=cassini;7399467]Just one point Pat. When you say not ‘heretical’ does that mean Catholics can ignore that papal decree as not having any authority at all? Can such decrees deemed ‘not infallible’ by individual Catholics be put in the waste bin?
GREAT Question! Thanks for asking.
There continues to be alot of confussion on what is a “Infallible pronouncement.” To began with it must be described as such at it’s start of the “new teaching.” This IS an “Infallible Teaching.”
However, a Teaching NEED NOT BE proclaimed “Infallible” to require mandated acceptence and belief.
FROM THE CURRENT CODE OF CANON LAW
THE TEACHING FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH LIBER III. DE ECCLESIAE MUNERE DOCENDI
Can. 748 §1. All persons are bound to seek the truth in those things which regard God and his Church and by virtue of divine law are bound by the obligation and possess the right of embracing and observing the truth which they have come to know.
§2. No one is ever permitted to coerce persons to embrace the Catholic faith against their conscience.
Can. 749 §1. By virtue of his office, the Supreme Pontiff possesses infallibility in teaching when as the supreme pastor and teacher of all the Christian faithful, who strengthens his brothers and sisters in the faith,** he proclaims by definitive act that a doctrine of faith or morals is to be held.**
"]§2. The college of bishops also possesses infallibility in teaching when the bishops gathered together in an ecumenical council exercise the magisterium as teachers and judges of faith and morals who declare for the universal Church that a doctrine of faith or morals is to be held definitively; or when dispersed throughout the world but preserving the bond of communion among themselves and with the successor of Peter and teaching authentically together with the Roman Pontiff matters of faith or morals, they agree that a particular proposition is to be held definitively.
§3. No doctrine is understood as defined infallibly unless this is manifestly evident.
Can. 750 §1. A person must believe with divine and Catholic faith all those things contained in the word of God, written or handed on, that is, in the one deposit of faith entrusted to the Church, and at the same time proposed as divinely revealed either by the solemn magisterium of the Church or by its ordinary and universal magisterium which is manifested by the common adherence of the Christian faithful under the leadership of the sacred magisterium; therefore all are bound to avoid any doctrines whatsoever contrary to them.
**§2. **Each and every thing which is proposed definitively by the magisterium of the Church concerning the doctrine of faith and morals, that is, each and every thing which is required to safeguard reverently and to expound faithfully the same deposit of faith, is also to be firm-ly embraced and retained; therefore, one who rejects those propositions which are to be held definitively is opposed to the doctrine of the Catholic Church.
Can. 752 Although not an assent of faith, a religious submission of the intellect and will must be given to a doctrine which the Supreme Pontiff or the college of bishops declares concerning faith or morals when they exercise the authentic magisterium,
even if they do not intend to proclaim it by definitive act; therefore, the Christian faithful are to take care to avoid those things which do not agree with it.
Can. 753 Although the bishops who are in communion with the head and members of the college, whether individually or joined together in conferences of bishops or in particular councils, do not possess infallibility in teaching, they are authentic teachers and instructors of the faith for the Christian faithful entrusted to their care;
the Christian faithful are bound to adhere with religious submission of mind to the authentic magisterium of their bishops. [This is speaking of the CC Mageristrium]
**Can. 754 **All the Christian faithful are obliged to observe the constitutions and decrees which the legitimate authority of the Church issues in order to propose doctrine and to proscribe erroneous opinions, particularly those which the Roman Pontiff or the college of bishops puts forth.
Take note of the FACT that both Infallible Teaching and other teaching even if NOT Infallibly proclaimed; SO LONG AS THEY TOUCH ON ANY MATTER OF FAITH AND OR MORALS require our assent.
I Do not believe that the LOCATION of The garden touches on either catagory. That it was real however is a Doctrine to be held; and the idea of Eden being on a different planet touches on matters of Faith… Were Adam and Eve real? Yes, and this to is a Doctrine to be held in belief.
Thanks for asking,
God Bless,
Pat
