Has the RCC ever changed any of its teachings?

[Mick_Jagger]

Just wondering:

Has Rome ever changed any of its doctrines? It seems to me that it has, but I can’t remember which ones at the moment. BTW, I’m new here…Hello to you all!

Mick

 

[Krebsbach]

Hey Mick,

The question is more properly asked: Has the Church ever contradicted herself or reversed any dogmas?

Mere change can’t be a problem because that would preclude development of doctrine.

Ronald Knox struggled with this question before he converted. In the end he resolved all doubts in favor of the Church. After his exhaustive study all he cam up with were a few questionable cases.

A more contemporary and troublesome instance oft cited by critics of the church is her teaching on salvation outside the church (extra ecclesiam nulla salus). Defenders say there has been doctrinal development and clarification. Critics say there is contradiction. Father Sullivan has written a book on it if you are interested.

My take: i don’t struggle with the question anymore, having realized that no church body has demonstrated more conssitency over time and embraced the fullness of truth better than the CC. And besides, I am convinced that the twin pillars of Protestantdom, sola fide and sola scriptura are false.

kordially

karl

 

[forthright]

Short answer: no

Long answer: Yes, doctrines develop, but they do not change in a manner that would make previous doctrines obsolete. For example, someone might claim that the Church has changed regarding its teaching on the charging of interest on loans. This teaching has developed as the world economy has developed, but the modern teaching still condemns the same sin of usury that that the Church always condemned. It just does not condemn legitimate invesments in our modern economy. (The idea of investing money was not possible in ages past due to types of economies prevalent during those times.) See also catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9709fea3.asp

If you have or find an apparent contradiction in church teaching, just be more specific in your question. There are lots of people here willing to help clarify any issues.

 

[quasimodo]

practice and dicipline change. Doctrine develops, nuance is added, explainations are forthcoming. Dogma stays pretty inert.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Just wondering:

Has Rome ever changed any of its doctrines? It seems to me that it has, but I can’t remember which ones at the moment. BTW, I’m new here…Hello to you all!

Mick

The Catholic Church today believes and teaches what it has always believed and taught from apostolic times.

 

[Liberian]

Mick Jagger,

Hello and welcome to the Catholic Answers Forums. I hope you have a blessed and fruitful time here.

Some other respondents have already given you some very good answers. I just wanted to welcome you here.

Would that be Sir Mick Jagger, by chance?

• Liberian

 

[rr1213]

I doubt that the fellow is a rolling stone…

 

[Atreyu]

practice and dicipline change. Doctrine develops, nuance is added, explainations are forthcoming. Dogma stays pretty inert.

I would add that there is also another category, which I will call “theological speculation”. A good example of this is the speculation of Infant Limbo. Another example is the various schools of thought on Predestination. These things can change all the time, as they are not official teachings (hence the word, “speculation”).

 

[joshua_b]

Welcome to the Forums Mick, and thank you for the question.

Before we go any further, its important to understand a few terms. “Teachings” is a pretty generic descriptor, and it is important to distinguish between a few key words. “Doctrine” refers to the teachings that were handed to the Apostles by Christ-doctrine can not and has never changed. Doctrine is often within the context of Sacred Tradition (capital “T” tradition), which is the faith as it has been taught since the time of the original twelve apostles.

Be careful not to confuse Sacred Tradition with just plain tradition (lowercase “t”) which is merely a historical custom, and not official doctrine. In line with this, you will find “discipline” which is an official practice of the Church (or parts of the Church). Discipline, can and often does change to suit the historical and cultural needs of the Church and any given point in history.

Disciplines and traditions have changed over the course of 2 millenia, but the Doctrine’s and Sacred Tradition of the Catholic Church have remained unchanged for 2000 years. Whenever a source claims to point out the “changes in Catholic Doctrine” it is very important to recognize whether or not it is even a Doctrine to begin with.

“Dogma” refers to a

 

[Liberian]

Can you check to see whether he has gathered any moss? I can’t see through my dial-up connection.

• Liberian

 

[kleary]

Can you check to see whether he has gathered any moss? I can’t see through my dial-up connection.

• Liberian

He had gathered some moss- cancelled last show at the AC Boardwalk Hall- lady is suing him because she had to stay at the Taj and lose all her money instead of going to the concert that was cancelled at the last minute. (This is a true story - she played on my roulette table - I am a dealer at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City)

Anyway this is not about the Rolling Stones - and my boy Mick is under review which means he most likely will not be posting here and also he most likely will not know where to look to find any possible changes of teachings.

Of course the Church never has, never will and can never change any of her teachings.

Ken

 

[rr1213]

Of course the Church never has, never will and can never change any of her teachings.

That’s an overstatement even from the Catholic viewpoint. Take a look at some of the responses by other Catholic posters above…

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

Hey Mick,

A more contemporary and troublesome instance oft cited by critics of the church is her teaching on salvation outside the church (extra ecclesiam nulla salus). Defenders say there has been doctrinal development and clarification. Critics say there is contradiction. Father Sullivan has written a book on it if you are interested.

There are other mistakes that don’t rise to the level of dogma, but were nevertheless serious. The most notorious being over Galileo and heliocenticity. The situation was a lot more complicated than the typical anti-Catholic presentation suggests, but the Cardinals did push the Pope into making the wrong call.

Salvation outside the church is the big one. If you define the Church so loosely that it is next to impossible to be outside of it, are you not using the “penumbra of meaning” dodge?