One of the subtopics of this discussion deals with whether our assent is required when individual bishops, or even the entire Magisterium, makes a prudential judgment.
As I have tried to explain, I cannot publicly debate this subject with you. My current obligations to obedience and Canon law, which are likely different than yours, do not permit it.
However, I can gladly encourage anyone who is interested in what the Church teaches on this subject to read the last two links you provided in their entirety. I cannot comment on the first two articles because the links are broken (and also do not appear to be Magisterium documents).
I know it can be tempting to accept summaries and interpretations from others, but consider, link 3:
ndcatholic.org/editorials/june04/index.html
Contains this:
"2. The bishop is entitled to deference and consideration, even in matters of prudential judgment.
Although a bishop’s position may not always be binding, it is due serious consideration. The bishop, as a successor to the apostles, is our teacher, shepherd, and pastor. The Gospel has consequences for how we order society and a bishop has a proper role in bringing these consequences light in the development of public policy. Even if legitimate differences can exist, serious consideration and deference to the bishop’s view would seem proper for any Catholic that believes what the Church teaches about the episcopacy and the social implications of the faith."
That is a bishop, singular. When bishops act collegially, as a group, they carry still more authority. I could keep quoting, but I want people to read things like “The church’s experience deserves consideration.” and “[T]he mere fact that there is no “absolute” teaching on a political issue does not mean that we are free to act in whatever way “feels” right.” for themselves!
Although the document looks very theologically sound to me, it is an editorial, not a comprehensive pastoral brief (no citations, footnotes, etc.), and it is from the North Dakota Catholic Conference (which represents the bishops of one state).
The forth link:
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19900524_theologian-vocation_en.html
Is Doctrinal instruction from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the faith and very authoritative. I would strongly, strongly, recommend anyone interested in this subject to read it in its entirety and determine for themselves if the quote just provided is really in context or relevant. After all, the same document includes this, a specific explanation of the appropriate response to teachings at three different levels (divine revelation to a teaching which is not even definitive):
"23. When the Magisterium of the Church makes an infallible pronouncement and solemnly declares that a teaching is found in Revelation, the assent called for is that of theological faith. This kind of adherence is to be given even to the teaching of the ordinary and universal Magisterium when it proposes for belief a teaching of faith as divinely revealed.
When the Magisterium proposes “in a definitive way” truths concerning faith and morals, which, even if not divinely revealed, are nevertheless strictly and intimately connected with Revelation, these must be firmly accepted and held.(22)
When the Magisterium, not intending to act “definitively”, teaches a doctrine to aid a better understanding of Revelation and make explicit its contents, or to recall how some teaching is in conformity with the truths of faith, or finally to guard against ideas that are incompatible with these truths, the response called for is that of the religious submission of will and intellect.(23) This kind of response cannot be simply exterior or disciplinary but must be understood within the logic of faith and under the impulse of obedience to the faith."
The third paragraph would seem to be directly on point for the question at hand. Footnote 23 is a citation of Lumen Gentium #25, the paragraph from the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church which I quoted previously.
This really must be my last word on the subject, but I implore anyone reading this to READ WHAT THE CHURCH HAS TO SAY! At least two of the links are as good a place to start as any. We are an apostolic church, take advantage of it. There is no extra cost, it comes with your membership!
