CCC misinterpretations

[Gate]

Do you think it is possible to misinterpret the catechism, like some do with biblical quotes?

 

[Della]

Do you think it is possible to misinterpret the catechism, like some do with biblical quotes?

Absolutely. :yup: Just yesterday I had to correct such a misinterpretation on the forum. Without knowing what the Church means by the words/terms it uses the CCC, just like the Bible or any other Church document, can be grossly misinterpreted and misused.

 

[Gate]

Absolutely. :yup: Just yesterday I had to correct such a misinterpretation on the forum. Without knowing what the Church means by the words/terms it uses the CCC, just like the Bible or any other Church document, can be grossly misinterpreted and misused.

So the best way to understand it is through Church attendance.

 

[Mintaka]

It probably also helps to use a good Catholic theological dictionary. Fr. Hardon’s dictionary is online, and very useful for people who don’t know the difference between common secular uses of a word and the Catholic or other older definitions.

 

[fhansen]

Do you think it is possible to misinterpret the catechism, like some do with biblical quotes?

Any written material can be misinterpreted. But the Catechism is much clearer and more specific than Scripture when it comes to teaching doctrine- that’s it’s main purpose after all.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Do you think it is possible to misinterpret the catechism, like some do with biblical quotes?

Indeed it is, as with any other such text. BTW - it is often either overlooked or underemphasized that the CCC was primarily intended to be a guide to bishops.

I therefore strongly urge my Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate, for whom the Catechism is primarily intended, to take the excellent opportunity afforded by the promulgation of this Latin edition to intensify their efforts to disseminate the text more widely and to ensure that it is well received as an outstanding gift for the communities entrusted to them, which will thus be able to rediscover the inexhaustible riches of the faith.

from the Apostolic Letter of Blessed Pope John Paul II, LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE, reprinted in the CCC

 

[april32010]

definitely,Ash Wednesday 2011 there was priest testifying at a maryland state hearing on same sex marriage at the capitol,saying the catechism is in favor of such!!

 

[wmw]

The CCC is meant to be very straight forward, but people can over isolate any one paragraph and make a mountain out of a mole hill. I’d like to see the paragraphs and the misinterpretations your talking about.

Yesterday I wrote back to someone’s use of about CCC 2406 “Political authority has the right and duty to regulate the legitimate exercise of the right to ownership for the sake of the common good.”

They used it to support the Health Care Act other entitlements for the poor and the collection of higher taxes on the wealthy.

My counter argument was that this is the last exception of a section on “Thou Shall Not Seal” a section that is predominately about the right to private property and using one excess in charity.
As is stated in CCC 2404 “In his use of things man should regard the external goods he legitimately owns not merely as exclusive to himself but common to others also, in the sense that they can benefit others as well as himself.” The ownership of any property makes its holder a steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to others, first of all his family."

Also using the general solution of 2404 rather than the exception of 2406 fosters “a natural solidarity to develop between men” as indicated at the conclusion of CCC 2402.

I concluded that this is getting problematic in the USA because of such a rift between the materialistic minded hoarders and the entitlement minded making their demands through government.

 

[DavidFilmer]

One of the most common mistakes about the Catechism is the idea that it is infallible. The Catechism is a mixture of infallible teaching, authoritative doctrine, man-made rules (which are subject to change, such as the precepts of the Church), and pure theological speculation (such as the fate of unbaptized babies).

The Catechism, as a whole, is authoritative, but not infallible.

 

[Gate]

definitely,Ash Wednesday 2011 there was priest testifying at a maryland state hearing on same sex marriage at the capitol,saying the catechism is in favor of such!!

I don’t know what to say… But in a similar sense, our Church has 2 priest (one retired, living there) they dispute over Church teachings regularly. It makes you wonder what hope we have at ever understand anything.

 

[Della]

I don’t know what to say… But in a similar sense, our Church has 2 priest (one retired, living there) they dispute over Church teachings regularly. It makes you wonder what hope we have at ever understand anything.

This is why judgment for the ordained will be harsher than for ordinary lay people. Jesus said: “To whom much is given much is required.” Those who deliberately teach what they’d like the Church to teach instead of what it actually teaches are in grave spiritual danger. We need to pray for our ordained, all the more in our times when everything is questioned and seems up for grabs. Truly, the Church is the rock in that heaving sea of uncertainty.

 

[grannymh]

It probably also helps to use a good Catholic theological dictionary. Fr. Hardon’s dictionary is online, and very useful for people who don’t know the difference between common secular uses of a word and the Catholic or other older definitions.

Or check out the Glossary beginning on page 864 of the Catechism. It also helps to read the cross-references in the margins.

 

[grannymh]

One of the most common mistakes about the Catechism is the idea that it is infallible. The Catechism is a mixture of infallible teaching, authoritative doctrine, man-made rules (which are subject to change, such as the precepts of the Church), and pure theological speculation (such as the fate of unbaptized babies).

The Catechism, as a whole, is authoritative, but not infallible.

This is why it is very important to read the Catechism section “Practical Directions for Using This Catechism” paragraphs 18-22.

Of course, one could start at page xiii of the Catechism in order to get a broad view.

Regarding infallibility –
One of the ways to understand infallibility of certain teachings in the Catechism is to check the footnotes at the bottom of each page. Or if one is interested in certain Church Councils, scan through the Catechism’s “Index of Citations.” In addition, this Index is a great source for finding out what Scriptures serve as the basis for doctrines.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

One of the most common mistakes about the Catechism is the idea that it is infallible. The Catechism is a mixture of infallible teaching, authoritative doctrine, man-made rules (which are subject to change, such as the precepts of the Church), and pure theological speculation (such as the fate of unbaptized babies).

The Catechism, as a whole, is authoritative, but not infallible.

I used to make that mistake. Part of the problem is understanding that just because it’s not infallible doesn’t mean it’s not authoritative and you don’t have to accept what it says. Old evangelical leaning Protestant habits (kinda went from evangelical → traditional Lutheran → future Catholic).

 

[irishOntarian]

I think the most confusing lines in the CCC is where it defines modesty as “refusal to reveal that which ought to remain hidden” (quote may not be exact wording since im not looking at a copy in front of me, but it’s pretty close.) This statement tells you virtually nothing about modesty, and actually gives the impression one must never show one’s private parts to anybody

 

[Qoeleth]

Do you think it is possible to misinterpret the catechism, like some do with biblical quotes?

Well, hopefully people are not using the CCC in the same way as they are using the Bible. I feel there is a treatment of CCC and other Church document as quasi-Scripture is gravely mistaken.

The Bible text (with its ambiguities, aporias and apparent contradictions) is subject to many interpretations- and rightly so. It is not a simple ‘answer’ book, but an expression of the Eternal Word of God.

 

[grannymh]

Well, hopefully people are not using the CCC in the same way as they are using the Bible. I feel there is a treatment of CCC and other Church document as quasi-Scripture is gravely mistaken.

The Bible text (with its ambiguities, aporias and apparent contradictions) is subject to many interpretations- and rightly so. It is not a simple ‘answer’ book, but an expression of the Eternal Word of God.

Actually, people need to learn how to use the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition.

It is essential to first read pages xiii - xvi. After that section is understood, then read pages 1 - 6.

Common sense should prevail by reading the section “Practical Directions for Using
This Catechism” CCC 18 - 22.

One of the many, many reasons people have trouble reading the Catechism is that they fail to read these essential two paragraphs regarding the use of small print, CCC 20 -21.

However, as I go back over the way people quote the Catechism, unfortunately it appears that many people consider that the Catechism is the “Google of Catholicism.”

 

[Hamlet123]

Do you think it is possible to misinterpret the catechism, like some do with biblical quotes?

I look forward to this thread.

 

[grannymh]

I look forward to this thread.

In that case, considering how many scripture passages are referenced in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, you may have considerable homework to do off line. (See “Index of Citations” page 689, following CCC 2865)