Is birth control teaching infallible?

[Elzee]

My ‘progressive Catholic Community’ is going to drive me insane. After a lively discussion on ‘the Church CAN teach error when it comes to faith and morals - it’s only statements by the Pope that he claims are infallible that are really infallible’ (aaaghh!!!) the topic of birth control came up. I kept quiet on this one because I haven’t done a lot of research on it yet.

But, can someone help me - is the Church’s teaching on the immorality and mortal sin of artificial birth control infallible? If so, why is it infallible? When was this teaching first officially *documented (I know it has always been taught). *Is it a statement out of an ecumenical council?

 

[mercygate]

The ordinary teaching Magisterium of the Church is infallible. IOW, the Pope has never made an ex cathedra declaration that Jesus was raised from the dead. But it is an infallible teaching. It is the continuous and unchanged teaching of the church and binding on the faithful de fide.

The prohibition on contraception is also the ongoing and unchanging teaching of the church, based on the natural moral law. It is, therefore, infallible. As you are aware, not until 1930, when the Anglicans at the Lambeth Conference conceded that contraception could be used licitly in marriage for serious reasons, did ANY Christian body allow it.

Your friends are mistaken in thinking that a declared ex cathedra statement of the Extraordoinary Magisterium is required in order for a matter to be required *de fide. *

CA libraries has this article on contraception in the Church Fathers and this one on birth control.

You might delicately ask your friends if they understand the difference between the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Magisterium. Get them to do some of their own homework!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My ‘progressive Catholic Community’ is going to drive me insane. After a lively discussion on ‘the Church CAN teach error when it comes to faith and morals - it’s only statements by the Pope that he claims are infallible that are really infallible’ (aaaghh!!!) the topic of birth control came up. I kept quiet on this one because I haven’t done a lot of research on it yet.

But, can someone help me - is the Church’s teaching on the immorality and mortal sin of artificial birth control infallible? If so, why is it infallible? When was this teaching first officially *documented (I know it has always been taught). *Is it a statement out of an ecumenical council?

It is an infalliable teaching of the Church because it has bee a constant teaching of the Church since apostolic times.

 

[VociMike]

My ‘progressive Catholic Community’ is going to drive me insane. After a lively discussion on ‘the Church CAN teach error when it comes to faith and morals - it’s only statements by the Pope that he claims are infallible that are really infallible’ (aaaghh!!!) the topic of birth control came up. I kept quiet on this one because I haven’t done a lot of research on it yet.

But, can someone help me - is the Church’s teaching on the immorality and mortal sin of artificial birth control infallible? If so, why is it infallible? When was this teaching first officially *documented (I know it has always been taught). *Is it a statement out of an ecumenical council?

This is the problem with trying to search out infallible teachings. It makes it seem that everything else is wide open for discussion. BTW, tell you “PCC” that most of the infallible documents in the Church were not written by popes but by councils. And those documents, as pointed out, do not contain the sum total of infallible Catholic teaching.

If you’re feeling frisky you could ask them when the pope infallibly declared e.g. slavery wrong. If he didn’t, maybe that’s OK too.

 

[Ron_Conte]

The teaching of the Church is everything taught by infallible Sacred Tradition and everything taught by infallible Sacred Scripture. The Magisterium teaches from Tradition and Scripture.

The Magisterium teaches infallibly in three ways:

1. papal infallibility
2. Ecumenical Councils and similar gatherings
3. the ordinary and universal Magisterium

Otherwise, all other teachings of the Magisterium are non-infallible and are subject to the possibility of occasional error and correction.

The ordinary Magisterium teaches non-infallible. However, when a teaching has been taught under the ordinary Magisterium for so long and so widely, by the Pope and the Bishop that it has been taught universally, then that teaching falls under the ordinary and universal Magisterium and is infallible.

The Magisterium has not yet given an infallible definition of the criteria for a teaching to fall under the ordinary and universal Magisterium (as it has done for papal infallibility). It is a matter of some debate as to which teachings fall under this type of infallibility.

In my theological opinion, the teaching against artificial birth control has been taught universally and so is infallible, even though the papal teaching by itself in Humanae Vitae is not infallible under papal infallibility.

Concerning the possiblity of error in the ordinary non-infallible teachings of the Magisterium, such errors are possible, but they can never reach to the extent of leading us away from the path of salvation, nor can the ordinary teachings of the Magisterium as a whole be mostly in error.

Ron Conte

 

[mercygate]

The teaching of the Church is everything taught by infallible Sacred Tradition and everything taught by infallible Sacred Scripture. The Magisterium teaches from Tradition and Scripture.

The Magisterium teaches infallibly in three ways:

1. papal infallibility
2. Ecumenical Councils and similar gatherings
3. the ordinary and universal Magisterium

Otherwise, all other teachings of the Magisterium are non-infallible and are subject to the possibility of occasional error and correction.

The ordinary Magisterium teaches non-infallible. However, when a teaching has been taught under the ordinary Magisterium for so long and so widely, by the Pope and the Bishop that it has been taught universally, then that teaching falls under the ordinary and universal Magisterium and is infallible.

The Magisterium has not yet given an infallible definition of the criteria for a teaching to fall under the ordinary and universal Magisterium (as it has done for papal infallibility). It is a matter of some debate as to which teachings fall under this type of infallibility.

In my theological opinion, the teaching against artificial birth control has been taught universally and so is infallible, even though the papal teaching by itself in Humanae Vitae is not infallible under papal infallibility.

Concerning the possiblity of error in the ordinary non-infallible teachings of the Magisterium, such errors are possible, but they can never reach to the extent of leading us away from the path of salvation, nor can the ordinary teachings of the Magisterium as a whole be mostly in error.

Ron Conte

BEAUTIFULLY SAID!

 

[fix]

Good posts so far. I would also add this:

… 1) first, we must point out the tendency to measure everything on the basis of the distinction between the “infallible Magisterium” and the “fallible Magisterium”.

In this way infallibility becomes the criterion for all authority problems, to the point of actually replacing the concept of authority with that of infallibility. Furthermore, the question of the infallibility of the Magisterium is often confused with the question of the truth of a doctrine, by assuming that infallibility is the pre-qualification for the truth and irreformability of the doctrine, and by making the truth and definitive nature of the doctrine depend on whether or not it has been infallibly defined by the Magisterium. In fact, the truth and irreformability of a doctrine depends on the ), transmitted by Scripture and Tradition, while infallibility refers only to the degree of certitude of an act of magisterial teaching. In the various critical stances towards the recent documents of the Magisterium it is often forgotten that the infallible character of a teaching and the definitive and irrevocable character of the assent owed it is not a prerogative belonging solely to what has been solemnly “defined” by the Roman Pontiff or an Ecumenical Council. Whenever the Bishops dispersed in their individual Dioceses in communion with the Successor of Peter teach a truth to be held in a definitive way (cf. , n. 25, 2), they enjoy the same infallibility as the Pope’s Magisterium or that of a Council…

MAGISTERIAL DOCUMENTS AND PUBLIC DISSENT Archbishop emeritus of Vercelli
Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

 

[jburgherr]

My ‘progressive Catholic Community’ is going to drive me insane. After a lively discussion on ‘the Church CAN teach error when it comes to faith and morals - it’s only statements by the Pope that he claims are infallible that are really infallible’ (aaaghh!!!) the topic of birth control came up. I kept quiet on this one because I haven’t done a lot of research on it yet.

But, can someone help me - is the Church’s teaching on the immorality and mortal sin of artificial birth control infallible? If so, why is it infallible? When was this teaching first officially *documented (I know it has always been taught). *Is it a statement out of an ecumenical council?

I think that the arguement of whether or not the teaching of Birth Control is infallible or not is a straw man. Your ‘progressive’ brothers and sisters are trying to rationalize the continuation of sin.

It is our responsibility as Catholics to submit to the Church’s teaching, unless it is found to be heretical. This means teachings that are not yet classified as infallible.

The requirment of not eating meat on Fridays during Lent is not a infallible teaching, but is meant to increase our faith. We are still expected to comply with this mandate.

 

[Loy]

If you’re feeling frisky you could ask them when the pope infallibly declared e.g. slavery wrong. If he didn’t, maybe that’s OK too.

Good one!!!

 

[Loy]

The requirment of not eating meat on Fridays during Lent is not a infallible teaching, but is meant to increase our faith. We are still expected to comply with this mandate.

Some more food for thought: the First Vatican Council infallibly declared that we must obey the Pope in matters of discipline.So, then, if anyone says that the Roman Pontiff has merely an office of supervision and guidance, and not the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole Church, and this not only in matters of faith and morals, but also in those which concern the discipline and government of the Church dispersed throughout the whole world; or that he has only the principal part, but not the absolute fullness, of this supreme power; or that this power of his is not ordinary and immediate both over all and each of the Churches and over all and each of the pastors and faithful: let him be anathema.
The Popes have declared that Catholics must not use artificial birth control. For the purposes of a faithful Catholic’s behavior, it is irrelevent whether the declarations on birth control are infallible or not.

 

[Elzee]

Can someone help me better understand ‘orindary Magisterium’ versus ‘extraordinary Magisterium’? Thank you al so much!

 

[Ron_Conte]

Can someone help me better understand ‘orindary Magisterium’ versus ‘extraordinary Magisterium’? Thank you al so much!

I The Magisterium (the spiritual authority of the Church)

A. Infallible Sacred Magisterium

1. papal infallibility (Extraordinary)
2. ecumencial councils (Extraordinary)
3. ordinary and universal Magisterium (ordinary, yet infallible)

B. Non-infallible Ordinary Magisterium

This is called ordinary because it is the most common way that the Pope and the Bishops teach the faithful on a daily basis. Such teaching is non-infallible, but is still protected by the Holy Spirit from any substantial errors of doctrine that would lead persons away from the path of salvation.

II. the temporal authority of the Church

There is also the temporal authority of the Church, which is never infallible, and which is not the authority to teach, but to lead and to make practical decisions, i.e. discipline, not doctrine.

Ron Conte

 

[Melissa]

Of course, the teaching is binding … anyone who ever actually read the document w/o looking for wiggle-room to excuse disobedience would know that.

Just for kicks, show them the following statements and ask which ones mean “it’s ok to disagree and/or not follow this teaching”:

Statement 1

The teaching of the Church regarding [issue] is a promulgation of the law of God Himself. And yet there is no doubt that to many it will appear not merely difficult but even impossible to observe.

Statement 2

by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that [issue].
Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.

Statement 3

Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to [issue] and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.

(Statements come from Munificentissiumus Deus, Humanae Vitae, and Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, but not in that order.)

 

[Eilrahc]

It is an infalliable teaching of the Church because it has bee a constant teaching of the Church since apostolic times.

The ancient Israelites also condemned contraception, so that teaching actually stretches back thousands of years before Christ. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[thistle]

My ‘progressive Catholic Community’ is going to drive me insane. After a lively discussion on ‘the Church CAN teach error when it comes to faith and morals - it’s only statements by the Pope that he claims are infallible that are really infallible’ (aaaghh!!!) the topic of birth control came up. I kept quiet on this one because I haven’t done a lot of research on it yet.

But, can someone help me - is the Church’s teaching on the immorality and mortal sin of artificial birth control infallible? If so, why is it infallible? When was this teaching first officially *documented (I know it has always been taught). *Is it a statement out of an ecumenical council?

It is an infallible teaching as others have explained but please remember Catholics are also bound by non-infallible teachings. We are not just bound by infallible teachings.

 

[Ron_Conte]

Germain Grisez: “With ‘Humanae Vitae,’ Paul VI reaffirmed the constant and very firm teaching of the Church excluding contraception. I believe and have argued that teaching had already been proposed infallibly by the ordinary magisterium – that is, by the morally unanimous agreement of the bishops of the whole world in communion with the popes. Together, they had taught for many centuries that using contraceptives always is grave matter. Their manner of teaching implied that what they taught was a truth to be held definitively. Thus, the teaching on contraception met the conditions for infallible teaching, without a solemn definition, articulated by Vatican II in ‘Lumen Gentium,’ 25.”
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Only infallible teachings are both definitive and irreformable.](http://www.zenit.org/article-7791?l=english)