy desire for the unity of all Christians, showing carefully the content and wondrous harmony of the catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, lastly, is offered to every individual who asks us to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. 1 Pt 3:15) and who wants to know what the Catholic Church believes.
UNQUOTE

 

[Oscarthecat]

Thanks for your response. I did mention that letter during the conversation that spurred my post here. The letter seems a little ambiguous, at least in regard to my question. While I read JP2’s assertion that the catechism is a “sure norm” for teaching the faith means that it is at the same authoritative level as the vatican II documents-because it is, in my understanding, the synthesis of church doctrine. This professor, however, interprets the same letter to support his notion that the CCC is a secondary church teaching, at best, because it is nothing more than a tool, or “instrument,” as also noted in the letter.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I have a question about the importance or “weight” of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as compared to Encyclicals, Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents.

This is in regard to a statement one of my professors made that “the Catechism of the Catholic Church is not as important as the teaching documents of the church” with the implication that the interpretation of the CCC is no more important than any other interpretation of the teaching documents of the Church, and that over time, the CCC will become less and less important.

My response was that the CCC is the clearly stated interpretation of the whole of the Church’s teachings, and that it can be no less important than the documents referenced within it because it is the accepted interpretation of the Magisterium.

His response was just to restate “the CCC is not as important as the documents of vatican II, and in time as our understanding of V2 grows, the CCC will be replaced”.

Any thoughts on this would be really appreciated…

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church is not as important as the teaching documents of the church” – This is nonsense.

The Catechism *is * a teaching document of the Church!

Is it the only one? No.

Is it in contradiction with others? I’d be interested to learn so (I’d especially be interested in your professor’s answer).

The Catechism refers to teaching documents promulgated prior to itself. Teaching documents promulgated after it refer to the Catechism.

I really don’t understand your professor’s point?

tee

 

[Ron_Conte]

This is in regard to a statement one of my professors made that “the Catechism of the Catholic Church is not as important as the teaching documents of the church” with the implication that the interpretation of the CCC is no more important than any other interpretation of the teaching documents of the Church, and that over time, the CCC will become less and less important.

My response was that the CCC is the clearly stated interpretation of the whole of the Church’s teachings, and that it can be no less important than the documents referenced within it because it is the accepted interpretation of the Magisterium.

Your professor is basically correct. The CCC contains no new doctrinal definitions, and it is, to some extent, an interpretation of past doctrinal definitions. The CCC present teachings all of which are taught elsewhere. Also, its authority, per se, is that of the ordinary non-infallible magisterium.

It is not true that the CCC represents the whole of the Church’s teachings, nor is it true that the CCC’s interpretation of each Church document is the definitive interpretation.

The CCC is very useful, but it has been over-emphasized by some persons, to the extent even of not believing doctrines unless they are taught in the Catechism.

Ron

 

[Verbum]

Hi Oscar,

Well, church documents are the source of the CCC. So you can say, in a way, that they are more important. In other words, if you see something in the Catechism, you might go to the source and get a more complete explanation including the context of the teaching.

Now Church documents are coming out frequently, so that this years’ edition of the Catechism might not be as “up to date” in ten years from now.

But essentially the CCC reflects the constant teaching of the Church, and I believe your professor is being more than somewhat flippant (professors are that way sometimes ).

Verbum

 

[tee_eff_em]

Well, church documents are the source of the CCC. So you can say, in a way, that they are more important.

Yes, the CCC refers to previous documents to support the teachings it enumerates. But documents produced since the CCC likewise refer to it in support of what they teach.

I still don’t see how (nor why) one could say that the CCC carries less (nor more) weight than other documents?

tee

 

[dcdurel]

The Church says the Catechism presents the “living Tradition” of the Church. Since Tradition is God’s word, then the Catechism is extremely important. It also presents a summary of the entire faith. The only other document which is equal is the Roman Catechism. These Catechisms are unique in presenting all the apostolic preaching handed down by the apostles. They present a summary of the Gospel that the apostles taught and preached. Since the Gospel is the Word of God and the “source of all saving truth and moral discipline”, then there are no documents of the Church more important and comprehensive than the Roman Catechism and the new Catechism of the Catholic Church.
All theology, all religious teachings, must be in accord with these Catechisms.

 

[Joysong]

If you simply do an on line search of the Catechism, you will only find the particular teaching without the footnote showing its origination.

Those who own the Catechism will find that many times the teaching is taken from a document of the second Vatican Council and elsewhere. In the footnote are the initials of the source document. In the back of the Catechism is an alphabetical listing of all the abbreviations used in the footnote.

I highly recommend that each family have a copy of their own for reference.